Re: Missing message from Sheila at s_holenda@... (NEEDS HELP)

[Guest guest]

Sheila --

I don't have any good solution for you. The fatigue is so debilitating and

the only thing that helps me is to plan rest periods. I work fulltime,

Monday through Friday, so Saturday morning until about 1:00 in the afternoon

I do very little except hold down my recliner. Then I do some errands and

laundry and then Sunday we have company for dinner or go visiting, etc. I

am able to take days off from work because I rack up a lot of comp time.

Anyway, it is about all I can do and I doubt that I will be able to do it

for a lot longer. I also use any kind of aid I need to make life easier. I

have some house cleaning help, I don't do the kind of cooking I used to

love, etc. I have given up a lot of things I really love to do so that I

can continue to do others. I am so lucky to have a retired husband who can

and does pitch in to help in countless ways.

I'm sorry that you have so much to deal with and that I don't have good

answers for your questions but someone here will.

Best Wishes, Cheri :-))

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sheila,

Sorry your doctor isn't any help! He gave you nothing for pain? My husband takes

Naproxen. I guess

that's what you are saying doesn't help you. (You may need another doctor). My

husband switched

doctors because his first doctor gave him strong meds that he didn't need yet

and made him sicker.

The rheumy he has now is also an internal medicine specialist. My husband takes

supplements and

gets extra rest when he's extra tired. And he exercises whenever he can. He

rides his bike, does the

Total Gym and plays golf. Now, I have fibromyalgia and other ailments and I

don't have the energy

or gumption to do all that. LOL I'm looking into bio-identical hormones, waiting

for test results. I've

heard many women have had tremendous improvements with these hormones with

energy, endur-

ance etc.

I know that this topic isn't directly related to PA. However, if your hormones

are diminished they can

add to your fatigue and problems. And it's not just for women! Progesterone is a

hormone both sexes

use. It can be converted to cortisol and or other sex hormones. My husband is

using a progesterone

cream daily and says he's seen an increase in energy and endurance from that.

(He's 55. As we all

get older these hormones diminish. But especially for us women, the estrogen

declines but the

progesterone declines faster and can cause estrogen dominance that has a long

list of symptoms.)

If anyone is interested in information about this, I have 5 e-mails I can send

you that explains

estrogen dominance, natural progesterone and one e-mail invites you to another

list like this

where you can get more info or even get a discount on a progesterone cream. I

just hate to see

people suffering, not knowing about this. Because more than likely you won't

find out about this

at your doctor's . I was lucky that my new GYN actually suggested being tested

for these bio-identical

hormones. Some decide to be tested and some just look at the symptoms and

realize they are

estrogen dominant and start using the natural progesterone cream. (Be careful

not to get a cream

that lists wild yam as the source of progesterone as if your body will convert

it. If wild yam is the

SOURCE of progesterone it has to be converted in the lab so that the

progesterone is in the cream).

Then there's my husband who realizes with his age and symptoms that it might

help him and he

started using it and it does help him.

So feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to read these e-mails.

Oh, another thing my husband has found to help some. He took Tai Chi lessons a

long time ago and

learned Qi Gong also. The Qi Gong has helped him with pain in his hands.

in VA

[Guest guest]

Hi Shelia,

I have to disagree with your doctor. If you are in such pain and

having such fatigue even with the NSAID's, that should tell them

something. Docs can't act that way, usually to me that is a sign to

switch rheumy's. Some docs need to go back to school to learn

bedside manners. If they keep waiting on the disease modifing drugs

then there is only more damage being done to your body. I have not

really tried any herbal/alternitave therapies. If it were me,

knowing what I know now, I think I week seek a second doc just to

see if they both agree. Good luck and I hope you do get some help.

Keli

> Sheila's original message was misplaced and is as follows. Please

give her

> any advice that you can.

>

> Jack

> Newsletter Editor

>

> Hi, I've suffered with debilitating fatigue and pain coupled with

mild

> psoriasis

> for years and, until recently, I thought I had only fibromyalgia

and chronic

> fatigue syndrome, which I was finally " officially " diagnosed with

a couple

> years ago. I didn't realize that the PA, which I was diagnosed

with about

> 15

> years ago, could cause fatigue and so much pain. I finally saw a

> rheumatologist this morning, who gave me the the good news that,

in his

> opinion, I don't need to take disease-modifying drugs. This was

great to

> hear,

> but what do I do about the pain and fatigue? I feel like I'm

right back

> where I

> have been for so many years. NSAID's just don't cut it, and they

do

> absolutely

> NOTHING for the fatigue! I guess my questions are: 1) what

alternative

> treatments have people had the most success with? and 2) is it

normal for

> rheumatologists to be indifferent to the suffering of their

patients? and 3)

>

> Should I be pushing to be put on meds, given the exten of my pain

and

> fatigue? Any advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thank you, -

sheila

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

That interests me a great deal. My rheumy tested me for cortisol

level they said i might have cushings syndrom though the endocrine

doc disagreed. I had a high cortisol level. I also have polycystic

ovary syndrome which basically I have too much of I think

testosterone sp? not sure, anyway i'm going to see my gyn on tues.

Would love some info.

Keli

> Hi, Sheila,

> Sorry your doctor isn't any help! He gave you nothing for pain? My

husband takes Naproxen. I guess

> that's what you are saying doesn't help you. (You may need another

doctor). My husband switched

> doctors because his first doctor gave him strong meds that he

didn't need yet and made him sicker.

> The rheumy he has now is also an internal medicine specialist. My

husband takes supplements and

> gets extra rest when he's extra tired. And he exercises whenever

he can. He rides his bike, does the

> Total Gym and plays golf. Now, I have fibromyalgia and other

ailments and I don't have the energy

> or gumption to do all that. LOL I'm looking into bio-identical

hormones, waiting for test results. I've

> heard many women have had tremendous improvements with these

hormones with energy, endur-

> ance etc.

> I know that this topic isn't directly related to PA. However, if

your hormones are diminished they can

> add to your fatigue and problems. And it's not just for women!

Progesterone is a hormone both sexes

> use. It can be converted to cortisol and or other sex hormones. My

husband is using a progesterone

> cream daily and says he's seen an increase in energy and endurance

from that. (He's 55. As we all

> get older these hormones diminish. But especially for us women,

the estrogen declines but the

> progesterone declines faster and can cause estrogen dominance that

has a long list of symptoms.)

> If anyone is interested in information about this, I have 5 e-

mails I can send you that explains

> estrogen dominance, natural progesterone and one e-mail invites

you to another list like this

> where you can get more info or even get a discount on a

progesterone cream. I just hate to see

> people suffering, not knowing about this. Because more than likely

you won't find out about this

> at your doctor's . I was lucky that my new GYN actually suggested

being tested for these bio-identical

> hormones. Some decide to be tested and some just look at the

symptoms and realize they are

> estrogen dominant and start using the natural progesterone cream.

(Be careful not to get a cream

> that lists wild yam as the source of progesterone as if your body

will convert it. If wild yam is the

> SOURCE of progesterone it has to be converted in the lab so that

the progesterone is in the cream).

> Then there's my husband who realizes with his age and symptoms

that it might help him and he

> started using it and it does help him.

> So feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to read these e-mails.

> Oh, another thing my husband has found to help some. He took Tai

Chi lessons a long time ago and

> learned Qi Gong also. The Qi Gong has helped him with pain in his

hands.

> in VA

[Guest guest]

Hi, Keli,

Yes, I believe PCOS has high testosterone. You might want to read some of Hans

Selye's information

on the adrenals. There are stages of adrenal fatigue or exhaustion and before

you develop low

cortisol, you'll have high cortisol due to stress. Did they do an ACTH stim test

or just tested

your cortisol level? If they just tested your cortisol level, did they just test

AM or 4 times during

the day?

I'll go send you the info now before I forget it! LOL

in Va.

-----

,

That interests me a great deal. My rheumy tested me for cortisol

level they said i might have cushings syndrom though the endocrine

doc disagreed. I had a high cortisol level. I also have polycystic

ovary syndrome which basically I have too much of I think

testosterone sp? not sure, anyway i'm going to see my gyn on tues.

Would love some info.

Keli