Re: Ideas/facts on what causes flare ups..

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy

No answer to this one... although I'm sure we have lots of company

looking. From my viewpoint, yes there are triggers that can make

things happen ( fatigue, infections, emotional stress, bad weather,

bad hair day, etc ), but a flare can happen without any obvious

trigger too. Unfortunately that aspect is not completely predictable.

The flare that first sent me to the rheumatologist started while I was

on a Caribbean Cruise, the most work I did with my hands was paging

through a paperback ( I work at a computer keyboard ), I had casual

strolls in the sun, took care not to get sunburn, ate modestly, got

plenty of rest, weather was warm and sunny - in other words I can't

think of a more unlikely time for me to get a flare, but it started

then and just continued to build.

I feel for your situation, last summer I was there. No fun.

Unfortunately it can take weeks to months for some of these drugs to

work, so it can seem like forwever to find a combination that does the

trick. From what I have read, most of us can get very worthwhile

relief with drugs available today ( a much better situation than just

10-15 years ago ), so relief will come. Keep on your doctor, be

patient as best you can, and keep on trucking.

The biggest physical comforts to me last fall were ice bags and gentle

stretching / using the problem joints when I could. Hot soaks in the

mornings also were a big help - seemed to loosen me up enough to

stretch a bit and buy me some comfort for early in the day. The

biggest inconvenience was having to sleep in a recliner - my shoulders

would ache too much in bed - believe me I'd much rather sleep in a bed!

I hope the indocin continues to give you some good relief, and also

hope you can get comfortable soon. -

[Guest guest]

Judy-

I know for me personally, stress and changes in the weather have a

lot to do with my flare-ups. My skin goes crazy first and then the

arthritis starts acting up. It also depends on how much sleep i'm

getting.

The best thing for me is to realize that freaking out about little

things just causes me more pain.

Sorry i don't have more info for you!

Good luck at the rheumy

-stacy

-- In , " judith_annky "

<judyinkyjc@...> wrote:

>

> Please, if anyone can give me some insight about flare ups, I would

> appreciate it. I had a very bad flare of A over the weekend and now

> the P is acting up. Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

>

> I went back on Indomethacin 500mg. and went off the celebrex. I was

> prescribed the Indomethacin a few weeks ago for pain and

inflammation

> but I had severe GI problems. This time I took with food,had the

> imodium and nausea medicine on hand just in case, but didn't

> experience the symptoms I did last time. it worked like a miracle

on

> the joint pain. I have had relief for the last day. I am itching

bad

> tonight. I am using Sarna and atarax for the itching and it is

> improving.

>

> I see the liver specialist on Wed. regarding the high enzymes. The

> tests from the biopsy,scan and blood work are back. My first appt

> with the Ruemy if for the 28th. I will be so glad to start on

> something to help the PA finally.

>

> Thanks for listening. I would welcome some insight into the flares

> from others. I do know that weather can be a major one, but don't

> know much else about them.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Judy

>

[Guest guest]

--- judith_annky <judyinkyjc@...> wrote:

> Please, if anyone can give me some insight about

> flare ups, I would appreciate it.

My triggers

For specific joints or tendons:

- physical trauma, injury, or overuse

For general all-over fatigue and/or body-wide flare:

- stress

- strep

- inflammation or illness in an unrelated body part

(sinus, gallbladder)

- wild swings of weather (such as a typical February

and March in Missouri, where it could be below

freezing one day and 79 degrees the next) (or a severe

stormfront moving through)

- pollen season

- cold, wet winter weather

- my " time of the month "

--

=====================================================

Stein

EBAY: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZalliQ5fatticQ5f42

WEBSITE: http://www.noblefusion.com/astein

BLOG: http://www.livejournal.com/users/astein142/

-----------------------------------------------------

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear Judy and ,

Me too regarding the triggers for flares. Rest seems to be a

significant factor for me. Weather and emotional stress as well.

>

> Judy-

> I know for me personally, stress and changes in the weather have a

> lot to do with my flare-ups. My skin goes crazy first and then the

> arthritis starts acting up. It also depends on how much sleep i'm

> getting.

> The best thing for me is to realize that freaking out about little

> things just causes me more pain.

> Sorry i don't have more info for you!

> Good luck at the rheumy

> -stacy

[Guest guest]

,

I also had a hard time sleeping because of shoulder and back pain. My

daughter came home one day with one of those " memory foam " pads to put on my

bed.

It has been a life saver for me. I still have problems sleeping, but it's

not because of lack of comfort because of too much pressure on sensitive

pressure points. They are a bit pricey, but she caught it on sale. You might

want to try one.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Hi, Judy...

Most of my flares correspond to overwork,fatigue, stress, or other illness.

Then there are

the occasional " mysterious " flares that I can't account for! Since starting

Arava in the fall,

I've only had two severe flares which is a great improvement.

Good luck with the new meds!

Lucia

>

> Please, if anyone can give me some insight about flare ups, I would

> appreciate it. I had a very bad flare of A over the weekend and now

> the P is acting up. Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

>

[Guest guest]

, I can second Janet's suggestion. I bought a 3-inch thick memory foam

mattress pad for my bed from www. overstock.com. for about $130.00, I also

bought one of the pillows. They also have an 4-inch thick pad for about $160.00.

Very good investment. It helped to improve my sleep tremendously.

Carol in Vancouver, WA

-------------- Original message --------------

From: cameronparkmom@...

> ,

> I also had a hard time sleeping because of shoulder and back pain. My

> daughter came home one day with one of those " memory foam " pads to put on my

> bed.

> It has been a life saver for me. I still have problems sleeping, but it's

> not because of lack of comfort because of too much pressure on sensitive

> pressure points. They are a bit pricey, but she caught it on sale. You might

> want to try one.

> Janet

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy,

Sorry, no magic answer here. I've been fortunate to have only 1-2 major

flares and a handful of small ones. My major flares have been somewhat

self-induced, in that I overdo or do something that I know I shouldn't

be doing. My last one involved wedging a steel support under a beam in

a basement by use of a sledge hammer... I knew with each swing I

shouldn't be doing it, but did that stop me?? But it's the ones I

get away with that amaze me. Last week, I ran through an airport

lugging a 40lb duffle and smaller bag for what seemed like miles. All

the time thinking that I would be hurting later,then cramped into an

airline seat for 8 hours and nothing!!

Smaller flares aren't my fault, really!! Lack of sleep, wet weather,

sometime for no reason, and stress.

Stress is a major factor. I've learned to avert this one most times,

but it can creep up.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

Hi Janet

Thanks, great suggestion - will definitely try it! -

> I also had a hard time sleeping because of shoulder and back pain. My

> daughter came home one day with one of those " memory foam " pads...

[Guest guest]

Thanks Carol - you guys are the best! -

>

> , I can second Janet's suggestion. I bought a 3-inch thick

memory foam mattress pad for my bed from www. overstock.com. for

about $130.00, I also bought one of the pillows. They also have an

4-inch thick pad for about $160.00. Very good investment. It helped to

improve my sleep tremendously.

>

> Carol in Vancouver, WA

[Guest guest]

I did the same, and bought one for my 85-year-old father. They also carry these

at Costco. They really help.

I think my next matress will be Memory Foam.

Ruth

math_nawi <math_nawi@...> wrote:

Thanks Carol - you guys are the best! -

>

> , I can second Janet's suggestion. I bought a 3-inch thick

memory foam mattress pad for my bed from www. overstock.com. for

about $130.00, I also bought one of the pillows. They also have an

4-inch thick pad for about $160.00. Very good investment. It helped to

improve my sleep tremendously.

>

> Carol in Vancouver, WA

[Guest guest]

Thanks and everyone that wrote concerning the flare ups. Information

is so important.

I know the weather seems to be a factor for me, and stress. And like you

said it comes out of the blue when you're not under any stress and the weather

is beautiful like with your cruise. So, it's an unpredictable disease at

times.

I started the med. for the for the liver condition yesterday, and am in

hopes that the PA will get better too..

.. I have had nearly no pain for 4 days now with A, but the P has really

been bothering me. I am in hopes that the prednisone will start working for

both conditions soon. It seems like one or the other. Well, glad they don't

always come at the same time.

Judy

Have a Blessed Day!

Judy

[Guest guest]

Thanks .. I believe sleep is one of the best ways to fight this

condition. It seems that when I am rested my body reacts differently to

everything

including stress related things. Sleep has been changing for me for several

years. I don't always sleep when others do.

I sleep when I can. Fortunately I can do that. If I want to sleep days I do

and stay up at night. I turn my phone off and sleep. I figure it's not

important when I get the sleep as long as I do.

I went to sleep at 4 am yesterday and woke up at 5 pm today. I felt so

rested. It was wonderful. Now that I have the other diagnosis with the liver

rest

is more important than ever,.

Hoping that everyone is sleeping restfully and painlessly.

Judy

Have a Blessed Day!

Judy

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you know your body pretty well. That is great. Maybe I will

start a journal and write down what was going on right before a flare. Thanks

for the list.

Have a Blessed Day!

Judy

[Guest guest]

The memory foam pillows that have raised edges and a lower center for your head

are the

best. I got one last summer when the pinched nerve agony was the worst ever.

It took a

little while to get used to, but it really helped. As did the Lyrica and

Lunesta, but the

pillow deserves due credit. Tuesday Morning seems to stock them fairly often

and they

cost about 20% of what the catalogs charge.

Good luck!

Lucia

> > I also had a hard time sleeping because of shoulder and back pain. My

> > daughter came home one day with one of those " memory foam " pads...

>

[Guest guest]

My wonderful spouse bought me a Tempur-Pedic matress and pillows. I

would seriously harm anyone who tried to remove them from my house.

I don't have problems with pressure points anymore, and I sleep much

better. Still have problems falling asleep, but when I finally do,

the rest is good. I had the pillow before we got the mattress, but

the two togther are much different that just the pillow. I highly

recommend it!

I've been fighting with my pharmacy for about 2 months to get my

Enbrel again. I finally got the approval again, and should have it

by Tuesday. Hopefully, when combined with the MTX, everything will

go away, and I can be comfortable again.

> > > I also had a hard time sleeping because of shoulder and back

pain. My

> > > daughter came home one day with one of those " memory foam "

pads...

> >

>

[Guest guest]

-

Your list is so true for me. After years of experience with PA and

observing myself, I know without formal studies or medical testing that

these are the things that affect me. Very accurate. Thanks.

- Haleila

>

> Message: 9

> Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 13:11:20 -0700 (PDT)

> From: Stein <darkart42@...>

> Subject: Re: Ideas/facts on what causes flare ups..

>

> --- judith_annky <judyinkyjc@...> wrote:

>> Please, if anyone can give me some insight about

>> flare ups, I would appreciate it.

>

>

> My triggers

>

> For specific joints or tendons:

> - physical trauma, injury, or overuse

>

> For general all-over fatigue and/or body-wide flare:

> - stress

> - strep

> - inflammation or illness in an unrelated body part

> (sinus, gallbladder)

> - wild swings of weather (such as a typical February

> and March in Missouri, where it could be below

> freezing one day and 79 degrees the next) (or a severe

> stormfront moving through)

> - pollen season

> - cold, wet winter weather

> - my " time of the month "

>

>

> --

>