Update

[Guest guest]

Kayleigh:

here. Make sure you tell your doc about the temple and jaw

pain. There is a vascular condition called temporal arteritis that

can occur and some of the typical sx are scalp pain in the temporal area,

jaw pain, neck stiffness, decreased appetite and weight loss. If

these are your symptoms, watch your vision very carefully. Temporal

arteritis can cause devastating damage to the optic nerve of the eyes and

result in vision loss which is irreversible. Don't want to scare

you here but if you notice any change in your vision immediately take pred

if you have any and get to an ophthalmologist immediately. Tell the

receptionist you may have temporal arteritis and need seen immediately.

Don't stop until you are seen by someone immediately. Vision loss

can occur within hours and only quick treatment with steroids can stop

damage. Usually takes large doses to stop the process.

Check the vision in each eye separately with your best correction distance

and near each day. You can sometimes lose alot of vision and not

know it because the other eye is making up for it. Make sure docs

test for Westegren Sed rate, but they can also do a biopsy to verify results

also. I have even seen people with all negative results who have

ended up having it and it takes a while to show on blood tests etc.

Again, don't want to scare you here but it is very important you see

an ophthalmologist, not optometrist for this evaluation. If vision

starts to get blurred call them immediately and don't take no for an answer.

Hopefully your sx are caused by other things, but this is a really big

threat to our vision if any of us develope this.

Write or call me if you need more info on this.

Hope all is well,

Cath

kayleigh J wrote:

Hi

Thanks for explaining the ANA.... it makes sense... unfortunately

my rheumy

will be off on vacation for the next few weeks and i'm sort of

on my own...

he recommended Vioxx twice a day and Empracet with Codeine for

pain.... but

i have a sneaking suspicion that the pain in my jaw and temples

is due to

clenching my teeth during rest... i don't grind my teeth, but perhaps

due to

stress i clench, i noticed this afternoon while taking a nap, i

wasn't in a

deep sleep and noticed i had my jaw tightly clenched....hmmmmm??

anyway, i'm seeing a new GP tomorrow, apparently he is very good

and trained

in the US (Washington) but has a practice here is Mtl.

He took an interest in may case when i called recently for an appointment

and his Nurse/secretary took all the details of my problem and

he seems

interested... so we shall see tomorrow... i will write everything

down so i

won't forget anything...

btw, the pain on my side seems to be subsiding, but my jaw and temples

still

hurt... and i'm feeling very tired and 'heavy' especially

my head...

perhaps it's filled with rocks!!! LOL.... i'll keep you all

updated with

news.... later

hugs and love

kayleigh

******************************************************************

Hi Kayleigh, So sorry you're still in so much pain.

I'm the one who has so

much trouble with my ribs. I never get nauseated from it,

they just hurt.

Costcochondritis is inflamation of the cartiledge of the ribs.

They dx me

with that over 20 years ago. Who would believe now that I get the

same thing

from RP. Maybe it was my first symptom and no one knew .

Beats me. The

ANA

blood test is I believe (and anyone correct me if I'm wrong) an

Anti Nuclear

Antibody. When test is possitive it usually means an autoimmune

disease

(Lupu, RP, RA, Sjorgrens, etc) I believe they can narrow

it down if it is

possitive. I had a possitive ANA which I would assume almost

everyone in

the

groups is too. I also have TMJ and have no cartiledge left

on either side.

This started in my 20's (lucky I remember that far back)lol and

was dx with

x

ray about 10 years ago. Sure do hope you start to feel better

soon and get

some relief.

Take care

Love

C

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hi and welcome. maybe we can

come up with answers that our doctors can't

[Guest guest]

:

Congratulations!

Keep going and don't get discouraged by the slow-down in weight

loss. I've been stalled too as I get nearer and nearer to goal. But

the truth is that if I didn't lose another pound (and maintained my

current weight) I'd be happy. Life has never been better.

Gemello

-137 lbs

> Hi everyone:

>

> My 40th birthday was Monday and I had to share how absolutely

> wonderful I feel! I feel better at 40 than I did at 20. Im kinda

> stalled right now...at 168-170 but Dr Fisher told me I would stall

> out soon. But I know it will come off again..just slower as Im

> reaching goal. My pannectomey and arm reconstruction will be the

> first of August and I cant wait. This has been a remarkable journey

> and I am so enjoying the ride !!

>

> Huggles

>

>

> Open RNY: August 19,2003

> Beginning Weight: 315

> Pre surgery Weight: 283

> Current: 168

> Goal: 135