Dieting with Obstacles - FRIENDS WITH RA & OA....

WELL....I DID IT!!!! I'M SOOOO PROUD OF MYSELF!! :lol:

First time I tried to start a second thread. Hope all find us.

Rita...you know you're welcome. I'm just so glad you came into our thread, & it's growing. Remember...it's not mine....I just started it out of desperation for someone who knew & understood the pain I endure. I also have OA, so I understand your suffering also. If anyone is lurking....whether you have RA, OA, or ANY health problem that you need someone to talk to about, come on in. Who knows, we just might keep adding to the name of the thread! :coffee:

Stirfried....DQ!!!! I love it! My car just naturally wants to turn in every time I go to town! I found they have delicous chicken salads. The grilled chicken is great! Stay away from the ice cream, though. :lol:
It was me that wanted to exercise in water. We DO have a public indoor pool in town, but, no one will go with me, & I don't want to go alone. I've asked everyone I know. DH keeps saying he's going to buy me one. But, we had a housefire in November of 2002 that we're still rebuilding from, so I don't see that we'll get a pool soon! You wanted to know more about us. That's been my life for almost 2 yrs. A new Maytag range caused a fire in our house...then someone stole everything we had in public storage as we were rebuilding! Our furniture that survived the fire, sentimental things, clothes, all we had accumulated in 35 yrs of marriage! We had to fight to keep from getting very bitter. I had rather it all burned than someone purposely hurt us. Insurance gave us a rough time....had to get an attorney. Maytag has finally settled with an amount that's still not enough to build back. So, we're having to go after the store that sold it to us....it was still under warranty, & the repairman they sent kept saying (during 6 weeks) that he didn't know how to fix it.) Apparently he was right. :( We don't like lawsuits...but, got to have a house. Not asking for a mansion..you would think so, the way they treat us. Oh well....you ask to know more. Anyway, I went into depression & ate myself from a size 10 to a size 16. I'm now back to size 8-10 & trying to maintain....not easy, as I still fight depression.

Linus....I'm glad you're able to get all the things you need. It's very hard here to get anything. We have to be just about dirt poor to get any kind of help. I'm poor....just not dirt poor, yet... :^: I have to pay for all my prescription meds (which is a lot), except for my Remicade treatments. Good thing...they're almost $3,000 a treatment.

Gotta go for now....hope everyone finds us alright. Take care & hope all are feeling as well as possible. http://www.wholesalecountrygiftware.com/images/Graphic_free_8_angel_4.gif

Good morning OA and RA friends!

Busy busy days here. Feeling decent for a change. Took my dog for a nice long walk last night.

Have a great, pain free day!

Hi Angel and everyone else.......Angel didnt you do well....I loved your final post on the other thread, it did make me laugh. I like Linus dont have to pay for my prescriptions or splints etc., not sure I would be able to if came about that we had to. I really dont know how you manage. Angel that was such a sad story relating to your home. Stress is one of the worse things for RA. Nobody likes a court case but sometimes its the only way to get back what you deserve and I really do hope you win your case bigtime.
Well I just wanted to say Hi and have a nice day. Catch you all soon.

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Wave.gifHi everybody! Well...got through hump day! :lol: Raining this evening & going to be very stormy tomorrow....so...aches & pains!! :o

Glad you two made it!! Maybe the others will check in soon...hope so.

Don't worry about me, Iamgonndoit...I'll bounce back from everything. It just takes time. This board has helped me soooo much through it all. I'm on a couple of other threads, also. Everyone has helped me through so much!

Kim....glad you're having a good day. So nice to hear!

Well....gonna go for awhile...talk to you all later. :gossip: http://media.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/1994/grandmomcomputer.gif

Good Morning Ladies!! Im Michelle an stay at home mother of 2 girls ages 2 (Taylor) and 6 months (Teagan). While I dont have OA/RA I have hypothyroidism and Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, which is an autoimmune disease that has damaged my lungs. I have officially started atkins diet today...but have been exercising daily for awhile now My husband has ordered the WATP tapes for me and my sister has given me her treadmill so even when its icky out...like today....I can still go walking. Well I just thought I would introduce myself to you all and I hope today finds you well and pain free :) Have a wonderful day girls
Michelle

Hi Michelle Welcome....... I am Pam and I live in the UK but have sons living in the States so I cross the pond about three times a year to visit. I am actually flying out next Thursday for a week to see my Son and his family and my Grandson for the second time. He was born last August. I suffer with RA and OA and its a real pain in the butt if you have your heart set on losing weight as I have. My daughter bought me a Gravity Strider yesterday. Its very easy to use and low impact. She was going to get me a manual treadmill but thought it would be harder to use on my off days than the strider. Its all good fun eh? I do walk a couple of times a week but no way as much as I should. I also dance around with Richard Simmons videos that I bought in the states. They are various levels so I am able to do those most of the time. Sometimes it hurts like **** but i dont give up. I have lost 26lbs since the middle of Jan. and I have another 50lbs to lose, or 3 dress sizes. I am not under any illusions I know I will never be slim but I really mean to get thinner and fitter. Anyway its great that you joined us and will chat to you soon.....Hi to everybody else, hope you are all having a good day.

hi Pam!!
Its really great that you are making such a valiant effort to get and stay fit I applaud you for that and congratulations on your 26lb loss YAYYYYYYY!!!! Thankfully I have an electric treadmill since my lungs would give out if I had to do some heavy exertion thats basically why I chose walking for my form of exercise my lungs cant handle aerobics and such lol. Well I hope all is well with everyone!!
Take Care

Hi,
Michelle, When did you start you diet and workout plan? I have R.A. and I have only lost 4 lbs in 2 months. Not good I know. I am recommiting myself to this way of life to be healthier and hopefully thinner.
I received a post from someone in scotland, but I can't find the post again. I wanted to post back maybe she will read this and write.
I was told to add grapefruit juice 1 glass before meals helps to get you metabolism going so I am trying it.
Please someone write back. :^:
Laura (stirfried)
weight 191
goal181 for now
final goal 130 :shrug:

Bye for now

Hi Laura and welcome!! I dont have OA/RA I was invited to join this chat cuz Im a loner hehe jk I have pulmonary sarcoidosis and hypothyroidism and no one else seemed to have the same ailments as I. I just started my atkins today but I have been walking consistently for about 3 weeks now :) Again welcome and Post as often as you need this group of women is great they always lend an ear :)

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/MexicanWave.gifYAYYYY!!!! Michelle!!!! You DID join us!! So glad. I think you'll like it here...we're a friendly bunch of folks!! In pain....but, friendly. ;) I hope your diet works for you. Keep us posted.

Stirfried....try drinking more water. The more water I drunk, the more weight I lost. Gotta remember, also....RA retains fluid. I got to where my legs & feet were swelling pretty bad. The Dr. found my blood pressure staying high, so put me on a blood pressure med that had diuretic in it. The fluid is down, but my blood pressure rises easily, & will have nose bleeds.

Iamgonnadoit......that illusion will turn into a reality! :cb: That's close to what I lost (47 lbs)...so...know that it WILL happen....& YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :D

Hi Rita, Kim, everybody.....shoot....starting a new thread doesn't give me the older posts to remind me of everybody's names. Sorry...I'm just old....I still like you all!!!:( http://www.goofyfun.com/1/older3.gif

Hi,
I know I should drink more water and I'm lucky if I get down 3 bottles of water. How Much water did you drink? Even before the R.A. i have always retained water. Oh well Thats just my luck. I never had a problem losing weight before. But it probably harder as you get older and also the not sticking to my plan day by day.
I am going to stick to it this week, instead of like before where I was good for 2 days and then bad for a day or more. I just have to try harder. But it seemed even when I did stick to the diet I still didn't lose. I will just keep trying until I get it right. I am really commited myself to do this :coffee: :wave:

Hi Angel. How's it going. Hope you are feeling better than you were a while ago. We have just moved 100 miles south of where we lived in Edmonton, Ab. FM pain has flared up, but it too, shall pass :)

I have NOT yet made a committment to a new life style. Had to get some yeast problems under control first. Still not sure it is gone. It had gone systemic, so it takes a while.

Iamgonnadoit - very good. You should be proud of yourself for losing 26 pounds since January. I wish I could say that :lol: I live in Western Canada. I loved England when I was visiting there.

Michelle - Welcome to 3Fat Chicks. It is a great site. I usually post on the Dieting with FM. I wonder why they don't change the title of that to Dieting with Chronic Pain, as we all have the same problems - meds, not being able to exercise etc.

I also have OA. Right at the moment that seems to be held at bay. Let's just hope it stays there. FM is the culprit at the moment. Had a few days of severe fatigue, but that now seems to be passing. We moved on the 31 March and are now all settled in our new home. We did move to a condo (apt) style as hubby does not enjoy yard work, and it is impossible for me to do it. The OA is in the Facet Joints of the lower back, and those are the joints that allow motion, so most movements hurt.

Rita, nice to see you over here as well. I imagine once Joanne gets through Easter, she will be over here as well.

Hope you all have a nice Easter.

Goodness Happy well I wish you the best of luck!! I hear ya on the extreme fatigue I get so tired sometimes when my thyroid hormones are off...but the last 2 days have actually been ok not too tired until later in the evening...I didnt take a nap yesterday and ended up falling asleep in my recliner and didnt wake up and make it to my bed til after midnight lol.

Is everyone ready for easter? I am!!! Well hope you are all doing well and pain free!!
Take Care

Hi Folks! I thought I would check out whos been posting as I am sitting here having had a real grott night. In fact I have had a few grott nights lately. Does anybody else find their RA is particularly grotty at night. I mean I have never been one for "doing mornings", I do get up early but but it takes me forever to get going as I am so stiff and achy but just lately the nights have been so disturbed. My legs always ache and I have had a dodgy shoulder that catches me everytime I turn over. Sorry to start the day with a moan, just that I needed a sounding board, and when I am tired I am tetchy. I dont go and see my Rheumy until the end of May and when my bloodwork came back last week my esr was up a bit so thats probably why I am having a winge. Anyway I will be ok once I start moving about I am sure. What is the weather like over there, especially the East coast. Its rained here every day since forever , in other words cant remember the last dry day. :rain: They say on the forecast our summer is not going to get started til the end of July. I think thats a bit far fetched really. I do hope we have a touch better weather in CT when I fly in on Thursday. Right thats my moan and now I have to get positive for the rest of the weekend at least. Whats everybody doing with their Easter break. I have my 13 year old Grandaughter staying with me. I love having her stay, gives you that feeling of being needed again. You know the one I mean , like when all your kids leave home and you wonder why you are still on the planet. The big hole in your life that you have to find interestests to fill. We do find those interests. I have ponies and dogs. I was breeding Welsh Mountain Ponies til I found it was getting a bit much for me. We still have four and we borrow kids and teach them to ride. My DH also breaks them for driving. What do you all do for interests. I know Angel sounds really busy with her Church and TV work but what about the rest of you.
Well I am going to think about sorting my day so I had better make a start with breakfast. Have a great weekend, an interesting and varied one. Try and resist the temptation of chocolate... :lol: I have a terrific looking easter bunny on my unit that I know I will eat. Well its only once a year eh? I havent had any chocolate since Christmas and a little bit of what you fancy does you good they say. ;) Talk to you soon.

Iamgonnadoit- Im sorry to hear you havent been feeling well the last few nights hopefully that'll change in the next couple of days...I'll be thinking of you.
Take Care

HI! just hopeing that everyone has a great Easter and a pain free day Rita

Hi everyone,
Has anyone tried this diet?? I think I am going to try it. A friend says it is working for her. So Maybe it will for me.
I hope everyone is havinf a pain free day. Unfortunaly I'm not. Did to much yesterday.

My daughter is getting married in sept. I'm so excited. We went to Davids Bridal in Portland yesterday, and she picked out a beautiful strapless dress. It only took about an hour for her to pick which dress she wanted. Then we went to a huge mall, and I walked around all day. I knew I should not have done that because it was too much for my R.A. By the time I saw a wheel chair to use we were almost done. So here I sit today tired and in pain. But It was worth it just to be there with jenny (daughter) to see her in her dress. It is a 2wonderful memory. I know I sound all gushy but I can't help it.
Happy easter to all!!! I hope your day is ful of peace and love, and painfree
Laura :angel: :cloud9: :balloons:

Happy Easter!!!

Gosh Im sooo tired today I stayed up too late putting together my daughters easter basket and eggs, now I wont get a nap today, plus the diet is just kickin my butt Ive been feeling even more sleepy since I started it but I think once I adjust to the new way of eating I will be ok. Well its One O'clock and I still havent given in to a chocolate craving yayyyyy!!!! So its day 4 of my diet and Im still going strong Im so proud of myself :) I haven't cheated not even once and It feels great!! Everytime I feel like giving in to a craving I come and Post here and then I feel better.

Well I hope this post finds you all well and Pain free Im thinking of you all!!
Take Care

Sorry folks that I haven't been around much lately. My nephew passed away very suddenly on Thursday. (he was 25). I haven't felt like doing much of anything lately, especially online. It just all seems so pointless right now.
Anyway, didn't want to be rude. Noticed there were some new posters. Welcome everyone.

I'll be back when I'm feeling better about life.

Kim

Yayyyy...Michelle!! :cb: :cb: No chocolate!! That's great!! It's amazing what will power we can have, sometimes, isn't it?! I didn't eat chocolate....but I hit the jelly beans pretty heavily. :p I've gained about 3 or 4 lbs back of my weight loss last summer...so, I've gotta be careful. I get Remicade next Monday & will have to weigh...so, gonna try to get it off! I hope you feel better soon. :coffee:

Laura....I remember those wedding-shopping days. I have 3 daughters! :D I could hardly breathe when I saw my daughters in their gowns for the first time! :o Hope you didn't do a lot of damage. Sometimes when you overdo like that, it'll cause a flare up. Seems like everything causes flare ups!

Iamgonndoit....I'm so sorry you're having such bad pain. Yes, my RA is worse at night. In fact, the pain, stiffness, & fatigue gets worse as the day wears on. By the time I go to bed, I'm totally "gone". I usually fall right to sleep http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Zzzz2.gif But, then wake up around 3 am & can't go back to sleep.http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Count%20Sheep.gif I usually get up & get on pc. My life is really miserable, except for my family & (as you said) the TV station & church. I love to sing...& although I'm not very good...I made a tape a few years ago, & was fairly successful. So, I'm in the process of making another. I've got the cover finished...ready to record. I'll probably do what I ended up doing with the first one, & give most of them away! :lol:I'll put a picture of the cover in here.
I/we also have 2 horses. Molly & Milly. They are pets for our grands.

Hello Happy Canuk!! So glad to hear from you. Sad that the other thread phased out. :( Please drop by more often. I miss you...& the others... a lot!

Well, it's been very rainy the last few days....& my RA has made me miserable!! I was so ill yesterday & last night, I couldn't hardly stand my own self! I apologized to DH after going to bed last night for being so bad. He was sweet. Said he HAD BEEN looking forward to the evening http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Sex.gif but, he understood. :^:
Well....getting late...gotta get ready for work. Hope all have a good day.
http://www.eakles.com/136preciouscouple.gif

Hello Ladies!!

Just wanted to check in and see how you are alll doing I hope you all had a wonderful painfree weekend and Monday. I am still doing great on my diet I still havent given in to any cravings and I have lost 7lbs in the week and a half since I have started to diet, I was so happy to see that :D. Well everyone I need to read my little ones a bedtime story. Have a great evening!!
Take Care!

Hey everyone,
How are you feeling today. I feel kind of tired not so much pain mostly tired. My knee and wrists are really gravely and my left wrist is getting bad again. Tomorrow I find out if my referral goes through so I can my an appt with my rummey. I think he needs to take another sed rate test.
I have just started the southbeach diet and I have heard that it works I hope so. Will let you know.
I had a eat all the icecream day for 2 days and boy did I gain water from the salt. So My weight is up higher than usally,but thats okay here are my stats.

stats
195
current goal
185
real goal
130 :spin: :shrug:

Hey stirfried!! Good Luck with SB Im sure you'll do wonderful on it :D. Yes we gotta watch that salt in take, I know when I eat too much salt I bloat up like right away!!!

Everyone else...Hello I hope you are all feeling well, and hope to see a post from you soon :D
Take care

Hi,

My name is Colleen. I'm 38, and weigh about 370 lbs. I have osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic bursitis, chronic sinusitis, severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and possibly autoimmune disease (affecting the sinuses, lungs, and possibly thyroid).

In the past few months, I've finally received some answers (thanks to trading in my old doctor for another GP and four specialists), as to why I was sick and/or exhausted every minute of the day.

An ear nose and throat specialist found a large hole in my nose, that (since I've never snorted cocaine or any other substance) indicates early autoimmune disease. A rheumatologist diagnosed the fibromyalgia. A sleep study showed severe apnea, and the pulmonologist (lung doctor) said that resolving the sleep apnea would improve all of my other health problems, so
now I sleep with a machine that blows air down my nose.

Losing weight will also help improve (if not cure) all my health problems. It's just such an unending cycle of pain making exercise difficult, and the stress making me hungry, and the eating and lack of exercise making me fatter, making exercise even more difficult..... It's time to break the chain.

My husband is also very heavy, and diabetic. We're trying to encourage each other in good habits, but we haven't gotten good at being strong when the other is weak.

We have started going to the gym twice a week, and doing something active on the weekend (well active, for me - which means something like shopping or garage sales. Even though my husband weighs almost as much as I do, he's strong as an ox. His idea of a good gym workout is an hour of weight lifting, followed by half an hour of walking and then half an hour of swimming,
followed by another half an hour between the whirlpool and sauna (In which time I've finished my workout, gotten dressed, read the newspaper and all the gym's brochures, and begun to wish I'd brought along a novel).

For me, I'm just so frustrated that everything I can do amounts to "baby steps." It is going to take me years to reach goal, and months to see much progress.

Thanks for listening to the rant!

http://www.countryclipart.com/PrimAngelsSet6/set6angelwelcomesign.gif Colleen!! Glad you joined us! It IS very frustrating to go through so much & not know what's wrong. I've been there quite a few times. Happy you finally found the Drs you need. Sorry you're having so many health problems. You've come to the right place to "rant" or "whatever". We all understand, & will listen. :coffee: Congratulations on your decision to lose & get healthy! Oh...it must be nice to have a husband to diet/exercise with! My DH stays too busy. I wish I had a place to go to a pool. I know it would help. We have one in town, (I'm in the country) but, no one will go with me. The biggest relief I get is the Jacuzzi tub in the bath. I wish you LOTS of luck, & it WILL help your health. I lost 47 lbs last summer, & can tell SUCH a difference! :cb: Please stay with us, & let us all help each other!

Michelle.....7 lbs!! http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Excited.gifhttp://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Greenbounce.gifDoing good, girl! Hope you're feeling good today!

Stirfried....Hope your referral goes through. Sorry you're not feeling well. We've had several days of rain, but the sun is out now, & suppose to stay for awhile!http://timbuktu.eluria.com/magooblinkies/bsun.gif
That will help me a lot. I'm getting a Remicade treatment Monday....needed it a few days ago. Gotta hold on a little while longer. I always dread weighing, before the treatment...afraid I've gained. So far, it's only showed a two pound gain in a year. Seems like it's more, though, so I may have gained in inches. :o

Hello Kim, Rita, Iamgonnadoit, everybody.....have a good Hump-day! (This is what I wish I looked like! Well....I AM blonde! LOL) http://media.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/1437/woman_on_corvette_md_wht.gif

Good Morning Ladies!!

Angel - How are you doin girly? Good luck on your remicade treatment. Tomorrow Im having my wisdom teeth out but I'm sure I'll get a post in before I go to the dentist :) I'm gonna be living off chicken broth and jello for a few days :)

Colleen - Welcome!! I know exactly what you are going through, last year was a big medical ordeal for me, I have an auto immune disease in my lungs too called sarcoidosis, had your doctor mentioned this illness to you? It can attack any part of your body but, with sarcoid it usually goes into "remission" on its own but with some patients it leaves permanent lung damage and the patient can have periodic "flame ups" which is what I have. At first when doctors first noticed that my Lymph glands were enlarged they thought I had lymphoma thank god it wasn't :) whoops sorry I got to talkin on about myself lol.

Everyone else I missed I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend Can't wait to hear from you!!

Take Care

Angel - quick question....how do you get your blinkies in your post I've tried getting mine in but it won't let me :( Let me know :D
Thanks

Angel loverAngel lover, How are you doing. I am sorry to hear about you fire. Iknow I'm slow.just forgot to tell you that.Hey does your muscle hurt kinda like fybro but not I have a lot of muscle pain. And now my hips are starting to hurt . And my wrist is bad again, and my knees are so gritty.. don't you just hate that I am not sure how to work this font thing. I have lost 1.5 lbs since I started my southbeach diet. But I can't really count that as weight loss yet,because my weight has always flucuated one or two lbs. so I will let you know in a couple of days. You always lose lots of weight at first on the diet than after the 2 weeks you slow down to 1-3 lbs a week. Heck right now I would settle for any weight loss in a week.

How is everyone doing today. I hope pain free and losing weight. I am on humira anyone on HUMIRA, I don't think it is working to well.
Nothing is as bad as I was last year my sed rate was 134, and it hurt my feet so bad at the bottoms to walk without support. I pray I do not get that bad again.
Yake care all

Laura :) :coffee:

Sorry for the bad spelling . I meant fibromyalgia, also no puncuation. I just forget to do it some times. Hope you could read my post.
Someone post back about their meds and let me know about the Humira. I can't take methotrexate causes me to stop makinf red blood cell. Even thought I should be taking it with my Humira. Its probably why I still have some pains.
Laura

Hi Again!

Angel - It's only the Jacuzzi afterward, that gets me to the gym. I wish my husband and I were as good at helping each other on our diets, as we are at helping each other off them!


MichelleRae, I can really relate. I just hate not knowing what is going on in my body. My doctor says, if we're lucky, we will never know what is wrong with me. Autoimmune symptoms overlap so much, that online you will even see articles on "overlap" disease. And it seems that many autoimmune diseases are diagnosed based on what organs are damaged. Which is why my doctor says we'll be lucky if we never know what I have, it will mean that we were able to get it in remission before it did enough damage to give a name. Because of the amount of tissue damage in the nose, the ENT doctor suspects Wegener's granulomatosis (which was fatal in about 80% of cases only 20 years ago - but it also wasn't generally diagnosed until a patient was in organ failure - there's no way to tell how many, if any patients went into remission or lived with the undiagnosed disease). Wegener's damages the nose, sinuses, lungs, and sometimes the kidneys. I definitely have nose, lung, and sinus "issues" but thankfully no sign of kidney problems. The rheumatologist say's it's too early to tell but thinks Behcette's disease would be more likely than Wegener's.
It attacks the mucous membranes especially nose, lining of the mouth, and eyes.

You can tell, I've probably done more reading that I should have. It's both frightening and reassuring.

As for getting my health in order, it's about time. I never should have let myself get in this condition. Water under the bridge, though. Tomorrow, I am going to the Weight Watcher's (scared to see what I'll find, since I am most likely over 380 lbs!)

Colleen- Well you'll get through it I know you will :) You must be strong or you wouldnt be here :) Good luck at your WW meeting tomorrow :) Sorry can't type more I just had my wisdom teeth out and I'm a bit loopy and ready for bed :) I hope you are feeling better!!
Take Care

Hi everybody.....Hope this beautiful Friday brings a pain free day to you all.http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/b/sun14.gif

Michelle....Hope you're doing better. I've had that done, & it's not a lot of fun. Take those meds girl...& just sleep through it! The blinkies are added through a paid program. I also have Emotipad to store most of my graphics in. It's a one time fee of around $12.00. Just "drag & drop" . These lately, are some I "borrowed" from another thread on this board. Another friend likes to use graphics a lot, & we borrow from each other. :coffee:

Colleen...I believe you'll do well with weight watchers. It's different than it used to be. Easier to stay on the diet. Several years ago, I tried the older program they had. We had to cook all meals by certain weights & spec. My whole family lost weight....except me....NONE!!

Laura....thanks for the thoughts on the fire. I'm ok. I fight depression a lot. It'll be 2 yrs in November, & we still live in the middle 2 rooms of the house. Sleeping on mattresses on the floor, & getting cooking water out of bathroom. It's a lot to explain. We didn't get enough ins money to hire contractors, so DH is having to build back....just about alone. Sometimes our children are here to help...but, most of them live off. It'll happen though. Yes, my muscles hurt. My Neurologist suspicioned Fibromyalgia, also...but, said I'd been through so much, he wouldn't test. I already had OA in back, legs, arms, hips, knees, etc from car wreck in '83 that put me on permanent disability. He said the treatment for RA would help the Fibrom. , if I had it.
Have you tried the Remicade? I don't suppose you can take it, though, if you can't take the Methotrexate. My Dr says I HAVE to have it to help protect during Remicade treatments. My white blood count stays low. Sometimes it gets so low that they have me cut back on it for a week or two until it goes back up. I HATE :mad: it....I have almost all the side effects......but gotta take it, I guess. The Remicade is a miracle worker for me. Once I'm over the first three days...I do quite a bit better for the next 4-5 weeks. I'm allergic to most meds....& highly sensitive during the treatments....so they drug me up a lot. For 3 days, I'm homebound. :(

Hello Kim & Rita....drop in & let us know how you're doing. Hope all have a good day!!
http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/b/mickey1.gif

Michellerae, I hope I spelled that right. Boy am I haveing a bad day with the pain. Oh Well we endure!! I hate this desease. It is so dibilitating. I don't that that I am not able to do as much as I use to. Heck I have trouble just walking anymore, Iknow you all feel that way to. Its so hard to play with my 6 yr old grandson, but he tries to understand. Kids can be so sweet like that.
Angel-lover, YEA! I got my referral, now I hope the doctor figues out something that can help along with the humira. I am taking a lot of pain meds just to get through the days sometimes especdially if I have to take care of buisness in town shopping etc.
I hope everyone else are feeling good.
This is the second day of my diet, so far so good. This southbeach diet is hard. I am doing the first 2 weeks like the Atkins totally noi carbs for two weeks and then back to the S.B. diet. I hope combining this two diet works. I think I lost another 1/2 lb.

Take care all. God bless

stats
195
lost 2 lbs
193
current goal
185
final goal
130

Great news! I started Weight Watchers today at 373 lbs. 7 lbs less than when I was at the rheumatologist 3/19 and 5 lbs less than my highest Weight Watchers weight (My husband and I joined about two months ago, but we quit when he lost his job). Too bad WW doesn't give "family" discounts. Oh well.

The pain and fatigue have been improving (mostly because of the steroids - I know it's a dance with the devil, but with quality of life at stake, what can you do?)

I'm sleeping better, but I find it so hard to get and stay comfortable. I need a new mattress pad. I saw a tempur-pedic knockoff at SAMS and wondered if it would do the trick. The price tag is still steep at $104.00. The little egg crate type aren't any help. I had a great featherbed a couple years ago, I could mush it around myself and under all the parts that needed support. But when I moved in with my husband, his cat peed on it! And I found out, there's just no good way to wash a featherbed!

hello again how are we all well apart from not being here for a long time everythings going great on the weight front anyway :?: pains been horrid but then what do i expect i live in scotland where wed all die of shock if it didnt rain at least once a day :rain: :rain: :rofl: angel ive read the back posts and still no joy on the insurance front ! hopefully it will be all over soon and you can get back to some form of normality :goodluck: :goodluck: well there are so many new people here im not going to even try and get through you all so ill just say a big WELCOME to you all
well im going to go and do some more housework and will pop back in later i will keep in touch more the kids go back to school on tuesday so i will be able toget a bit more organised{not too much it just wouldnt be me} and ill get back to you all later
kirsty

sorry should have said ive now lost 24 pound since the first of march and ive now joined slimming world you would not beleive what you are allowed to eat on this diet its great
kirsty

Oh, I'm here. I'm lurking but not posting much these days. We buried my nephew today. Not even the pain meds for the kidney stone I seem to have acquired helped.
:(

Take care everyone..

Kim

khewes im so sorry to hear of your bereivement the younger they are the more unfair and unjust and just down right impossible to handle it is we had to bury a close freinds daughter two years ago due to a road accident she was only twelve this wee lass was raised with my son and went to the same schools as him and was just a great wee lass with a heart as big as scotland and even now when your least expecting it shell pop into my head its usually when theres something happening in ds life and i think this should have been her too it does get a bit easier i can remember the good things first but i would still say it hurts like **** and with yours being such a close family member it must be twice as hard hoping you are able to soon remember the good times too
kirsty

Hi everybody....hope all feel better than I do tonight! http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Sigh.gif It's all I can do to walk or bend or anything for the pain & stiffness. And soooo fatigued! I get my Remicade tomorrow, though...so help is on the way. Remember, I'm "out of it" for a couple of days...so you may not hear from me....unless it's very short.

Linus...congratulations!! Lots of weight gone!! :cb: :cb: You're doing great! You need to post your diet for us...what you're allowed to eat. :D Also, we need a before/after pic!! ;) Thanks for the encouragement on the house. It's coming along a little faster now. The ins did pay...just not enough. Maytag finally paid a little. But, we're having to go after the store now...to finish the building. We exchanged rooms today. We've been living in 2 rooms in the middle of the house. The spare bedroom was where we slept (mattresses on floor) & the master bedroom was a make-shift kitchen. Today we traded rooms...& put TV couch, etc in living room. So for the first time in 1 1/2 years we're sleeping in our own room tonight! No sheetrock up yet, but, our own room. :)

Kim....I'm so sorry about your nephew. You're in my prayers. I lost a nephew a few years ago. He was only 23. He was beat to death by a former "buddy" of his. He only served 11 months for it. A couple of years ago, the guy was in a fight with another man, & was shot between the eyes & killed. Such a shame....such a loss of lives.

Kaplods....weightloss here, too!! :cb: :cb: Hope your pain & fatigue are better.

Stirfried....1/2 lb! YAYYY!!! :cb: Sorry for the pain. Hope you're better soon. Darn this OA...RA....Thyroid Problems, anyway!! Everybody hang in there. :^: http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/w/cat36.gif

thanks angel and enjoy your room it would be easier to say what im not allowed to eat on this diet you should have a look youll find it at www.slimmingworld.co.uk needless to say when i want to eat a whole chicken {minus the skin} i can with a side order of steak and a baked potato its really a great diet for me as im a total carnivore speak more soon im just waiting on my floors drying bye
kirsty

Hi everyone, First I like to say how sorry Iam for your loss khewes I don't know you but I know how hard it is to lose someone.
Linus, hey g5reat weight loss!! 24 pounds since march is great. I hope I can say that in a couple of months.
Angel lover, hows your pain today? I feel really bad. I hate this stupid desease.
Well everyone I go back to my doctor on the 26th, hope he can figue out what else to do for me. I need him to run test to see ir my sed rate is higher than it was. The last year my sed rate was 134, than 66, last time 47. But I hope it isn't going up. thought I feel like the Humira ISN'T WORKING.
But now for better new. I have lost 5 lbs. Since last thurday. In the last couple of days I have stayed at 190, but since I am doing the low carb I sure I will lose a little more I have a week and 2 days before I can add some carbs like fruit!! I have heard of peop;e losing up to 20 lbs in thier first 2 weeks on this diet, but I will settle for what I can get. I have been down to 190 before and haven't gotten past it. I have faith I will do it this time. I hope my metabolism gets gong again. I guess it will I have been trying to workout 3 times aweek for 20 min

I am have to going have to go. My daughter needs me

bye for now laura

Hi everybody...
Third day after Remicade, so I'm beginning to come back to life! Cathy (nurse) got the needle in the first try. YAYY! My veins are smaller than the cathedar....at least SOMETHING is small about me. :lol: I've gained 3 lbs :( that makes 5 lbs in all since my weightloss last summer. :( Gotta get rid of it before it gets out of control.

Stirfried...congratulations on the loss of 5 lbs! :cb: I found what you lost! :^: I'm proud for you. Sure hope the Drs can help you. You're in my thoughts. I'm still hurting pretty bad...it takes a few days for the Remicade to "kick in". I've got to start injecting the Methotrexate, instead of drinking it in orange juice. Wish me luck. I'm not afraid of needles, but never gave myself an injection before. I'll be doing it on Thursday nights.

Linus...thanks for the website. As you read above, I've got at least 5 lbs to lose. Wouldn't mind losing a little more. Wow....sounds like we can eat a lot! :)

Hello to everyone :wave: kim, kaplod, rita, michelle....hope I didn't miss anyone!http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/w/dog35.gif

Angel lover, Hey soryy to hear you arent doing very well. I bet once you feel better you lose those 5 lbs. Giving yourself and injection isn't that hard once you do it. I have been giving myself injection of humira for months now. It will get easier as you do it. just muake sure there are no bubbles in the thingy and shout at a angle in the fatty part of your leg, and push it in slowly. It will sting but it won't hurt that bad. I know you can do it. I felt the same way about giving myself the injection just like you . If I can do it then anyone can do it. Hey everyone how is it going michellerae hi and linus how are things in scotland. Take care all of you and here hoping for pain free weight loss days

Well I guess that is all for now Take care
Laura

stats
starting weight 195
current goal 185
weight now 189.5
goal 130

hi all hope we all feel reasonably good well my second weigh in tomorrow at slimming world and ill come in and let you all know how it went because i come from the other side of the pond your medication all sounds like double dutch to me but it sure sounds like a lot and isnt it strande but i think the iller you get the more your veins shrink at the moment im still allowed to give blood and they inform me that my flow has slowed down and only comes out horridly fast now the standing joke used to be {and still is }that they let all the new nurses and docs practice on me cuase they say just chuck the needle at her and stand by with the bucket its getting it to stop thats the problem well sorry for the really short post but ive been at court all day as a witness and after sitting there for five hours my body is screaming to be laid down
keep well and will speak soon
kirsty

http://www.wholesalecountrygiftware.com/images/Graphic_free_5_HOUSE_4.gifHi everybody...

Laura...you were right. The injection wasn't that bad. It took me a minute to get up the courage :^: ...but, it worked out ok. The nurse called me yesterday evening & told me to cut back on the Methotrexate...it tends to bring my white blood count down extremely low. It already runs low...so, have to really watch it. My strength is coming back now,so I guess the Remicade is "kicking in"! :coffee: Hope you're feeling well today.

Linus....hope your weigh in goes well for you. I'm going to start a diet (kind of) next week to get rid of the 5 lbs...maybe a little more. Sounds like you've got plenty of blood. I haven't been allowed to give for several years now. Wish I could...I have the rare AB-, & could help people. When my twins were born 35 years ago, it was a lot more rare & needed blood in a hurry in the delivery room. They were born premature, so didn't have time to make preparations. It was advertised on TV & radio that I needed help. Two teenage boys came to the hospital to give blood to me. My DH thanked them, but I never got to meet them & thank them myself. Wish I could have.

Kim, Rita, Kaplods....hope all are doing as well as you can today. Have a good weekend. Rainy here. :(
http://timbuktu.eluria.com/magooblinkies/bsun.gif

angel you could always search for them i think theyd be really pleased that youve remembered after all this time and now that they are older would probably not be as embarassed as they would have done when they were teenagers glad they where there when needed and always nice to hear of the kindness of strangers well i lost another two pounds this week i dont have an after photo yet but the before one is in the gallery well ill pop in later and have a blether hope everyones absence is not because they are ill has anyone heard from khwewse ?hope she is okay
speak later kirsty

Hi all I am back.....For those that dont know , I have been over the pond to see my eldest son and his family, including my 8 month old Grandson who is so cute. They live in CT and the weather there this week has been beautiful. I also went up to NJ to see my youngest son who gets married on July 3rd, so I fly out again at the end of June. Dispite the lovely weather I have been in a flare for the last few days and hurt like crazy. With the pain comes the swelling and irritability. The Rheumy wont start me on another demard until I go back in May. I have been off Methotrexate since December as it caused major gastric probs having been on it for three and a half years. Khewes once suggested maybe injections of mtx but they dont do them in the UK for some reasons. On Wednesday I go into hospital to have surgery on my skin Cancers. Thats come round very quickly. Its very scary surgery. Have you notice that as sonn as one thing is diagnosed they seem to throw the book at you. :( Anyway changing the subject, yes I had a lovely week away although I tried to stick as near as I could to my diet it wasnt easy and I was determined not to miss out. I havent weighed myself today but I will tomorrow after a decent nights sleep. I am glad you all seem very focused on your weight loss. In fact I feel a bit ashamed of myself but I will get remotivated I am sure. There certainly are alot of new people on here but its nice that you have all taken the time to join us. :) Angel you sound as if your RA is giving you gyp of late. I do hope your remicade and Mtx kicks in soon.
I really must get some sleep as I feel wasted and seem to have been up for ages. Will catch you all over the weekend.

Good Monday morning, everyone.

I don't have much time...just wanted to post a quick one to say hello. Mondays are very long for me.

Iamgonnadoit...glad you had a good trip visiting with your family.
So sorry to hear about your skin cancers. I will be remembering you in prayer. I'm sure you're going to be alright. We're survivors!!! :coffee:

Linus....more weightloss! You go girl!! :cb: Bet that bootie's getting easier to shake. :lol:

I'm feeling a little better. The sun is shining now, so maybe I'll get better.

Hello to everyone else....I'll check in later. http://www.ecardgallery.com/egreetings/friendship/lilangel08/1.gif

undefinedHi how is everyone.undefinedundefined Angel lover,
undefinedundefined So glad to hear your injection went okay.. Oh you kbnow what when I was on the methotrexate it made me stop producing red blood cells, that why my rhuemmy stopped it, even though I am supposed to take it with my Humira, which is hardly working.undefined So I am going back to m7y doctor weds. to see what is what?
undefinedundefined I am so happy I have lost 10 lbs in the last 10 days, THough next week I am going to add 5 grams more of carbs, because this isn't the healiest diet their is, that okay it will slow my weight loss down a little but still 3 lbs a week sounds good to.
Gotta go for now take care laura
weight 185
next goal
175

Hey girls,

undefined I REALLY goofed up in my last post. As you can see I forgot to delete underlined. I hope you can still read. Can't promise this one will be much better. I trying to get the hang of this. I pray everyone is having a good day with no pain. I am myself hurting bad today. I spent the night with my 6 yr old grandson and ended up slepping on a small loveseat so that was a bad Idea.undefined I really messed up on my diet too yesterday. But I back at it today. It is hard after I have eaten sugar because then I crave it the next day. I HOPE i CAN STICK TO MY WILL POWER.
Take care laura :coffee:

I will never figue it out. I did delete the word undefined but there it is again in my last post. Oh well. I will keep trying until I get it right.
Laura

http://angel-lover.freeservers.com/blinkie20.gif

Hi everybody......
Hope all are feeling as well as you can, today. I don't know what's going on with me lately. Other ailments are a little better, but, I've had a TERRIBLE headache for 3 days now! :( I'm not allowed to take any meds other than what I already take. (which is enough!) I'm read to call my Dr & cry until he gives me something to stop the headache or knock me out, one! :coffee:

Well, the Managers of the TV station are out of town this week, so I'm working every day. That's why I'm so slow posting. Just be patient with me...between the headache & working....& a few more things going on :^: I'm having to just do the best I can.

Stirfried.... http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Score-101010.gif10 lbs!!! WOW!! Good work! Be sure you eat enough, though. Don't want you getting sick. I'm glad you're going to add some carbs to your diet. A steady weightloss of 2-3 lbs seems to stay off better, anyway. Pulling for you, girl!

Yes, sleeping on a small love seat would be rough! I haven't done that before... :o We ARE getting to sleep in our own bedroom for the first time in 1 1/2 yrs.......sooooooo nice. :D

Only thing I know to tell you about the "undefined", is when you click to put something in that little box, it shows "undefined", until you start typing. You must have cleared it first, then typed. Just don't pay any attention to it, it'll get better. I'm still learning things on here myself. You're doing a good job.

Well....hope all others are doing well today. Hope to hear from all of you soon. Have a good "hump day"!
http://www.countryclipart.com/SunflowerBeeSet/sunflowerfence.gif

http://www.timbuktu.eluria.com/hushblinksfiles/sobusy_jazzl.gifJust wanted to drop in & say hello & hope all have a good day. It's been a couple of days since I've seen another post! Everyone take a minute ASAP & let me know how you are! I'll be back later.......
http://nutmegcreations.com/hbday/hbmouse.gif

Angel-Lover,[/[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] I am so sorry to hear you are in such bad pain. Why doesn't your Doc. give you something for the pain? I just don't understand these Doctors, It sound like you need a heavy duty painkiller Like vicodin, or fiorinal with codene, or something like that. Keep calling him until he helps you , if not take yourself to the hopital,I am sure they will help you. I am having a bad flare up with my R.A. The Doc. started me on methotrexate again along with my bi-weekly shot of humira. I don't know if I told you ; But the last time I used methotrexate my bone marrow stopped producing red blood cells. It was either the medicine or the that I was having agrevated R.A. symtoms, we never really knew. He has started me out on 2 mg for the first 2 weeks then he will check my blood count if it hasn't lowered than I am to push up the dosage to 4 2.5 mg every week and he will continue to watch my blood. I hope it works this time,because the humira alone isn't helping, I fill myself getting worsr albeit its slow but I don't want it real bad like last year. My sed rated was 134. COLOR]
Enough od medicine talk. I stayed with my daughter for a couple of days and went off my diet. Yeah I know DUMB!! Si I gained back some weight,I can't tell how much is weight gain and how much is water. The scale say 190,but I ate some salty ham also. I don't know? It doesn't matter I am back on my low carb diet again and Soon I will add 5 gram more of carbs until I end up losing 3 pounds a week.
Have you ever had really bad pains at the bottom of your feet? I had it so bad I couldn't walk Last year and now I am having the pain again. Not as bad but bad enough . I am afraid to workout I don't want to make it worse.
Let me know how you are? My prayers are with you :grouphug: :sorry: :sorry: :sorry:
Take care of you
Laura (stirfried) :)

hi everyone yes this thread is very empty where are you all out having fun i hope i wanted to pop in and let you know about a study that was printed in yesterdays paper it was a group of ra sufferers they where given a litre of deeside spring water to drink everyday and to take with there anti inflammatory tablets for three months almost three quarters of them reported feeling far less pain by the end of the trial the water is highly acidic and stops joints from swelling in damp conditions one lady said "i was in constant pain for five years it has made a dramatic difference " if i hear anymore about this i will let you know but they have reported that they are trying different fruit acids to see if they can get the same results Anyway had a slip this week and put on a pound and a half but the lovely lady that takes our group stated that it was my periods making me retain water well see next week hopefully it is as i feel really rotten i expected to put on weight at some point i just wasnt ready for it yet so im just going to have to be extra good and hope for the best
hope you all are all right and speak to you all soon
kirsty

http://www.timbuktu.eluria.com/hushblinksfiles/JFriendsComeInBlinkie.gif
Hello friends,
Hope this Friday night finds you all pain-free....at least to sleep well tonight! Sometimes, that would mean a lot,wouldn't it?!

Stirfried...thanks for caring. Yes, the Dr would give me something. Several months ago, though, I was complaining about pain & he was writing prescriptions for me. I never could fill them, though. They were too expensive. See...I'm not only on Methotrexate, & Remicade...but, several other medications for different things. RA & OA is the only thing I tell about. My meds cost so much I can't afford any more. Medicare doesn't pay for my meds. The medicaid only takes care of the Remicade treatments ($2500-$3000 per treatment!) So, I just stopped asking for pain meds. I'm not allowed the over-the-counter stuff because ingredients in most of them are against the Methotrexate. :^: I fall into the category of deciding whether to pay a bill, or buy medication! Don't worry though...I'm ok. My headache is over. Only rainy weather right now, making my OA act up...but, not bad.
Yes, I have a lot of trouble with my feet. Pain in the bottom AND top of them. If I try to walk outside on the ground, it's very rough on them. Going up a little hill, is getting hard to accomplish. But, still....I have people say...but, you don't LOOK like anything's wrong with you! :^:
I hope the Methotrexate works for you...took my injection tonight....it pulls my white blood cell count down extremetly low. In fact, Dr gave me presc. for anti-biotics in case I get infection over a week end....to help till office opens. That's kind of scarey. Keep a close watch on it.
Hope it works for you this time. Don't worry about the weight gain...that salty ham probably did it. RA retains fluid....& the salt REALLY retains fluid! Take care of yourself. Gotta go...I'll answer Linus soon..... :) http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/alisyn3e/1_teapart.gif

http://www.timbuktu.eluria.com/magooblinkies/nicemickey.gif
Hi Linus....

I couldn't sleep,http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Count Sheep.gifso I'm back.

Thanks for the info on the Spring water.http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Glug.gif Sounds very interesting. I'd like to know more about it. I read in a magazine a few days ago, that water is one of the best healers there is. That people found increasing there comsumption of water had helped with a lot of different ailments.
Yes, when "Aunt Flo" leaves, I'm sure that tiny bit of weight gain will leave , also. Glad to hear from you....have a good weekend.

Ok....everyone else....let's hear from you!....http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Helloooo.gif
http://www.animations-galore.com/Images/Cartoons/bugsbunny.gif

Linus,
Hi, Thank You for the imformation on the spring water, I hope there is more info on it.
I would have to agree with that woman about the weight gain being caused by your period. I am always retaining water. I really don't like that, because its hard to know which is water retention or actually weight gain. It takes a couple of days to get rid of the water gain.
Linus, I hope you are pain free this sunny Saturday morning here in Oregon. Its on the west coast if you don't kk=now, its not a real popular state But, we like :cheer:

Angel -Lover.
Hi, Glad to hear your headache is gone. It been ! day since I went back to eating right and the scale says I now weigh 189, I am going to give it another day to see if I lose more water. Either way I am going to stick to this diet even if I fall once in a while. I haven't aworked out in 4 days. My feet are hurting so mu;ch that its hard to my cardio, I am going to use my rider like bike machine for my aerobics if it doesn't hurt my feet to much. I can't explain what my cardio machine is. I am sure once you saw ir you would know what it is. :spin: That is me trying to think. LOL.
I have some more mesical problems also that I take meds for. I suffer from depression and sometimes anxiety attacks. I take prozac and trazodone for that. I guess thats about all of my major medical problems. Last yr when I wasn't making the red blood cells they thought I had this disease called Mylio something ,can't remeber the name , but It can be fatal, soooo glad that it turned out not to be. That is funny how the methotrexate affects both of us and our blood. I know it is a veryy dangerous drug to be taking. Along with the blood problems it can cause lukemia, and other terrible things. I think it is a kemo drug Not sure though. My Humira can cause lupis like symtems, in fact its called medically induced lupis.
Well thats all for now. I hope you and linus have a good pain free day. If not then Just take care of yourselves.
Hey are there any other people that write on this thread I thought there was.
Love laura (stirfried) :coffee:

I hate it when I see how I screww up when I write my post. I really gotta start checking them before I send the post. Oh heck Maybe it amuses someone.

Forgot my stats
stats
started
195
lost
10
ganed
4
current weight
189
goal130

I can do it!! I will do it!!!! :tread: :grouphug: :cool:

hey well just keep things ticking over till the rest come back has any one heard from khwes i hope she is coping with her loss a bit better i really feel for her when youve got medical problems it doesnt take much to push you to far and a loss like shes had must have pushed heres hoping she is a very strong person and can help herself and her family anyway im off and ill speak later
kirsty

Only joking....Hi all, this is just a quickie as I only came out of hospital last night after having my facial surgery. I am still very whoosy but had to say hello. They have rebuilt my nose with part of my ear....sorted the 2 other cancers and I have skin grafts and loads of stitches.Havent had time to think about my RA so I suppose thats a bonus. Anyway not loads of pain but lots of discomfort and the first time I have drunk tea and soup through a straw. :lol: If I havent lost weight after this then I give up. Your posts Angel with all the graphics have really cheered me up. Thanks! I do hope the rest of you are doing ok and I will be back on soon. Apparently the swelling and bruising hasnt finished coming out yet so not sure what else to come. Catch you in a couple of days.......

pam im so sorry i completely forgot how are you ? unless you start liquidising marsbars and aeros and drinking them through your straw your gonna lose weight of course you will pity you have to go through this to do it im thinking of you as i remember how uncomfortable i was after my surgery and it wasnt on my face keep your chin up actually ill rephrase that keep your chin still and welll be hear for you and good luck and feel beytter soon
kirsty

Pam, hope you are recovering from your surgery. Sounds like a doozy!

Linus, thank you for thinking of me. I'm still here, just sort of quiet right now. In the weeks since I've lost my nephew, I developed (and passed, thank god) a huge kidney stone, and then my dog had cancer surgery. She was just supposed to be spayed, but they found cancer on her ovary and mammary glands.

My life right now is like a bad country song.

Angel... I hope you are doing okay with your injections. It's a bit daunting to do them at first, but trust me, you become a real veteran after a while. I do three shots a week between the Enbrel and the Methotrexate. The only place that I have trouble sticking is my tummy. That hurts and honestly, squicks me out a little. So I stick to my thighs.

Kim

Hi Everybody....

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Iamgonnadoit....Glad you're back home. I've been praying for you. It must be a very scary situation to be in. Were they able to get everything this time, so you won't have to go back? I hope so. Take care of yourself. Post when you're up to it. Maybe just a quick one, sometimes, to let us know how you're doing...until you're better. :balloons:

Kirsty...good to hear from you. Hope you're feeling well today. It's still rainy here, so bones aching. But, I do feel better than a few days ago.

Kim...the shots aren't too bad. Thanks for the tip about the tummy. I think I'll stay away from there, since I was a little concerned about that area. :^: I'm truly sorry about your nephew. You need some time to grieve...& to take care of yourself. Just check in sometimes....we understand...& care. :grouphug:

Hello to Rita, & Stirfried.... http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/flowr022.gif

glad everybody is turning out well khewes what ever dont kill us makes us strionger and my goodness woman you must be ready for miss universe glad your just being quiet ive been really worried about you i know how i felt last month when i lost my gran and shed had a very long and happy life i think its the could have beens when its someone young sorry to hear about your other problems i hear passing those kidney stones is like giving birth i wouldnt know had cesearians both times and boy was i glad of the kop outs anyway glad everythings getting better or easier
kirsty

Hi All!! :wave:

I thought I'd pop in and introduce myself...

I am Angel. A.K.A. Noodles around here @ 3FC. I moderate and I post like crazy. I didn't realize we had a group of people that have arthritis until I started to lurk and saw this post so...here I am!!

I have RA, OA, and AK, along with PCOS. Ugh...I was a mess for years. My arthritis journey began with me being sick & tired & swollen/sore/achy all of the time...I attributed it to my PCOS and just left it at that. Well, one day back in 1999 I woke up swollen and stiff beyond what a football player looks like, and so I went to the doctors. They did some blood tests and came out and told me..."well, you have arthritis." I said oh ok cool!! I'm ok!! I'll just take tylenol!! The nurse goes, "No, you have ARTHRITIS, and from your counts here it looks to be pretty severe. I am sending you to a Rheumatologist." Ok...now I started to wonder, how bad can arthritises be?? Sheesh. Then I started doing my research...Wow.

Anyhow, I saw the RH doc and they did all of their other tests and it turned out I had RA, OA, and AK!!! Goodness! My Rh Doc told me "No wonder you haven't felt good in sucha long time...you've been battling 3 different forms of this." Lovely. Anyhow, she started me on Predisone as a jump start and Celebrex & Methotrexate. Well, Predisone sucked!! I had the munchies 24/7 and gained alot of weight in just the 6 weeks I was on it.

Methotrexate...that's another story. I was on injectable so I gave myself the shot in the stomach 1x a week for 3 years. I lost most of my hair, I gained weight, I was itchy all the time, and somehow I managed to damage my liver from it.

Celebrex on the other hand has been my life saving drug. That and moving to Arizona. Oregons cold and humidity was making me miserable even with all of the drugs I was on so we decided to finally move to a warmer climate. As hubby reminds me, "Angel, you were SO bad you didn't even get out of bed to get on the computer!" Personally, I think he got tired of cleaning the house by himself. heheehe... Every time I would come to visit my family in Arizona, I would feel sooo much better...It was like I thawed out or something.

So, we sold the house and moved here in August 2001. In December 2001 I got really sick and wound up in the hospital and that's when they discovered my liver was damaged. They advised me to try to get off of the Methotrexate so I just stopped taking the shots after that and I haven't needed them since! I just take Cele now...I've tried to wean off of that but it ain't happening. When I had my hysterectomy in June 2002, I couldnt take it for a week. Oh boy was I one miserable person to live with at home until I could get the Cele back into my system.

After my hysterectomy, I started seeing an Endocrinolgist for my PCOS/Insulin Resistant problem and she told me "Angel, either you lose weight or you are going to have to go on insulin shots. For now, we'll put you on metformin (glucophage) pills." Well, being as I had enough of shots with Metho, I took her advice and decided to change my life. That was the end of September 2003, and since then I have lost 55 pounds by a major diet/eating habits change and I started exercising.

The best part is, I have made my arthritis much more managable than ever before. I am doing things I haven't done in years because I was practically bedridden with arthritis. Not anymore! I still wake up stiff and swollen daily but instead of sulking about it, I go drink my 1st quart of water, eat healthy, take my Cele, and I get a moving. Some days are harder than others (especially when the Arizona Monsoons roll in and we hit that 100% humidity), but I still make myself do something so I can keep everything limber and happy. Oh and I also reversed all liver damage and Mr. Liver is back to his normal self. I thank GOD each and every day that I feel good cause I remember what my life was once like...and I don't want to ever go back there ever again.

Well, I hope I didn't bore ya all to tears!! :cool: I'll be back for sure if that's ok with all of ya. :smug:

I developed (and passed, thank god) a huge kidney stone

My sympathies, Khewes for the things going on with you right now. :grouphug:

I have had kidney stones. I just had one last month that took me to the E/R. Rotten big/little things they are!! My worse one was in 1992. That pain was THE worse physical pain I have ever felt in my life. Worse than childbirth...worse than getting hit by a car, and just about equal to my tube blowing up inside of me. But at least with the tubal I got knocked out and had surgery. But those stones...ugh... I don't wish a stone on anyone...not even the annoying neighbor down the street. :lol:

Hi noodles. Welcome to our little corner of 3FC.
This was my first kidney stone. I did go to the E.R. and yes, it's pain like you can't even imagine. I almost let my 14 year old drive me to the E.R. it was THAT BAD. But the drugs they give you there, they're pretty cool.
:)
Mine had a little spike on it, and when the urologist saw it he said "Ow, bet that hurt coming out". Uh.. yeah.

I named him El Diablo. I'm waiting to hear what it was made of. Were yours calcium or uric acid? If it turns out to be uric acid, then I have gout on top of everything else.
My husband has gouty arthritis in his toes. Great, we can be the gout twins.

I haven't had too much trouble with the methotrexate since I switched to injectables, although I do itch like crazy at the injection sites, all the damn time.
So far the hair shedding has been minimal.

Hope my liver holds up!

http://www.countryclipart.com/FrogSet/frogpondwelcome3.gif
Noodles!! We're very happy for you to be a part of our little home on the board. :)

You've really been through it, Angel. Glad you're doing better. The Methotrexate effects my white blood count....it's already low, so have to really watch it. I itch a lot...have rashes, even. My hair was already thin, but now, thinner. Stay nauseated a lot & makes food taste strange. My DH has to keep an eye on me, or I'll start to throw something out, thinking it's gone bad, & it hasn't. :^: My OA is in my back, mostly from a car accident in '83...put me on disability. My RA started about 2 yrs ago, & spread very fast. I take Remicade treatments every 5 weeks now.

Khewes....are you feeling better now? Hope so. The girl that does my hair said after she passed a couple of kidney stones this past winter, her Dr put her on a glass of wine each day. She said she hasn't had any trouble, since.

Well...gotta work today at the station, so need to get off....hope all have a good day.

Hi to everyone else!http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Hi.gif
http://media.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/1994/grandmomcomputer.gif

My urologist told me to drink Lemonade, but I like the wine cure better.
:)

Thanks for the welcome all!! http://www.harrythecat.com/Smiley/b46.gif

You named your stone?? Hmm...if I had to name mine...I think I woulda called it.. PITA!!! for Pain IN THE....!!

They never told me what mine was back in 1992. I wound up passing it finally after suffering for 2 days. :( They gave me all sorts of drugs but nothing took the pain away, not even demerol or morophine. Then they go, wow this MUST be a bad one..we gave you powerful painkillers and you still are hurting. Might have to do surgery on you if this keeps up! Haha..that was when I willed it to be passed and prayed my butt off!! http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love30.gif

Metho is one of those drugs where you have to keep an eye on things cause it can change things in a matter of weeks. My blood counts were fine in Sept. 2001, then all of a sudden went wacky in Dec. 2001 and that's when Mr. Liver decided to get sick too. Who woulda thought in 3 months (after being on it for 3 years) that it would of happened? Not me. I had that funny food taste/smell problem too! I didn't like chocolate!! It was like it tasted "metallike". Hubby looked at me like I was nuts but I told him really, I can't explain this!! Heh now I can.

My arthritis is hereditary. My grandmother had 2 hip replacements by age 45. She wound up spending the rest of her life in a wheelchair. When I got hit by a car in 1990, the Dr. told me that if I developed any form of arthritis, the 1st place I would notice it would be where I was hit. Sure enough those were the bones & joints that started bugging me first. Ahhh the things we go through in life...I tell you I appreciate things alot more now so than before I had arthur....I now take time to smell the roses. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gifhttp://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love49.gif

Have a good day all! :wave:

Hi all, and welcome Noodles. Noodles your posting sounded so like mine used to. You were diagnosed with RA roughly the same time as me and you were on exactly the same drugs as me except my mtx wasnt injections. We can only have it orally over here and I got such major gastric problems that I took myself off it last December. I am only taking Celebrex atm too, twice a day. I have to visit my Rheumy next month to see if hes now going to put me on another demard or what. He wanted me to have a break for 3 months to get the mtx out of my system I think, well next month will be 6 months. MY weight really got out of control too so now I am desperately trying to something about it. The only problem is I had surgery last week to remove 3 cancers from my face which involved reconstruction of my nose and skin grafts and seeing as I am feeling a little sorry for myself I have been eating all sorts of bits I shouldnt really eat. :nono: I am now scared to get on the scales til I am feeling better. Up until last Wednesday I had lost 31 lbs since January. I am normally quite positive and motivated but this week I have gone awol with it all. :( On Friday I see the Consultant who did my surgery so after that I will get back on track I am sure.
For those of you who know my history I apologise for repeating it here but you know how it is when somebody new joins us.
Angel, well done for injecting yourself and you khewes, that takes courage. I do hope you both feel better for it. As for kidney stones, my brother had them in the summer and was rushed into A and E and I thought he was gonna die he was in so much pain, so I can feel for you both there Noodles and Khewes. Right thats all for now. I have gone on a bit but blame it on the anesthetic, which reminds me I am still so tired. I will catch you all soon. TTFN.......

hi all just a quick post to sore to sit for long my arent ancestors got a lot to answer for my lot gave me my oa and spinal probs and ibs and theres diabeteslurkin along with angina and liver probs thats one of my main reasons for dieting so i can try and avoid the rest of them but what the hey hope everyone isnt too bad and im off to lie down speak later
kirsty

Just a quickie.......Oh Linus I meant to give you a mention and somehow didnt......so sorry. Thanks so much for sending me good wishes in an earlier post when i was feeling down. I do hope that you are not feeling grotty for too long. This weather down here is driving me nuts, is it the same in Bonnie Scotland. Rain rain and more rain. Anyway hope you feel better after your nap. catch you soon. Hope everyone else is feeling Aok
today.TTFN

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Hi everybody....
Can't stay long, but so glad we're hearing from all of you. I sure hope everyone is feeling as good as you can today. I'm fair, I guess. Might as well not complain...no one around here (at home) listens much anyway. :^: I think they're all just used to it. I don't EVER get used to it!

Iamgonndoit....hope you're recovering well. Get that rest & don't worry about your eating right now. If you gain a couple of pounds, you can lose it later.

I can't eat chocolate either! Or Ice cream...& it was my favorite! :(

I'll post more later....take care.
http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Group-Hug2.gif

hi all yes for the last three days it has rained and then brilliant sunshine and then more rain so very high humidity and hence PAIN and no i dont get used to it either angel how can you i even thought of getting in touch with a sado masochist to learn how to enjoy being in pain but thought better of it i dont ever want to enjoy this anyway going pop back later play easy girls
kirsty

Khewes and imagonnadoit, Ipray you are both doing better, Khewes I know losing someone is really hard. I lost my mom and grandmother within 3 months of each other. My prays are with you and your family.
Imagonnadoit, sorry to hear about your surgeries and your other medical problems. I have to agree with everyone else, don't worry about what you are eating or weight gain. Concentrate on getting healthy. Take care of you....
Noodles913, welcome to our freindly forum. Boy its sounds like you have a lo0t of problems. Glad to hear your R.A. is doing better. Wow you have lost 55 lbs and you even helped to make you feel better. You go girl. I like in oregon, you are lucky to get out 9of the freezing wether,of course monsungs do not sound much better. Have you lost all the weight you want to or do you want to lose more?
Angel-lover, How are things with you. Has cutting down on you methotrexate helped with you blood count? Today is my second dose of methotrexate, so tomorrow I have to have my blood checked to see if I am producing red blood cells. I hope everything is going to be okay. Righr now I am taking 2.5 twice every weds. If test go well then doc. will up it to four 2.5 of the methotrexate every weds. He will kepp upping my dosage until he sees any problems then the doc. will just leave the dosage at the safest level.
As far as my weight loss is going. It hasn't. I am still trying to get back to eating only20 carbs a day. It has been a week since I was at my daughters and messed up on my diet, It can be hard to start eating properly again, but I am almost there. Yesterday I did alright except I went over 5-7 carbs instead of 20 like I am supposed to do. So I am taking it one meal or snack at a time and really watching how and what I eat.
Linus just wanted to say hello, How are you doing? Good I hope.
Well girls I guess I should stop gor now. I hope your days are good and heres praying for good pain free energic days for us all.
Take care!
Laura :wave:

Iamgonnadoit: **Hugs** :grouphug: Sounds like you have been through the wringer and back. Sending healing thoughts and warm fuzzies your way!! :smug: & Thank you for the nice post. I appreciate it very much!! I sometimes get long winded too, so if I get TOO long winded, just let me know and I will :tape: my fingers down. :lol:

Angel-Lover: My real name is Angel. :angel: I am pretty lucky...I have an understanding husband who watched me wilter away for years so he understands more than I think. When I whine about not feeling too good, he will go check the humidity count and go, "Well, Angel...you are now use to 7% humidity. Right now its 27%. That's 20% more than what your body is use too. That might be why you feel crummy." Good point!! Too bad I didn't think of it. :lol:

Linus: Humidity + Rain = Us With Arthritis Feel Yecky. That was my life in Oregon...Yecky and in bed. Hence why I moved to Arizona. :sunny:
I am grateful I had a place to move too to help get me to feeling better. Move here!! We'd love to have you!! :yes:

Well, I only got 3 hours sleep so I'm all stiff and sore. I better go get my other 5 hours. Take care all!! :smug:

Noodles913, welcome to our freindly forum. Boy its sounds like you have a lot of problems. Glad to hear your R.A. is doing better. Wow you have lost 55 lbs and you even helped to make you feel better. You go girl. I like in oregon, you are lucky to get out of the freezing wether, of course monsungs do not sound much better. Have you lost all the weight you want to or do you want to lose more?

Hi Laura!! :wave:

I must have posted right when you did!! I didn't see your name in the little box then I came back and there it was. :smug:

Yeah, I am lucky I got out of there, but I do miss it there. Well Portland anyhow. I don't miss the small town I lived in before that for 5 years. Yeck!!
I have found the best time for me to visit Portland is in the summertime when we are having monsoons here in Arizona...Then the humidity count is actually lower in Portland than it is here. I think I am allergic to humidity. :lol:
I haven't lost all of the weight...I have 45 more pounds to go to get to where *I* want to be, but in realistic terms, I only have 30 to go to get to where people will think I am where I want to be. My goal is to weigh 125 by September 13, 2004. My Birthday. I have a national tournament to judge at the end of July so I am hoping to be within 10-15 pounds of that goal by then. I want to go in that stadium with a big smile!! :D
Ok, I will shut up again! I keep babbling on. See what lack of sleep does to me??? I type...and type..and type...and...

go have your kip noodles i went back to bed at 11 am and got back up at 3 pm so im not too bad at the moment sleep wise but this pain is a bugger and im getting sick of it anyway going to finish mopping the floors speak later
kirsty

Just a late night post here...

Well I managed to get my nap in!! Then I soaked in some warm water for a while and went bowling.

Our bowling team clinched 1st place tonight!! YAY!!! :cb:

Somehow I managed to bowl a 163, 165, and 191. I won the spot of the year for Womens High Series Handicap. Our team took spots of the year for: High Series Scratch & Team High Series Handicap. I can't wait for banquet night! We get casholina and trophies and awards!! I also claimed a 50 pins over average award last Saturday on my other league. Now it's time to take the summer OFF bowling wise, and concentrate on jump rope tournaments. Phew!!

Noodles, Hi
This is just a quick note to say I read your post. I still have about 45-50 lbs to lose. I haven't been doing great. I have just started to eat correctly again,but I am eating more carbs than I should. I can lose faster if I keep my carbs at 20 grams a day, but I have been eating between20-30, so I will lose only 3 lbs a week instead of the 1 lb a day I was losing before,but its easier for me to stay on this diet if it isn't totally rigid.
Gotta go for now
Hi everyone else talk to you later
Laura

hi all just a quick post just to let you know how i got on at slimming world i lost 5.5 so from the first of march ive lost 2stone 2 pound and for the first time in 12 years im under 16 stone and im exstatic speak later
kirsty

Hi all,
The sun is out this morning! :sunny: Probably wont last but it makes you feel good when you wake and its shining through the window.It seems to have rained forever here so this is a lovely morning for me.Its also Friday the day I see my consultant re my surgery and I cant wait so that I can put my mind at rest that all is doing ok. Before I go on about anything else just want to thank you for all the nice posts this week. :)
Kirsty, WELL DONE.....weight loss is sooo hard and you seem to be doing so well. Be aware that very shortly you could hit a platau though. Dont worry about it as its your body readjusting itself to the weight loss and it slows up for a bit to sort itself out. It happened to me just before the 2 stone mark, about 26 lbs i think it was. It took a couple of weeks to get started again and now I have stopped at 31lbs. Mind you if people will buy me chocolates when I am in hospital I cant be rude and give them back can i? :lol: Just so long as I keep losing weight and not putting any on I will be happy. I will get back to healthy eating next week definately but it has been hard this week as I have had trouble eating certain foods with my stitches etc.
Laura Great Bowling!!!!! I used to love bowling til my arthritis got bad now my hands give me too much grief but I was never as good as you. Just went for fun and to make the numbers up so to speak.
Everybody else I do hope you are getting along with your medications and are having a pain free period just now.If not maybe a couple of BETTER than usual days. I know the desease lurks in every joint and whatever we take its always sitting there but we do get good and bad days and please god today is a good one. :dancer:
Right I am off to have my breakfast and make a start doing some clearing up while I am in the mood or I wont get it done again. I am gagging for a cup of tea anyhow. :coffee: TTFN.....

Kirsty,
What is exacxtly is a stone. I am serious I really don't know how that is in comparison to lbs? I must sound really dumb to you guys. Oh well. How else am I going to know these things unless I ask.
My doc had me take blood test to see if my red blood cell count was down,like is was before when I was on the methotrexate. So far its okay. I hope between the Humira and the methotrexate that I will stop feeling so yucky and so much Pain.
No weight lost to report. My weight is mow 191 I have gained since I havent been eating the right amount of carbs. I am having a really hard time getting back on track, though I keep plugging away at it.
Angel Lover, where have you been lately? I hope you are feeling alright. I just found your post, and it seems that you aren't doing well. Sorry to hear that. I hope things get better. I know what you mean about anybody listening to you complain, my family have heard it again and again. I know I won't get use it either. I just keep praying for all of us.
Take care everyone.
Laura

laura a stone is fourteen pound so at the moment i weigh 213 pounds and i started at 252 pound so ive lost 39 pound since the first of march and i am really starting to notice in my clothes and my face definantly looks thoinner as for the rest of me im not really sure i must measure myself and check well ive just been swimming and i really need to shower as i stink catch you later chicks
kirsty

Just had to say .....Kirsty you are doing so well.....I know how hard it is and I really take my hat off to you ....keep going, I can hear your self esteem growing on every post. 39 lbs WOW! Go treat yourself!

Thats right!! 39 pounds is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! :bravo:

http://www.holidaygraphics.com/mother/page3_files/t1.gif Hi everybody...

WOW...I've gotten behind! :dizzy: But that's good...means everyone's enjoying posting. Sorry I haven't posted lately....been real busy with some personal family issues.

Noodles...your bowling sounds really interesting! Wish I could try it. I also, could no longer pick up the bowling ball. There's always other things, though. I enjoy singing. Not that I'm great...but, I do volunteer work at a christian TV station...& have a program. I'm about to put out my 2nd tape. I really enjoy it.

Iamgonnadoit...I wish you lots of luck with your Dr appt. I know you're going to be alright. It's always good to be reassured by the Dr., though. Let us know what you find out.

Kirsty....Great!! You're really losing the weight!http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Clap-Hands.gif I lost mine last summer, while on this board. I've gained 5 lbs back, so I'm trying now to lose that. It's almost as hard to keep it off as it is to lose it. For me, anyway. Probably cause I'm older. :( I'll be 55 next month. An official Senior Citizen!!! http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/hpic2/hocy2s.gif

Stirfried...it's strange the Methotrexate pulls RED blood count down, & pulls my WHITE blood count down. I stay scared of it & the Remicade....because it's chemo, & I have a lot of side effects. How's your blood count doing, now?

Well...I've got a lot of shopping to do tomorrow. Two gifts for mother's day, & flowers for my dad's grave. ( Decoration day at the Cemetary)...so, don't know if I'll get a chance before Monday, or not, to post. In case I don't...hope you all have a great weekend!! http://www.countryclipart.com/PuppySet/puppylabflowerbeeslinesmx.gif

Hey all,
Kirsty, I think you are doing wonderful. I wish I could say I lost that much. Thats okay I am glad for you. It shows that it can be done,just takes hard work.
Angel-lover, Yea that is weird about the blood counts my being red and yours white. It scares me also because it is a chemo drug. It is a very dangerous drug. I hope it's worth taking all the risks we do, I mean if it really helps the r.a. then I will take my chances. Either way it is hard to live when you are sick all the time from either pain and fatigue, or the flu like feelings you can get.
I think I dropped another pound, so that means i'm down to 190 or 189 I'm not sure.
I am really starting again to eat right and try to workout,but, things are a little easier now that I am back on track.

Take care everyone else
Love Laura

evening ladies just popped in to tell you to keep your firewall up and update your anti-virus as hubby has a load of pcs here cause they have been hit with this sasser virus its a bad one and really mucking up the pcs and dh has already fixed 4 and has 3 here to do and another 2 on the wat so be careful girls and ill come back later and ahve a blether
kirsty

Thanks....Kirsty!!

http://www.timbuktu.eluria.com/hushblinksfiles/JPixieDustBlinkie.gif

evening ladies just popped in to tell you to keep your firewall up and update your anti-virus as hubby has a load of pcs here cause they have been hit with this sasser virus its a bad one and really mucking up the pcs and dh has already fixed 4 and has 3 here to do and another 2 on the wat so be careful girls and ill come back later and ahve a blether
kirsty
http://d21c.com/AnnesPlace/Spec/MD22.gif

Thank GOD they caught the culprit. Turned out to be an 18-year old high school student in Germany!! Sheesh...These kids are getting smarter and sneakier as the computer generation gets older and older.

Ugh...today my hands are ITCHY bad. Do any of you ever get this problem with flare-ups or lack or sleep or?? Blah...

http://www.aperfectworld.org/clipart/plants/rose05.gif
For all of the Moms out there...whether by birth or adoption, foster or marriage, step or honorary, moms of kids, cats, dogs, rats, and other critters, and just cause...this rose is for you...


Happy Mothers Day!!!

Hi all, just a quickie to wish all those outside the UK a very Happy Mothers Day. Make sure you spoil yourselves you Mums and that everybody else spoils you too. You all deserve it bigtime.
Also wanted to let you know the Doc was very pleased with the results from my surgery when I saw him on Friday. He said I am not out of the woods yet and have to see him next week too but he thought the results so far were very promising. He hopes to have the histology reports next week too.
Anyway gotta go, loads of ironing to catch up on. Once again you Mums enjoy your day!!!!!!

Hey Ladies!! :wave:

Hope everyone had a great day yesterday!! I was in bed most of the day sick. My flare-up hasn't left me yet. Odd because it isn't that humid out...so not sure why this is happening but it's a good reminder for when I forget that I have this stupid disease, that I still have this stupid disease. :shrug: PLEASE some researcher somewhere invent a cure!!! I am still sick so you won't see too much of my "Graffiti" today. Ugh...time to try to eat some soup and watch TV. I feel yecky just sitting here too long. I'll be back when I am up to par.

Until then, take care & stay flare-up free. :smug:

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/GetWell_23.gifNoodles! Hope you're feeling better. Seems like when a flare up starts, it's so hard to get better. My Dr says it isn't the weather...hot, cold, wet, or dry....just the least little thing, like stress, etc, can cause one. Or...even NOTHING can happen...& still have one. Can'y win!! :(
I do hope it doesn't last much longer.....& I DO miss your graffiti.

Iamgonnadoit....good report from the Dr.! Still praying for you. Thanks for the nice Mother's Day wish. I had a good one. http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/Hugs_34.gif

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/word023.gifOther friends.....let us know how you're doing! http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/Charlotte2.gif

Hiya to you all!
Oh Noodles I am so sorry you are in a flare, I know exactly how you feel as I am falling apart today as well. I hurt everywhere and feel as if every bit of energy has been sapped from my body. Dont like it when you or Angel Lover are having a bad day cos you two always do such great posts that cheer everybody else on. So hurry up and feel better. :)
Angel Lover dont start this senior citizen bit, youre only a year older than me and I dont want to be old or senior yet. I am sure you dont either with all the things you do. I can tell by your posts youre still a kiddo at heart. :lol:
Well everybody else how are the weight losses going? :goodscale I am not losing anything at the moment but I am not gaining either. Need some motivation to start exercising again but cant when I ache. The good news is I have finished all my chocs that were given to me in hospital. I must admit they were scrummy and will be remembered for a long time. I really must get my metabolism going again though and thats the hard bit. I will do though I will get positive all over again. This is just a blip......I am off to have my breakie now.......keep positive all of you..... :coffee:

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/pepsigetwell1.jpg

FEEL BETTER SOON............!!http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/char.gif

sorry for not being in ladies but ive pulled the big muscle that wraps around my torso and it hurts like **** so as soon as i can sit for more than five minutes ill come in for a blether
kirsty

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/getwellsoon.gif http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/Charlotte__4.gif

I'm back!! Well sorta...

I still am not feeling right but I feel a bit better than I did. I think there was honey in the homemade BBQ Sauce for the ribs and that's why I got sick so bad... I was broken out everywhere, itchy, swollen, stomach PO'ed at me, etc... I am allergic to honey. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with, other than it's an arthritis flare-up. Probably both with my luck. :shrug:

Anyhow, I did manage to get out and bowl tonight. We had a roll-off for league championship. And to think all this time I thought we had won it!!! Ahh well..We managed to win the roll off anyhow and took 1st place after all. Tuesday is our banquet and we'll get our goodies then. Yay! Then I will be scarce the weekend of May 21, 22, 23, & 24th as I will be out of town judging our Western Open Regionals. I got my certification #, pin, and T-shirt finally. YAY!!

Tonight I managed to pick up 2 mini-rose bushes for 99 cents! Clearance!! Now I just need to nurse them back to health. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/2/character31.gif

Angel-Lover: Where do you get the name signature GIFS? I'd love to find one for my real name!! ;)

Everyone else: Hope the flare-ups aren't biting ya in the bootie. Rotten things they are!!! :mad: Take care all... :grouphug:

enjoy the championships noodles
kirsty

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/hello1.gif Well...the thread is getting pretty long....so, look for "Friends with RA & OA #2" real soon! :D

Noodles...Glad you're feeling better. I'm doing better than I have in a long time. Hope it lasts awhile. Enjoy the bowling tournaments.
You can do a search for signatures...or go here....

http://www.tonitags.co.uk/index.html or here....

http://www.quill-signatures.com/quill.html


I got a beautiful one there, I haven't used yet! I enjoy searching for them. Anything I can help you with, let me know.

Hello Linus, Rita, Iamgonnadoit (hope you're better), Stirfried,Kim(where are you?) Hope I didn't miss anyone. Forgive me if I did. I'll post more tomorrow. http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Charlottequill.gif

Hi all!
Well now you have gone and started something Angel, talking of which I have a little girl that visits me called charlotte and we call her Charlie, are you called that too? Right now I have gone off track totally.....Angel this Signature thingy is driving me nuts. I have spent hours on it. Its not good news when people put new ideas up cos I cant resist them. Havent sussed out how to add them yet though. :?: It sounds like most of you are on the mend now so thats great. I have to see the Doctor again today re my grafts but they seem ok so he should be pleased. The sun has actually come out over here which is great but havent been out yet as I have to get a hat. I am not a hatty type person but have to keep the sun off me somehow and I am not a staying in person either and the last 2 weeks I have been a touch stircrazy. Right I am going to sus out these gifs etc, I will not be beaten.....well I might..... :lol:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPs!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Hi.gif

OK, Iamgonnadoit....you ARE gonna do it! :lol: Did well...but, that's really the place for pictures. Oh, & I like the pic of you...you're a pretty lady. :)

Take your signature & put it in a separate site. I use Photobucket...go to:

http://photobucket.com/ You can keep any image there to use on the board,or any where else. Load your signature. There will be 3 choices under the image...use the one with .... Just copy it & paste it to the post...& there it is! Now, to go back & forth...don't close out 3fatchicks. Open a new window....click on the "start" & click on "internet" . Just minimize & maximize as you need to. If you have any problems, let me know.

Actually, I have a little program call Emotipad Plus...that I paid a one time fee of $12 for to hold all of my images. I just download from photobucket to Emotipad Plus & click & drag from that! I can keep them in catagories, & is a lot less trouble.

Just experiment....& you'll get it. I learned from trial & error...a LOT of error!! :lol:

Well...hope all are well today. See you all (& hopefully your signature, later.) http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/coollogo_com_23421264.gif

:coffee2: Good Morning Folks!! Going to be 96° here and :sunny: !!!

I have a busy day...Have to run a bazillion errands, then off to dinner and ball game with some friends. Thank goodness hubby gets off early. He gets the title of "Mr. Chauffeur". I still can't drive yet or I would go yard saling!! Pfooey!!! I am going to try to get on the "morning" schedule this week. I have a tournament to judge next Saturday and my butt drags when I don't get enough sleep the night before. 10 hours + 1000+ screaming kids = EARPLUGS!!! :yikes: But I really enjoy the tournaments/judging...I wouldn't do this if I didn't.

Have a good day everybody!! Here's a cute smiley for ya... http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/love/love68.gif

Hi everyone. I'm still here. I stop in and read every few days, but have been so swamped at work I don't get much time. My computer is held hostage by my children in the evenings!

Not feeling too terrible, could be worse.

Someone was looking for signatures? I make them in Paint Shop Pro. Let me know what name you have and what you like and I can probably whip something up this weekend.

Kim

Grr. Internet Explorer ate my post.

I'm here, just incredibly busy at work.

Someone was looking for signatures? I make them in Paint Shop. Let me know the name and some things you are interested in and I"ll try to whip something up this weekend....

khewes you sound like me talking to my kids i have to repeat myself at least a dozen times to be heard and if you want my advice get a comp pf your own weve got three in here and youngest ds has just asked for his own for his birthday so it will soon be 4
kirsty

Hi everyone. I am 29 and have psoriatic arthritis which is similar to rheumatoid in many ways and also have thyroid disease. It's nice to know there are others out there who understand what a struggle it can be some days to just get up. I have decided it is time to make a change. My doctors have told me for a while now that I will feel so much better if I start exercising. But who has the energy....well I found some and now am on month 2 of working out everyday...well almost.

But anyway I just wanted to say Hi and let you know I'm reading yuour posts. Take care of yourselves.

welcome to you 2b and good luck in your weight loss stop in for a chat well look forward to hearing from you
kirsty

Hi all!
Yep I am going for it now! Angel you have alot to answer for......I have been playing on here for ages and ignoring all the things I should have been doing ;) I am not great at doing the signatures but I will have a practice over the weekend. Anyway havent got to go back to the hospital for 4 weeks now with my face and the histology report was great too. In fact thats about the same time I see my Rheumy and hopefully my hairdresser whom I have had to put off this week, so I should be all set for going to my sons wedding 3rd July.
Which reminds me...Welcome 2bThin2, :wave: you have come to the right forum to discuss all sorts of issues including weight, exercise and your ailments as we can all relate to your good days and your gripes as we all have our own days of being there. Now what reminded me to welcome you was that you live in NJ and thats where my son is getting married. There you go I go all round the houses to explain something but I get there in the end and it is after midnight over here, so allow me a little slack. :lol:
Right all that leaves me to say is, all of you have a great weekend. Enjoy the great weather you seem to be having over there but dont forget to slap on the sunscreen.http://muchos.co.uk/members/gillystock/smart_donkey_chalkboard_md_wht_22217.gif

hey your getting there pam between you and angel ill soon have to put my sun glasses on to come on this thread
kirsty

Grr. Internet Explorer ate my post.

I'm here, just incredibly busy at work.

Someone was looking for signatures? I make them in Paint Shop. Let me know the name and some things you are interested in and I"ll try to whip something up this weekend....

Me!! Me!! I want one!! :) I am interested in rats and cats. :D

Well I had a nice time at the ball game. We went to see the Tucson Sidewinders play. They are the triple A league for the Diamondbacks. I managed to score a frisbee and 4 more tickets for a later game. I'll invite my soul-cousin and his G/F to the next game. We always have a ball. :smug:

I did o.k. with the eats. I had a BBQ Beef sandwich and cole slaw & some kettle popcorn & lots of water of course. Then we went to the night swap meet and walked around for 1½ hours. I scored on the vegetables there. Bought 4 cucumbers, 4 tomatoes, 4 onions, 1 head of lettuce, & 2 avocados for $5.25!! The tomatoes would cost me that alone at the grocery store. Plus the veggies at the swappers seem a bit fresher than the grocery store ones. By the time we left, I had sucha bad headache from my eyes that I came home and went straight to bed. They are healing better & faster than expected so they are outgrowing the temporary glasses I have.

So my "trying to get back on the morning schedule" is semi-working. Although I only slept from 11:30 am till 4:30 am. Today my only plans are to clean the rat cages and take the kid to the kid ID fair. Hopefully I can talk the hubby into some tennis later. :D If not then I'll just go for a walk and a swim. I'm starting to get "flappy" again...can't let that happen!! No No!! :no:

Have a good day/weekend all!!! Drink your water. :)

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/morning2.gifHey..Kim
The same thing happened to me with my post! Then, after I put everything in again, I went to check before I submitted to see if I had forgotten anything...& there were all the new posts...including mine! Oh well. I've been wanting to try PSP. I haven't had the money, though. All the name tags, etc I've got have been given free. The Avatar was made & given to me by Happy Canuk on the board. Very sweet of her. :)
Iamgonnadoit....
You did a great job!! So glad you got a good report from the DR.

2beThin2

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/set1wtg.jpg We're very happy to have you here! Tell us more about yourself, & feel free to vent or whatever!!

NoodlesGlad you had a good time!

Hope all have a great Saturday!

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/BeHappy.gif

Wow! Angel what great graphics and such a smart, tidy and full post....puts us all to shame. Thats it, I will have to think of lots to say, as if I dont say enough all ready :lol: I am feeling quite positive today so back on the diet bigtime tomorrow. Got to shed some more pounds now that I am back on my feet.Back to drinking galleons of water....I have really got slack since being in hospital but its got to stop. :nono: Right I am going, catch you all soon.

HI! everyone it has been awhile since I posted just got my computer fixed so hope to be on more just hopeing that everone is having a pain free day and a great day so HI! everyone Rita

ima dont drink galleons those poor greeks need their boats drink gallons love youll be safer was going to insert joke about sailors but thought better of it see im getting better
kirsty

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/hbgreatwork.jpg


Iamgonnadoit
Everyone's doing really good! I've got an advantage....been doing them a little while longer than the rest of you. Hope you think of a lot to say!

Rita
It's good to hear from you, again! I was beginning to be concerned. Post when you can, & let us know how you're doing.

Linus
You don't have to drink gallons of water :D But...lots!

Talk to you all tomorrow...Have a good Sunday!
http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/char_a.bmp

Hello, how is everyone doing? I haven't been here for several days. I am back on my low carb diet and I have lost three lbs that I had gained so I am back down to 185-186. I am really glad that I have managed to eat right again. I can't workout, too much pain in my hips knees and now shoulders. My shoulders are very gravely like my knees and my hips are trying to get there also.
So far the metho hasn't worked yet. It is supposed to work along side with the humira, but the humira doesn't seem to be working at all. I hate this. I don't want to get sick again. I am so tired and in so much pain. I wonder if it is ever going to get better. I know it can. My r.a. has gotten better before. I am going to try to ride my cardio rider and hopefully I can build up my enderance again, I know that if I workout I will eventually feel better. I hope
2bthin2, nice to have you in our little group. I have heard of the type of arthritis you have, but do not know that much about it. can you explain it to me?

Hi angel lover , imagonnadoit ,and linus and kewes and noodles913 How are you all doing? I hope you are feeling well, someone write back to me and tell me what is going on with you guys.
My daughter is getting married on Sept 12,2004 I am so excited. Her boyfriend is a good man and his parents are very nice. His mom wanted to know what she should where to the wedding, she said she did not want to out do me, which is sweet becauce they are professors at hawaii cfollege and I don't make anywhere as much money. I told her to where her best ,it is her son who is also getting married. I can find something that looks nice without spending all kinds of money. I thought it was very sweet of her to worry about my feelings. I think we should bothe dress up for our childrens wedding.
Anyway I have to go
Love all laura

The sun's out and it's already 91°F@ 12:46 pm here. Welcome to Arizona. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/happy/2/happy48.gif

Wow. I actually slept 8 hours through the night!! YAY!! Maybe there is hope for the "morning schedule" after all. :cool: I think it has alot to do with the fact that I exercised my butt off yesterday. I feel good today too!! I usually wake up really stiff and swollen from "authur-itis" but today...barely none of that at all!! Guess this means I better keep exercising. :lol:

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/character/3/character57.gif I am off and running again today...I've hardly been home in the past 3 days...and here we go again.....wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Fortunately I won't be running as long as yesterday. Hubby gets tired of chauffeuring me around. :lol:

:wave:

noodles how did the jump rope judging go ?good i hope stirfried i think they make a big thing with being the mother of the bride but what the hay ive got two sons and i fullt intend to dress up to the nines when {long time 11 and 14 } they get married inthe middle of a heatwave but very humid and im all swollen and just plain sore
speak more tomorrow
kirsty

http://media.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/1948/a.gif

Stirfried
So good to hear from you. Congratulations on the weightloss! You're doing a great job.
Sorry your metho hasn't worked yet. Seems that it should have by now. Mine stopped working by itself...but, with Remicade, it does well. It's good to know your RA DOES get better, sometimes. Mine never gets better...but, does stay under control most of the time.
Congratulations on your daughters up-coming marriage. Guess your hands will be full from now until September!

Linus
Hope you're doing well.

Noodles
Sounds like you're feeling good these days...hope so!

Everyone have a good evening.

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/CharlotteRose.gif

DON'T POST HERE!!!

GO TO "FRIENDS WITH RA & OA #2".........SEE YOU THERE!! :D http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/Number%20two/Charlotte__4.gif

angel-lover,
Where is the other place to post at? will this page here take me to friends of R.A. 2? HelpHelp
where is it. I am confused


Stirfried :dizzy:

Hello everyone. I forgot where this page was but I'm back on the ball now. Hope everyone is doing well.

Stirfried - psoriatic arthritis is very similar to rheumatoid but is caused by psoriasis. The treatment options and symptoms are also the same. The problem is that it is very rare so most of the imformation out there is not very helpful. There is a genetic marker which predisposes people to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as well as several other related diseases including spondilitis. I have tried a couple of different medications but i can't take many of them because the side effects weren't worth the risk at my age....or so my doctor tells me. I took the max dose of sulfasalazine for a while until I started producing mutated red blood cells.....at that point I pulled the plug. So currently I am not taking anything. My father has a severe case of it and has taken every medication under the sun. Right now he is on embril and many others which I believe a couple of you have probably tried.

Well, I have to admit I'm proud of myself as I am still exercising.Haven't lost any significant weight but I am beginning to notice my clothes are a little baggy. And as you all know just getting going is a huge achievement.

Well that's all for now. Hope you are all feeling well and take care.

2b

2bthin2, I think that fact that you are still working out is great. I have to start doing my work out.
I hope to start doing it today. Ihave this cardio rider,and it gives you a pretty good work out with out causing to much pain. It is really quite easy, but it still raises your heartrate to your target rate.
I am sure that you will start losing pounds, what kind of diet are you on? I have you tried going on a low carb diet for 1-2 weeks? You can losr up too 14 pounds within 2 weeks and then you add 5-10 more carbs until you are losing 2-3 pounds a week. Its hard in the begining, but after 1 or 2 days it gets alot easier.
I eat eggs with cheese and a little tomatoe and turkey for breakfast and I eat lots of no carb no sugar jello. For lunch I make something like a sandwhich with lettuce turkey or ham ot roastbeef (deli Meat) and add mild green chiles in a can they are not hot, and I put cheese on it. And I can leave off the lettuce and micro it for a hot sandwhich You can even add 1 piece of low carb bread, it say to count the net carbs but I count all of them,I am sure you could do it for at least 1 week and lose 7 or8 pounds or less I guess. But then you could like I said add more carb and eat some fruits not bananas, but some fruit under 10 carbs or less.
Write back and let me know what your eating habits are. And do not forget losin inches really counts more the pounds, it nice when you can do both.

Hello all I hope everyone else is havinf a pain free day.
Love Laura
weight
185-186
current goal
175 Hopefully in 10 days or so, if I keep up with the 20 carbs or less. I still haven't done this diet for two weeks straight, but I am back on track wish me luck and the same to you all.
final goal
140 :coffee: :) ;)

Hey, you two. Go back to the main forum and then click on DIETING WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS and then you will see the new thread. If you just want that thread here is the link http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40724

Stirfried & 2bThin2...

Just click on Friends with RA & OA....with the #2 at the end of it. I posted a new post to help get it to the top. It looks the same as before....only with the #2 at the end. Don't worry, we won't lose you! :)

http://img61.photobucket.com/albums/v185/Angel-Lover/thanks1.gif

Happy Canuk!