Re: RA and various problems

[Guest guest]

Considering the dryness, have you been tested for thyroid disease? It's a

very simple inexpensive blood test (TSH, T7, and others but TSH will give you

a quick answer). My skin was so dry it fell off and my Mother and

Grandmother's hands were so dry and cracked they bled. Amazing what a little

thyroid

hormone will do to clear it up when that's the culprit.

Jill

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I haven't had that check but will ask. Thanks so much!

In rheumatic , Jknitl@... wrote:

>

> Considering the dryness, have you been tested for thyroid

disease? It's a

> very simple inexpensive blood test (TSH, T7, and others but TSH

will give you

> a quick answer). My skin was so dry it fell off and my Mother

and

> Grandmother's hands were so dry and cracked they bled. Amazing

what a little thyroid

> hormone will do to clear it up when that's the culprit.

>

> Jill

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Have you asked about Doxycycline? I know people you can't tolerate Minocin have

had results with Doxy. Also, has you been tested for Psoriatic arthritis? With

the skin involvment, that could be a possibility.

---- smoosh215 <smoosh215@...> wrote:

> Hello all,

>

> I had posted a few times before but I was wondering if someone could

> give me some insight.

>

> I haven't been officially dx with anything but it seems as though

> it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a time. The first

> time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx and by the third

> week started feeling better but I had a horrible itchy rash ALL

> over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who wanted me to be

> off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third Dr. to tell me

> the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off for a month

> then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the improvement as

> quickly the second time, my prescription ran out, and my new Dr.

> told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He wanted me to

> try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where this goes. "

> All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I last saw the

> Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and knees when all

> these have been fine until now. I think my ring finger on my left

> hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past month! And to top

> it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that leaves dry, rough

> patches all over my body. In addition, this may or may not be

> related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my fingertips are

> cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take mega doses of

> Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but right now I have

> 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

>

> SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you all think I

> should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic to Minocin?

> Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so lost and down

> right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to give me

> WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the side effects. I

> don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'll look into Doxy. I had been thinking that as well. Is there a

certain brand that's better than another? As far as Psoriatic

arthritis, I'm not sure. I don't think I've been tested, although

my Dr. says he's tested for EVERYTHING. My skin is just dry and the

rash stems from the antibiotics (we think). But that's something to

explore further.

Thanks for the info - it's greatly appreciated!

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I had posted a few times before but I was wondering if someone

could

> > give me some insight.

> >

> > I haven't been officially dx with anything but it seems as

though

> > it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a time. The

first

> > time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx and by the

third

> > week started feeling better but I had a horrible itchy rash ALL

> > over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who wanted me to

be

> > off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third Dr. to tell

me

> > the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off for a

month

> > then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the

improvement as

> > quickly the second time, my prescription ran out, and my new

Dr.

> > told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He wanted me

to

> > try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where this

goes. "

> > All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I last saw

the

> > Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and knees when

all

> > these have been fine until now. I think my ring finger on my

left

> > hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past month! And to

top

> > it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that leaves dry,

rough

> > patches all over my body. In addition, this may or may not be

> > related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my fingertips

are

> > cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take mega

doses of

> > Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but right now I

have

> > 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

> >

> > SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you all think I

> > should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic to

Minocin?

> > Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so lost and

down

> > right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to give me

> > WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the side effects.

I

> > don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Lynne,

Initially that's what I assumed it was but 3 doctors have told me

it's an allergic reaction. I know that sometimes the die-off can

cause a rash and it's mistaken for an allergic reation. How long

did it take for yours to go away completely? Benadryl did help

somewhat, not completely, and the itching was so intense. What's

strange is that it seemed to go away for a week or two but then

returned during this month of being off Minocin. I guess I'm

debating whether I should insist on AP and deal with side effects.

I can't seem to find a doctor willing to go this route. I'm just at

a loss I guess.

> > > > Hello all,

> > > >

> > > > I had posted a few times before but I was wondering if

someone

> > could

> > > > give me some insight.

> > > >

> > > > I haven't been officially dx with anything but it seems as

> > though

> > > > it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a time. The

> > first

> > > > time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx and by the

> > third

> > > > week started feeling better but I had a horrible itchy rash

ALL

> > > > over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who wanted me to

> > be

> > > > off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third Dr. to

tell

> > me

> > > > the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off for a

> > month

> > > > then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the

> > improvement as

> > > > quickly the second time, my prescription ran out, and my new

> > Dr.

> > > > told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He wanted

me

> > to

> > > > try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where this

> > goes. "

> > > > All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I last

saw

> > the

> > > > Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and knees

when

> > all

> > > > these have been fine until now. I think my ring finger on my

> > left

> > > > hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past month! And to

> > top

> > > > it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that leaves

dry,

> > rough

> > > > patches all over my body. In addition, this may or may not be

> > > > related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my fingertips

> > are

> > > > cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take mega

> > doses of

> > > > Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but right now

I

> > have

> > > > 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

> > > >

> > > > SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you all think

I

> > > > should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic to

> > Minocin?

> > > > Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so lost and

> > down

> > > > right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to give me

> > > > WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the side

effects.

> > I

> > > > don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lynne,

Thanks. I guess I needed to hear that someone else had something

similar. If I may ask, how is the treatment going? How are you

feeling? What exactly was/is your protocol? I'd like to go back to

the doctor's armed with this knowledge so when he says he doesn't

know of anyone improving using antibiotics I can tell him I do!

Thanks again and I hope you're doing well.

> > > > > > Hello all,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I had posted a few times before but I was wondering if

> > someone

> > > > could

> > > > > > give me some insight.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I haven't been officially dx with anything but it seems

as

> > > > though

> > > > > > it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a time.

The

> > > > first

> > > > > > time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx and by

the

> > > > third

> > > > > > week started feeling better but I had a horrible itchy

rash

> > ALL

> > > > > > over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who wanted

me to

> > > > be

> > > > > > off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third Dr.

to

> > tell

> > > > me

> > > > > > the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off for

a

> > > > month

> > > > > > then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the

> > > > improvement as

> > > > > > quickly the second time, my prescription ran out, and my

new

> > > > Dr.

> > > > > > told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He

wanted

> > me

> > > > to

> > > > > > try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where

this

> > > > goes. "

> > > > > > All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I

last

> > saw

> > > > the

> > > > > > Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and

knees

> > when

> > > > all

> > > > > > these have been fine until now. I think my ring finger

on my

> > > > left

> > > > > > hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past month!

And to

> > > > top

> > > > > > it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that leaves

> > dry,

> > > > rough

> > > > > > patches all over my body. In addition, this may or may

not be

> > > > > > related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my

fingertips

> > > > are

> > > > > > cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take

mega

> > > > doses of

> > > > > > Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but right

now

> > I

> > > > have

> > > > > > 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you all

think

> > I

> > > > > > should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic to

> > > > Minocin?

> > > > > > Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so lost

and

> > > > down

> > > > > > right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to

give me

> > > > > > WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the side

> > effects.

> > > > I

> > > > > > don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Thanks,

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Lynne,

My goodness! I'm so glad to hear about your remission. You gave me

a lot of info to work with. I'll be looking into a lot of what you

did. Keep up the good work and hopefully I'll be joining you on the

remission bandwagon! By the way, I love orchids

> > > > > > > > Hello all,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I had posted a few times before but I was wondering

if

> > > > someone

> > > > > > could

> > > > > > > > give me some insight.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I haven't been officially dx with anything but it

seems

> > as

> > > > > > though

> > > > > > > > it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a

time.

> > The

> > > > > > first

> > > > > > > > time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx

and by

> > the

> > > > > > third

> > > > > > > > week started feeling better but I had a horrible

itchy

> > rash

> > > > ALL

> > > > > > > > over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who

wanted

> > me to

> > > > > > be

> > > > > > > > off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third

Dr.

> > to

> > > > tell

> > > > > > me

> > > > > > > > the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off

for

> > a

> > > > > > month

> > > > > > > > then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the

> > > > > > improvement as

> > > > > > > > quickly the second time, my prescription ran out,

and my

> > new

> > > > > > Dr.

> > > > > > > > told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He

> > wanted

> > > > me

> > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where

> > this

> > > > > > goes. "

> > > > > > > > All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I

> > last

> > > > saw

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and

> > knees

> > > > when

> > > > > > all

> > > > > > > > these have been fine until now. I think my ring

finger

> > on my

> > > > > > left

> > > > > > > > hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past

month!

> > And to

> > > > > > top

> > > > > > > > it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that

leaves

> > > > dry,

> > > > > > rough

> > > > > > > > patches all over my body. In addition, this may or

may

> > not be

> > > > > > > > related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my

> > fingertips

> > > > > > are

> > > > > > > > cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take

> > mega

> > > > > > doses of

> > > > > > > > Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but

right

> > now

> > > > I

> > > > > > have

> > > > > > > > 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you

all

> > think

> > > > I

> > > > > > > > should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic

to

> > > > > > Minocin?

> > > > > > > > Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so

lost

> > and

> > > > > > down

> > > > > > > > right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to

> > give me

> > > > > > > > WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the

side

> > > > effects.

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Thanks,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

[Guest guest]

Dolores,

Thanks so much for the encouraging and kind words. Fortunately I

don't have SD. We THINK it's RA but since all tests have been

negative we're still trying to figure it out. I might try a very

strict diet while I do a little investigative work like Lynne did.

As far as stress goes, I'm a 31 year-old mother of a toddler boys.

I need not say any more! Feeling like I'm 90 certainly doesn't

help. In the meantime I go back to the Dr. in 2 weeks. I think with

a little more pushing on my part I may be able to talk him into

letting me try AP again. If not minocin than maybe Doxy.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and words of advice - so helpful

when you're starting to feel hopeless.

> > > > > > > > Hello all,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I had posted a few times before but I was wondering

if

> > > > someone

> > > > > > could

> > > > > > > > give me some insight.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I haven't been officially dx with anything but it

seems

> > as

> > > > > > though

> > > > > > > > it's RA. I tries AP for no more than 2 months at a

time.

> > The

> > > > > > first

> > > > > > > > time I took 100mg 2x a day. I had a horrible herx

and by

> > the

> > > > > > third

> > > > > > > > week started feeling better but I had a horrible

itchy

> > rash

> > > > ALL

> > > > > > > > over. That was in Jan. Then I saw a new Dr. who

wanted

> > me to

> > > > > > be

> > > > > > > > off the Minocin to run more tests. He was the third

Dr.

> > to

> > > > tell

> > > > > > me

> > > > > > > > the rash looks like an allergic reaction. I went off

for

> > a

> > > > > > month

> > > > > > > > then back on 3 times a week 100 mg. I didn't see the

> > > > > > improvement as

> > > > > > > > quickly the second time, my prescription ran out,

and my

> > new

> > > > > > Dr.

> > > > > > > > told me I was allergic because the rash came back. He

> > wanted

> > > > me

> > > > > > to

> > > > > > > > try an NSAID (relafen) and wait it out and " See where

> > this

> > > > > > goes. "

> > > > > > > > All tests thus far are negative. In the month since I

> > last

> > > > saw

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > Dr. I have developed nodules on my elbows, feet, and

> > knees

> > > > when

> > > > > > all

> > > > > > > > these have been fine until now. I think my ring

finger

> > on my

> > > > > > left

> > > > > > > > hand is starting to go crooked. All in the past

month!

> > And to

> > > > > > top

> > > > > > > > it off, I still have this horrible itchy rash that

leaves

> > > > dry,

> > > > > > rough

> > > > > > > > patches all over my body. In addition, this may or

may

> > not be

> > > > > > > > related but the skin on my hands are so dry and my

> > fingertips

> > > > > > are

> > > > > > > > cracked so badly. Someone on this board to me to take

> > mega

> > > > > > doses of

> > > > > > > > Fish oil. I am and saw improvement for a while but

right

> > now

> > > > I

> > > > > > have

> > > > > > > > 6 fingers bandaged because the cracks are so deep.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > SO, after that long rant, I was wondering what you

all

> > think

> > > > I

> > > > > > > > should do? Insist on AP? Do you think I am allergic

to

> > > > > > Minocin?

> > > > > > > > Is there an alternative antibiotic? I just feel so

lost

> > and

> > > > > > down

> > > > > > > > right now that I'm on the verge of telling my dr. to

> > give me

> > > > > > > > WHATEVER will make this go away regardless of the

side

> > > > effects.

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > don't WANT that but I'm starting to feel desparate!

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Thanks,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >