HI! Angel,Kim,just wanted to check in hopeing that everyone is having a great thursday well Ohio weather is chilly right now we are supposed to get some snow this weekend of course I am offso just might take hubby to the movies on the passes that I won from the hospital for not missing any work now if I could be that strict about loosing weight and stick with it I would be in good shape !!!!!!!!! am loosing about a pound a week so I should be happy and that is for not eating sweets which is really hard for me my son went on the south beach diet and so far he is doing good he sure doesnt take the dertimintion from me LOLwell got to getbusy just had my morning coffee so have a great day and may you be pain free today Rita

Rita & Kim.

Rita...a pound a week is great!!! That's how I lost my weight...1-2 lbs a week. Keep it up, girl!

We went to see the movie "Passions of the Christ" last Sunday night. Our church rented out the cinema. It's an awesome movie. Have either of you seen it, yet?

I've had lots of trouble with my sinuses & tonsils the last two days. It's really unusual for me to have any problems outside of my OA & RA. My meds usually keep everything else away...I take so much. It worries me. If I have any infection at the time of my treatment, they won't let me have it, until I'm totally over it. I have a treatment the 15th. I know that's still 10 days away, but when I get something, I can't shake it very easily. I may have to see my Dr & get some anti-biotics. They're so expensive, though.

Well, gotta get ready for work today. Hope you girls have a good, peaceful day. Kim.....let us hear from you.

Sorry, have been away from my computer for a few days.

Things here have been okay. Yesterday I went to the orthopedist and got a cortisone shot in my foot. YEOWCH. But it feels better now. Plus, he put me in one of those splints that look like a ski boot. So fashionable am I....

He wrote a prescription for me to get another set of leg braces, but I'm not sure I'm ready to go down that route again, so I will hold onto it while I make up my mind.

Have a great and pain free day everyone!~

Hi Khewes and everyone! Khewes mailed me and said I should come and say hello to all you fellow RA sufferers so here I am. I dont know if somebody is watching over me at this minute in time or what but for the first time in 4 years I am almost, not quite,pain free. Still niggles but no major pain. I was on MTX, celebrex, muscle relaxers at night, pain killers during the day and tramadol at night. Splints for both hands when needed, a thing for round my neck when it gives grief and and ankle support. Anyway I took myself off the mtx in December having been on it for over 3 years.. as I was having major gastric probs. Thelast time I saw my Rheumy was last month and I had been in a dreadful flare since New year so he gave me a steroid jab in my butt that he said was different to pills and wouldnt affect my weight. The combination of that and my diet has made me feel great. I have started doing low impact arobics and alot more walking and have lost 25lbs in 7 weeks. I really dont know how long this will last but I really need to make the most of it and stay positive for as long as possible.I am only taking celebrex atm and hopefully it will give my inside a chance to improve with a break in all my medications. I have rattled on far too much and I apologise but I am so pleased to be able say how I feel to people that UNDERSTAND. That goes for the weight as well as the RH. We all need each other to keep us positive and keep our spirits up.
Every time you achieve in life either by making a new move, losing a pound. stopping smoking ,whatever, is another positive move toward the new you. I was so sick of me that I really mean to get there so lets do it together. Catch you all soon ....Pam

WOW!! All that weight loss! That's great work! So glad you're feeling well, also. You're sure an encouragement to to rest of us! Thank you for sharing with us, and hope you stay. Don't ever appologize for posting a lot or a little. Just post what you want or need to. Sometimes we just need to vent. Sometimes we have a lot of good news...like today! Sometimes, it's just checking in. Whatever, we love to hear from everyone.
I hope that shot keeps working for you! Wonder what it is that wouldn't cause weight gain. Lucky you.

Hi Kim...glad you posted. I'm sure you don't like wearing the boot...I've seen them. But, if it helps..... Also, the leg braces, I don't blame you. I'm suppose to wear a back brace, for my OA. I wore it 1 day, about 20 years ago.

Hi Rita.....

I'm in a hurry...have an important appt to get my nails done! Be back later. Have a good day.

HI! Everyone hope that you all are having apain freeday well ohio weather sucks today and after working 12 hrs I really feel it Kim I feel for you with that shot just hope that it is feeling better by now got many of them in my knee. and the boot isnt the greatest looking thing but if it helps that is all that matters < Angel this is the season for those nasty infections so dont wait too long and see the DR so you can go and get your other treatment thank goodness for antiobitics but at times it is hard finding the right one and so expensive so take care of yourself Pam welcome and please post back as you are an insperation to me 25 lbs in 7 weeks is wonderful let see if I keep loosing a pound a week it will take me 6 months to get where I want right now sounds depressing so whaterever you are doing keep it well girls have a great Sat Rita

Greetings from the woman with the huge plastic foot!
Busy busy busy today, just wanted to say hi and have a wonderful pain free day!

Kim

Just thought I would pop in and say HI! to everyone hope your day is going great really cold todaywish I could stay inside but that is wishful thinking!!!!!!!!! Rita

hi everyone i tried to find a support group for people with spinals but couldn,t as i also have oa ithought i might pop in and have a chat Can anyone give me any ideas on working out when all you are allowed to do is walk {which is pretty naff when half the time you cant crawl im allowed to swim but at the moment its still really cold and cant seem to get my body to co-operate any suggestions would be gratefully recieved ive been told i need to lose 100llbs but they never tell you how to!!!
thanks again

Welcome Linus! Glad you joined us. Tell us more about yourself.

Well, I can't exercise....even walk far, so don't have a lot of advice to give....maybe an indoor pool? We have one in our town, but can't get anyone to go with me. I finally lost my weight just by dieting & LOTS of water. Wish you a lot of luck....& hope you stay with us.

I don't have much time, lately...but, will be back ASAP!

Have a good Friday, girls.

Hi Linus, and welcome!
I find I do my best walking on a treadmill. I can hold onto the handrails and steady myself. You can control the speed that way as well. I don't walk well outdoors, as i need a flat surface to walk and can't deal with sidewalks and rocks, etc.

Good morning everyone! My Enbrel is due to arrive today. I may have to restrain myself from kissing the UPS guy!
I'm sooooo excited. I've taken it before and it's a Miracle Drug.
Yay!

Have a great weekend!
Kim

AWWWW go ahead & kiss 'm ....make his day!! Just kidding. But, you know, every time I get my treatment....I love everyone at the clinic!! It's the following 2 days that I don't want anyone in the whole world around! I thought it was just me, for awhile...but, I have a friend who takes Remicade, also, only for Crohn's disease. He's says that he's the same way. It's had to describe...we're drunk, "out of it", & VERY cranky. But, starting on the 3rd day, the world starts looking a little better. The day of treatment would be fine, only he & I both are very sensitive to it. (I'm allergic to a lot of meds) They have to load us with Zertec, Benadryl & whatever else it takes. Sooo
we sleep the day away! When it's his time for treatment, I call & give him a "pep" talk, & he does the same for me. Also, my veins are so tiny, the cathedar is larger than they are...doesn't help matters. (at least something about me is tiny ) We just really dread it. He's the meteorologist at the TV station that I volunteer at...so, he & his wife are around often.

KIM, RITA, LINUS, PAM....& ALL....HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

well hi to you all ive been made to feel so welcome on this site by all its such a releif to have peopla to talk to well where to start im 32 live in edinburgh in scotland im married have two sons one 14 and one 11 both to be a year older this july .I have a bad spine my discs are rupturing and ive had one one operation to remove said disc only to find that same said disc had calcified and they had to take bits off of my spine to relive pressure on my spinal chord only to find the nerves were shot ,i also have ostio arthritis and bladder weakness{because of spine} and irratable bowel syndrome my gp wants me to have hip replacement but i said maybe when im fifty all i can say is that thank god we have the nhs as im on that much medication i rattle well now ive depressed you all and in danger of you all throwing me out im going to go thanks for the welcome

Welcome Linus!!!!!!!!!!! hopeing that everybody has a great Sunday Rita

Linus, I had spinal surgery ten years ago. I definitely feel your pain. My disc had ruptured and then dessicated. (dried out). I had to have some roto-rooter work done back there to make sure that if any more discs ruptured and bulged , they wouldn't press on the nerve.
I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience.


My Enbrel arrived last Friday and it was all I could do not to pull down my drawers and give myself a shot in my office. I refrained and waited until later that night.
I'm feeling better already. It's such a miracle drug.

Have a great, pain free day everyone!