To Judy

[Guest guest]

Dear Judy,

You are in a rough spot right now. You know what is wrong, but aren’t on

any medication to really help you with the symptoms. I couldn’t take Enbrel

or Humira due to side effects, so luckily Arava seemed to really help me.

It helped with the total fatigue, though I have days still when I can’t do

anything more than sleep. It’s just not the norm now and most days my

energy level is better than it used to be.

I don’t think you sound like a baby at all. You just sound like someone in

pain and someone who is dealing with a bad disease. Don’t beat yourself up

for feeling bad, it’s perfectly normal. Everyone with PA has probably felt

like you do now, at one time or another. It’s not an easy thing to deal

with and having bronchitis on top of it has to have left you pretty run

down. As strange as it sounds, the best thing you can do is try and stay

positive. Don’t give up hope. There are lots of new medications on the

market that really do help a lot of people. Some people have had nothing

short of a miracle on Enbrel or Humira, and maybe you’ll be able to take

them after all. I’m sure once your liver is found to be ok, things will

improve. At least your doctor is being smart and having you checked out

before he tries any medication. A lot of them just jump right in and you

end up feeling like a guinea pig with all the drugs and bad reactions.

Depression also goes along with PA, simply because it’s hard to adjust to

life style changes and anyone in pain is subject to depression. Maybe after

your liver is found to be ok, you can consider being put on an

antidepressant since they also help with the pain and really do make a huge

difference in your over all outlook on things. Please don’t think I’m

saying you are crazy or anything, but dealing with PA and being so ill would

make anyone depressed and feeling down. You might not even need anything

once they get the PA under control.

I guess the main thing is just to hang in there until you get all your tests

done on your liver. My symptoms come and go too, which used to drive me

crazy, but at least now I get a break once in awhile. My life has changed

drastically since I developed PA. I used to work fulltime with my husband

in our family business, and now I stay home, don’t drive and use a wheel

chair when I go out. Believe me all that took a long time to adjust too and

deal with. But even though the past six years have been the hardest ones of

my life, I’ve found times when I’ve felt joy and when I’m still happy. It’s

a little harder now, but life is still worth living. Just hang on until you

get on some medication to treat PA. I hope this helps some. You aren’t

alone in dealing with this. You can write me anytime, at fran@...

<mailto:fran@...> and I’ll answer as soon as I can. Take care and

don’t give up. Love, Fran

I am having so much fatigue that I can hardly sit here at the computer.

I have also had a bout with bronchitis also which may add to this

drained feeling. I have had fatigue for years but never associated it

too much with anything but trying to regain energy after several

surgeries I have had in the last 3 years including on on Dec.30, last

year.

I have PA but am not on any medication yet until a work up from a liver

specialist because I extremely high liver enzymes. I am so tired and

sad. I guess I sound like a baby but I so wish I had someone who could

understand what I am going through.

One thing I am grateful for today. I am not hurting. It seems like I

don't always get all the symptoms of PA all the time, I mean together.

I am requiring about 2/3 of the day to rest.

I would love to hear from someone on here. I really need encouragement

right now.

Thank you,

Judy gunnels

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