Re: Humira - Enbrel 3 Shots per Week

June 2, 2003

In a message dated 6/2/2003 4:21:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

softsweetfemme@... writes:

> . I've had 2 injections of Humira thus far and so far, so good. I've been

> walking an average of 3 miles per day (walked 10 miles yesterday...woohoo!)

> but it's too early to tell if it's the Humira working or the cortisone shot

> again. Time will tell I'm sure.

Hi Sherrie,

Can you keep me posted as to how the Humira is doing since I am not having

success with Enbrel either. I just don't understand how one can help and not

the other because I thought they are basically the same type of drug. Did you

have any problem with insurance for approving Humira since I heard that it is

not yet approved for PA?

Janet

June 2, 2003

Hi Sherrie,

Man, I would LOVE to be able to walk 10 miles. I feel good enough at night to do

1 mile, but my toes and one ankle refuse to allow me to do anymore than that.

It's very frustrating, because I am only 28 and very capable of doing 3-5 miles,

however I can't feel my toes on my left foot at the end of one mile. I have one

hammer toe that hurts at the end of one mile. This coming from a distance

runner.. it sucks. I want that great feeling of running again, and I am very

nervous that will never happen. I feel great going through my day, but exercise

really throws my body for a loop, and brings the pain on. Have you ever been to

this point... where you just couldn't exercise for longer than one mile? Have

you ever been overweight? I just get so nervous I will NEVER get to be able to

walk 10 miles a day... ever again, however I don't have enough pain on a daily

basis to feel the need to go on Biologics? Maybe you telling me that Biologics

have allowed you to do this again will help. I don't think I am a severe case of

PA at all... I truly believe I am MILD, however your e-mail is causing me to

think different. If I can't walk 3 miles anymore, maybe I am more severe than I

think I am? How were you before the biologics?

In a message dated 6/2/2003 7:35:15 AM Eastern Standard Time,

softsweetfemme@... writes:

> I've been walking an average of 3 miles per day (walked 10 miles

yesterday...woohoo!) but it's too early to tell if it's the Humira working or

the cortisone shot again. Time will tell I'm sure.

> I've received a few emails from members asking me about the Enbrel injections

and just wanted to clarify the fact that I

> was mistaken and in fact, Enbrel didn't work for me.

> Tenderly,

> Sherrie, 33-Michigan

June 3, 2003

Hi ,

I used to really enjoy running but the arthritis in 2 toes and 1

ankle have made it impossible. In the past few months I joined a gym

and use the cross trainer (works both arms and legs). It's low impact

but gives me the workout that I need, plus I still get a

runner's " high " .

I go to the gym 4 times a week and now I'm thinner and in better

shape than I was before the PA began 3 years ago. The exercise also

gives me some sense of control - a feeling I lost when the PA started.

If you are able to get to a gym, I highly recommend trying the cross

trainer.

> Hi Sherrie,

>

> Man, I would LOVE to be able to walk 10 miles. I feel good enough

at night to do 1 mile, but my toes and one ankle refuse to allow me

to do anymore than that. It's very frustrating, because I am only 28

and very capable of doing 3-5 miles, however I can't feel my toes on

my left foot at the end of one mile. I have one hammer toe that hurts

at the end of one mile. This coming from a distance runner.. it

sucks. I want that great feeling of running again, and I am very

nervous that will never happen. I feel great going through my day,

but exercise really throws my body for a loop, and brings the pain

on. Have you ever been to this point... where you just couldn't

exercise for longer than one mile? Have you ever been overweight? I

just get so nervous I will NEVER get to be able to walk 10 miles a

day... ever again, however I don't have enough pain on a daily basis

to feel the need to go on Biologics? Maybe you telling me that

Biologics have allowed you to do this again will help. I don't think

I am a severe case of PA at all... I truly believe I am MILD, however

your e-mail is causing me to think different. If I can't walk 3 miles

anymore, maybe I am more severe than I think I am? How were you

before the biologics?

>

> In a message dated 6/2/2003 7:35:15 AM Eastern Standard Time,

softsweetfemme@y... writes:

>

> > I've been walking an average of 3 miles per day (walked 10 miles

yesterday...woohoo!) but it's too early to tell if it's the Humira

working or the cortisone shot again. Time will tell I'm sure.

> > I've received a few emails from members asking me about the

Enbrel injections and just wanted to clarify the fact that I

> > was mistaken and in fact, Enbrel didn't work for me.

> > Tenderly,

> > Sherrie, 33-Michigan

June 3, 2003

Hi Janet,

I'm not sure yet if my feeling good is from the Humira or the cortisone shot

yet. I'll know in about 1 month (and will keep you posted). I totally

understand how you feel about Humira. Both times I had to give myself the shot,

I obsessed a little about it...about the side effects and got a little depressed

but who knows what the future brings.

My rheumatologist claims that some people do respond to Humira that do not on

Enbrel. I'm in the same boat as you though if it doesn't work, there's not much

left to try.

Sherrie

June 3, 2003

,

Like you, I think my case if pretty mild too (in comparison to others).

Basically, I have problems with my knees swelling, my ankles get really sore at

times and my toes (usually the left foot) get numb as I'm walking. There are

days where I'll walk 1/4 mile and feel like I can't take another step and then

some where I can walk forever. I'm pretty young too (if 33 is still young?).

The day I was diagnosed, I asked my rheumy if I'd be able to still do aerobics,

run, ride a bike, hike, etc... again and he assured me that I would. I'm about

40 lbs overweight right now and it's mainly due to the fact that I work in an

office and haven't been able to work out like I used to. For the past year, I

haven't done much as far as exercise. I'm hoping to walk as much as possible

this summer to get some of that weight off but who knows how I'll feel

tomorrow...ya know...it's such an odd thing and so life changing.

I'm not sure if my feeling so great is from the Humira yet or cortisone shot so

I don't want to recommend anything. I'll keep you posted if I'm still doing

well or if I take a turn for the bad again.

Sherrie

June 3, 2003

In a message dated 6/3/03 4:22:04 PM Central Daylight Time, pookiegut@...

writes:

> In a message dated 6/2/2003 8:32:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, fam24 writes:

>

> >I just don't understand how one can help and not

> >the other because I thought they are basically the same type of drug. Did

> you

> >have any problem with insurance for approving Humira since

> >I heard that it is

> >not yet approved for PA?

> >Janet

>

> Janet,

>

> They do NOT all target the same thing! (see last e-mail)

>

> Do some research... I know I have read this somewhere before, but I don't

> have the time to find it now! HELP ORIN!!

>

Well I wanted to ride in on my trusty steed like a white hatted cowboy to

save the day but it escaped the corral and is out to pasture somewhere so I have

to hobble in on my crusty knees like a straw hatted plowboy instead. LOL

Ok Im not highly studied on the biologics.

Humira targets to block cytokines CD+4 I believe. Dont ask me to describe

that cause I can't Im still learning. It has something to do with signalling

immune responses.

Enbrel and Remicade both target to disable Tumor Necrosis Factor Dont know

enough to explain what that means either. The most significant difference

between these two is that Enbrel is supposedly closer to something that might

naturally be present in your system. It is manufactured entirely by manipulating

human tissue and synthetic proteins whereas Remicade is produced by some

process involving mouse ovaries. The claim is that being less foriegn, Enbrel is

less likely to cause you to develop antibodies to it and destroy it before it

has a chance to do any good. There was one paper that suggested that even if

you produce antibodies to enbrel that it doesnt significanly shorten the

duration or extent of effect. All of these have been around for a relatively

short

time so it will take a while to fully study them and get more concrete

information in the books.

One way to look at it is that the ones that target TNF are (hopefully)getting

closer to the incompetent workers and the one that targets cytokines is going

after the incompetent foreman. While this may be effective in the short term,

my opinion is we need to go after the engineer that is directing the whole

construction/destruction project. Neither the foreman nor the worker can do good

work if they have the wrong tools or a flawed blueprint.

I will try to get some more specific information next time around to the

library but most of the journals they have are only up to about mid-2001 so

theres not likely to be a whole lot on these biologic drugs since they were only

just out of phase3 clinical trials at that time. Maybe by fall when school

starts back they will have the next years journals in place. It also could be

that

the newer ones have been checked out? I will back track and double check for

some of the ones I have already X'ed off my list to see if that may be the

case. Orin

June 3, 2003

In a message dated 6/2/2003 8:32:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, fam24 writes:

> I just don't understand how one can help and not

> the other because I thought they are basically the same type of drug. Did you

> have any problem with insurance for approving Humira since

> I heard that it is

> not yet approved for PA?

> Janet

Janet,

They do NOT all target the same thing! (see last e-mail)

Do some research... I know I have read this somewhere before, but I don't have

the time to find it now! HELP ORIN!!

June 3, 2003

Hi Again Sherri,

How long have you had PA? Are your hands effected at all? I have a few little

joints all over my body effected right NOW, but it has changed from year to

year. (I was diagnosed at 23) Were you able to walk like this BEFORE the

biologics. How soon after the pain started did you start using the biologics?

Did you just start walking this much, or have you always exercised like this? I

don't think I could go 10 miles today, even if I did feel well. Maybe 3-5 would

be my max. I much like you, am about 40-50 pounds overweight. Where do you live?

I have debated the biologics for a while now. I am currently on Azulfidine and

Celebrex. Are you on ONLY a biologic or other things too? Are you married? Kids?

I work in an office setting, and it to has injured my athleticism! However, I

did walk and RUN before the PA. What made you finally decide that biologics were

the next step for you?

Did I ask enough questions?

Thanks for responding!

In a message dated 6/3/2003 7:39:56 AM Eastern Standard Time,

softsweetfemme@... writes:

> ,

> Like you, I think my case if pretty mild too (in comparison to others).

Basically, I have problems with my knees swelling, my ankles get really sore at

times and my toes (usually the left foot) get numb as I'm walking. There are

days where I'll walk 1/4 mile and feel like I can't take another step and then

some where I can walk forever. I'm pretty young too (if 33 is still young?).

> The day I was diagnosed, I asked my rheumy if I'd be able to still do

aerobics, run, ride a bike, hike, etc... again and he assured me that I would.

I'm about 40 lbs overweight right now and it's mainly due to the fact that I

work in an office and haven't been able to work out like I used to. For the

past year, I haven't done much as far as exercise. I'm hoping to walk as much

as possible this summer to get some of that weight off but who knows how I'll

feel tomorrow...ya know...it's such an odd thing and so life changing.

> I'm not sure if my feeling so great is from the Humira yet or cortisone shot

so I don't want to recommend anything. I'll keep you posted if I'm still doing

well or if I take a turn

> for the bad again.

> Sherrie

June 3, 2003

Orin, the way I understand Enbrel and Remicade, is they mimic TNF. They then

attach themselves to the TNF receptors and block the real TNF from interacting

with TNF receptors, which stops inflammation action and then pain and

swelling.

Because Remicade is mouse protein, your body will eventually build up

antibodies, if your not taking methotrexate, and rendering the Remicade

ineffective,

and TNF will increase and the inflammation worsen.

Humira blocks TNF from being produced in the first place, thus stopping the

inflammatory process before it even begins.

This why we are so vulnerable to infection because the normal inflammatory

process that kicks in to fight off infection and to heal wounds after injury or

an operation gets reduced or turned off.

Carol in Vancouver, Washington (Annie Oakley, EEEEHHHHH HAAAAA!!!!!)

In a message dated 6/3/03 6:51:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time, orinok@...

writes:

> Humira targets to block cytokines CD+4 I believe. Dont ask me to describe

>

> that cause I can't Im still learning. It has something to do with

> signalling

> immune responses.

> Enbrel and Remicade both target to disable Tumor Necrosis Factor Dont know

> enough to explain what that means either. The most significant difference

> between these two is that Enbrel is supposedly closer to something that

> might

> naturally be present in your system. It is manufactured entirely by

> manipulating

> human tissue and synthetic proteins whereas

June 3, 2003

--

>

> One way to look at it is that the ones that target TNF are

(hopefully)getting

> closer to the incompetent workers and the one that targets

cytokines is going

> after the incompetent foreman. While this may be effective in the

short term,

> my opinion is we need to go after the engineer that is directing

the whole

> construction/destruction project. Neither the foreman nor the

worker can do good

> work if they have the wrong tools or a flawed blueprint.

Orin,

Would the engineer, in this case, be our flawed genes or some other

biochemical?

Marti

June 3, 2003

-Carol (Annie O.),

Are people on Humira more susceptible to infection than people on

Enbrel or Remicade?

Marti

[Ed. Note: Not to my own knowledge. Ron]

June 4, 2003

In a message dated 6/4/03 12:25:39 AM Central Daylight Time, mlw402@...

writes:

> --

> >

> >One way to look at it is that the ones that target TNF are

> (hopefully)getting

> >closer to the incompetent workers and the one that targets

> cytokines is going

> >after the incompetent foreman. While this may be effective in the

> short term,

> >my opinion is we need to go after the engineer that is directing

> the whole

> >construction/destruction project. Neither the foreman nor the

> worker can do good

> >work if they have the wrong tools or a flawed blueprint.

>

> Orin,

> Would the engineer, in this case, be our flawed genes or some other

> biochemical?

> Marti

>

Some other biochemical centered on the adrenal glands. Its obvious that

those of us with a certain gene or group of genes are at increased risk for

developing the myriad symptoms of psoriasis but not all with those same genes

may

get the disease.

The susceptable gene is the first step, then there is a triggering factor

that must take place. This is widely varied the most common single event

apparently being strep throat, a high enough percentage to be of clinical

significance had it been properly documented in every case. The linkage was

never

documented in my case. Ask my mother. So that is one thing that has to be

defined,

what changes (permanantly?) in the body of a person with the HLA-B27 gene on

exposure to a clinicly significant known initial trigger? I have found nothing

besides a few passing comments on strep and psoriasis. It would be beneficial

to watch children who have high risk for developing psor and study them up

one side and down the other every time they get a sore throat. Then when that

sore throat develops into guttate psoriaisis you go through their charts with a

fine tooth comb and maybe someone will have an AHA! moment. We have our

trigger.

Ok once the person with the gene for it has been exposed to a trigger and

the disease process is launched(permanently?), we now have to understand

exacerbating factors. First and foremost, screaming " study me! " is stress.

Very

complicated issue, probably more in depth than defining the trigger. What does

anxiety do to body chemistry? What does fear do to body chemistry? Guilt,

shame, humiliation, embarrasment, frustration.... need I go on? Cortisol,

epinephrine, norepinephrine, DHEA, seratonin, melatonin, glycogen, cholesterol,

etc

are all affected by stress. They all have effects on body chemistry, hence

body function, and that is where I believe the perpetuating factor in psoriasis

hides.

All the focus has been on the purely mechanical aspects of psoriasis. " If we

can disable this part of the system the symptom will stop " Ok 30 years of

doing it that way and is enbrel really more effective for the first 3 months

than MTX is for someone who has never used any medicine before? You can only

disable part of a system for so long before that causes other problems.

Cortisone is the classic example. Yes it works fantasticly the best thing going

for

PA but.... Anything that 80% of the people have tried and reported sucess with

should be at the center of research right? Ok so you can only use it for a

short time because its effects are too wide ranging. Thats the reason for the

mad dash to the other end of the spectrum of very specificly targeted therapies.

Looks to me that if you want to achieve any predictable, sustainable therapy

that way you will end up taking enbrel and remicade and humira and raptiva

and CD11 and tacrolimus whatever. Wouldnt it be better to adjust the volume

knob instead of stuffing a pillow in each member of the orchestras instrument?

I dont have the figures right in front of me but I think most will agree the

available treatments for psor are psorely lacking. Until we have something

better we will have to make due with the product of that direction of research.

I just cant understand why so little importance has been placed on the

hormonal controls, specificly those associated with neuroendocrine modulation of

immune functions, that prevent the more targeted end cellular function therapies

from working for more than a short time.

You see tons of evidence that the problem is rooted not in some end line

cellular organelle but in the control of the overall system because of the fact

that it does not affect one cell type or even one organ. It apparently affects

more of them than not.

I'm working on it. My focus for the moment is on the endocrine element of

the disease. Just so much info to go through to develop an understanding of how

the hypothalimus-pituitary-adrenal axis works. Theres at least 50 major

hormones that all interact, some in very distant and subtle ways. I dont think

the

problem lies in any particular one. It is a repetitive pattern, an endless

cycle. To be able to come up with something to break that cycle requires an

understanding of the big picture. I may never figure it out in my lifetime but

I'm gonna try. Orin

June 4, 2003

In a message dated 6/3/2003 9:51:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, orinok@...

writes:

> While this may be effective in the short term,

> my opinion is we need to go after the engineer that is directing the whole

> construction/destruction project. Neither the foreman nor the worker can do

> good

> work if they have the wrong tools or a flawed blueprint.

Wow Orin. Thanks for all the info. You explained things great. The CD-4

cells that you are describing is actually white cells that attack foreign

invaders. I learned that in nursing school. It's a wonder in all this brain fog

that I remember anything.

Janet

June 4, 2003

Orin,

What do you do for a living? I hope it deals with research, because I am NOT as

patient as you are! Also, wanted to point out that my first bout with strep was

in 2nd grade. It was so bad that they though I had Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever. It

was HORRIBLE!!! I am 28, and I remember it like it was yesterday. The Dr. told

my parents that I will always be a " carrier " , whatever that means! (I guess just

that the virus will always be alive in my body?)

I do diagnostics and repair on CNC turret punch presses and CO2 lasers. Not

getting much work at that lately though. Designed production timers for a

restaurant chain and sold a few samples which they want to evaluate over a year

so that's on hold. Actually not doing much besides researching psoriasis at the

moment. As far as being a carrier of strep it is my understanding that everbody

has lots of different strains of bacteria in and on them at all times. It is

just when you become comprimised in some way that one of those bacteria get out

of control. Opportunistic infection. Orin

In a message dated 6/4/2003 8:36:18 AM Eastern Standard Time, orinok writes:

> I may never figure it out in my lifetime but

> I'm gonna try. Orin

June 4, 2003

In a message dated 6/4/2003 8:56:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,

softsweetfemme@... writes:

> I did smoke for 15 years and read that 90% of people that have this are either

smokers or ex-smokers,

> also…hypothyroidism runs high too.

Do you mean PA in general or Pustular PA? I have NEVER touched a cigarette...

that's why I ask!

June 4, 2003

Marti, I agree with Ron, not to my knowledge either. And Ron would know

better, since that is what he is on.

Carol in Vancouver

In a message dated 6/3/03 10:24:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mlw402@...

writes:

> -Carol (Annie O.),

> Are people on Humira more susceptible to infection than people on

> Enbrel or Remicade?

> Marti

>

> [Ed. Note: Not to my own knowledge. Ron]

>

June 4, 2003

-Thanks Orin. We are all behind you in your research. Reading your

thesis reminded me of my mother when I was a child. She kept saying

to the doctors..It just seems like all those sore throats changed

her,and Maybe the answer will not be the same for everyone. The Docs

would sort of smile at her indulgently. She has been gone for 3

years now and didn't get to see my skin clear from Remicade.

Sometimes Mothers really do know best!

Marti

June 4, 2003

Thanks for the info Sherrie! I am on Remicade now but sort of have in

mind that Humira may need to be the next step.

Marti>

>

June 5, 2003

Hi Again Sherri,

If you check me out in the members photos, you will see that my hair is my pride

and joy also. One question I don't remember being answered is where you are?

What state? (I could have very well missed it!)

My story is VERY different, as I feel most of ours tend to be. However, I do

think hormonal changes in my body along w/ stress are what brought the P and the

PA on. I developed Psoriasis at the age of 19, after a stressful year of

college, and most importantly (to me at least) several months after I started

birth control. I had not had a period up until that point in my life, and they

put me on a strong does of progesterone and then on birth control to start my

cycle. I was underweight most of my teen years, which put my menstrual cycle on

hold. I don't know if it was my hormones finally working that caused the P cells

to start cycling, or if it was just coincidence. I do believe my starvation mode

in high school helped keep the P at bay. At least I was skinny and P free during

the mean high school years. Kids can be so ugly at times!

I had VERY MILD P from 19-25. It mostly happened under my arms and looked more

like an allergic reaction. (That's what I thought it was for YEARS)It wasn't

until I moved to TN at age 22 that my P was diagnosed as P. I still had NO IDEA

arthritis could be related to the P. Several months after I moved to TN I

started to have pains in my knees and back. I was exercising a lot, and I

figured that's why I was in so much pain. Never dawned on me that something

could be wrong. (I take a lot of pain pretty well) My back was so painful it

hurt to drive a vehicle, and my knees hurt so bad that sex was almost

impossible. How in the world I didn't know something was wrong is beyond me! I

have always been one to blame things on my weight, so I figured that I was just

too fat to feel good. (at that time I was 165 at 5'6) Not all that fat at all!

Anyway, I started a very minimal eating diet and started walking again, and

eventually all the pains dissappeared one day... and I didn't lose any weight to

make it happen!

I was married at the time and when I was 24 I decided the marriage was the worst

decision I had made in my life. I was a successful single woman trying to make

it in the music industry, with an overly jealous husband... it doesn't work.

When I was 24 I finally got the courage to ask for a divorce (July of 1998)and

it was a VERY STRESSFUL time. A few months after things were settled I started

waking up with stiff fingers. They soon turned into sausage digits. I then

sprained my ankle in Nov. of 1999. The sprain swelled so bad I just knew I broke

it. I went to the Dr. and he said that it was only sprained. I mentioned my

fingers to him and he gave me some Naproxen (anti-inflammatory) and said I

probably have overused them at work or jammed them somehow. Anyway, a few months

later I went back to him with the fingers again... they had now turned into

sausage digits. By this time my feet would hurt the morning after I danced all

night.... I mean not being able to walk kind of hurt. The bottoms were hot to

touch. My pains tended to go away as the day would progress... definitely worse

in the morning. My Dr. had always looked at my nails, and I never knew why. He

never asked me about Psoriasis, so I never told him. (I don't have nail

involvement like many PA patients do) Finally during a visit I asked him if he

had any Dovonex, because I hadn't had a chance to get to my Derm. He asked why,

and I said I have P! He was SHOCKED to say the least. He immediately sent me to

Vanderbilt to a Rheum who diagnosed me. I went on nothing at first. Mostly my

symptoms then were extreme fatigue and stiffness first thing the in the morning.

My legs felt too heavy to walk, and my fingers would not bend. The bottoms of my

feet would hurt until around 11AM. If I sat for a long time my legs would get

really heavy as the day went on. As long as I was moving I was fine. As the

years have progressed I have started on Celebrex (July 2001) and Azulfidine

(Oct. 2002). My fingers are still painful, however they have full range of

motion now. I have more specific joint involvement now than before. Before it

was a flu like fatigue, now it's actual joint pain. I get angry at myself when

people tell me that the arthritis was looking for a home during that long

fatigue phase. I don't know that I believe that, but if it's found to be true,

then I let some serious time waste away, and it now has found a home. My knees

are involved only occasionally (like once every few years), and it's usually a

deep pain that just lasts a few days. My left ankle, my shoulder, elbow and

fingers and toes are the constant pains. The fingers have ALWAYS been painful,

the ankle and toes started about 1 year ago and the elbow and shoulder in the

last few months. It is NOT uncontrollable pain, but more of a dull stiff pain. I

worry about my ankle more than anything. It's so funny how some of these pains I

recognize from years ago, however when they happened then I had NO IDEA it was

anything! I admire you for having the courage to start strong meds first. I have

steered away from that, due to fears of side effects and giving up my options.

For the most part I deal with the pain fairly well, however these last few weeks

have been trying for me. My shoulder gets VERY TIRED from sitting at the

computer all day at work.

I think that's basically it for me. Please let me know if you have any

questions. By the way, I am in NC.

Take Care,

In a message dated 6/4/2003 8:56:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,

softsweetfemme@... writes:

> Sorry this is so long. I hope I answered all of your questions.

>

> Is your story or problems similar or totally different? I

> often wonder if anyone has similarities to their story.

>

> Sherrie

June 6, 2003

In a message dated 6/5/2003 6:13:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

pookiegut@... writes:

> I developed Psoriasis at the age of 19, after a stressful year of college,

> and most importantly (to me at least) several months after I started birth

> control. I had not had a period up until that point in my life, and they put

me

> on a strong does of progesterone and then on birth control to start my

> cycle. I was underweight most of my teen years, which put my menstrual cycle

on

> hold. I don't know if it was my hormones finally working that caused the P

> cells to start cycling, or

,

I wonder if there is a conection for females with estrogen and PA. I have

had pain for years but almost 2 years ago I was put on homone replacement

therapy and it seems that since then my pains and PA have really blossomed.

Janet

June 9, 2003

Hi Sherrie,

Have you ever been tested for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome? Many women with

irregular periods have this, and don't know it until they have problems getting

pregnant. Some other symptoms are severe fatigue, excessive hair on the face,

stomach, etc. I have not been diagnosed with PCOS, but I do have some of the

symptoms. Birth control is the best way to treat it until you start trying to

conceive. I am the same way... I wasn't having sex at 19, and I didn't want to

be on birth control because of what people might thing. I finally got over my

ignorant mind and realized my body needed it, and I started taking one that made

my skin beautiful too... so I was able to justify that it made me prettier. )

I hated the Provera. It made me so sick, so birth control was definitely a

better option for me. I took myself off of birth control for the first time this

year, (I am 28) to give my body a break. I am now having a period about every

28-35 days. Pretty exciting!

Were you ever Anorexic? I know that's where my period issues began.

By the way, I am in NC, and we say the same thing here! What do you do for a

living?

June 9, 2003