Hey y'all~
Well, I switched rheumies (my old one moved away) and the new one is much more aggressive. He put me on injectable MTX, which has waaay cute down the nausea and headaches. However, he doubled me up to 15 mg, and now to 20 mg (I had a damn flare this weekend...grr). I'm still hoping my hair stays in my head...so far, it hasn't been falling out so here's hoping. Does anyone know if the injectable is better in regards to that side effect?
My other question is this: does anyone know anything about what might cause slight osteopenia (problematically low bone density) in hips, but where the spine is excellent in density? Yeah, that was today's results of my first bone density test ever. Woohoo. The nurse practitioner commented about how unusual that particular combination is, that normally the spine is the first to start having issues. Once again, yay for being medically unique (sarcasm :-P).
This part is a vent (and something I know everyone has been through and can relate to, so thanks for listening): I'm tired. I'm tired of not being able to do all the things that I used to be able to...help pull boat trailers, sit indian-style on a sail boat, straighten my elbows all the way, etc. And I am tired of having to take all the damn meds.
This is sort of a vent: I'm getting married in May to a wonderful man who is my best friend and my match and the love of my life (not the vent part :-) ). He's supportive and encouraging and all of it. I just sometimes feel so guilty...like he deserves to have a spouse who is fully healthy and capable. He reassures me that he wants to share his life with me, and reminds me how far I've come since I first got diagnosed...which makes me feel better, but I still worry about the kind of wife I'll be. And we want to have kids, and I'm worried about that pursuing that with an RA diagnosis. We'll adopt if we can't have our own, but I'd like to at least try.
OK, enough venting/worrying. Thanks for listening y'all, and sorry this went so long. Any information or advice y'all have would be more than welcome :-). Again, thanks. This forum has made this whole journey much easier.
~Kristen
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The injectable mtx has made no difference for me regarding hair loss. Are you on folic acid? If not, you should be. Mtx causes a nasty folic acid deficiency and also helps in the hair loss area and prevents mouth sores. It *did* make a difference regarding the other side effects like the stomach upset and headaches. I still get tired the day after my shot tho.
I am sorry, I have no idea about what would cause the rare hip/spine bone density issue you have going on. Crunchy might so you might want to try and shoot her off a PM. Are they putting you on anything for the osteopenia?
Glad you vented!!! That is what we are here for!! It is perfectly normal (YAY you are normal in an area lol) to feel they way you are about meds and not being able to do a lot of things you used to do. We actually (and our partners) go through the 7 stages of grief when we have a chronic illness. Here is a link for you to look those over and help you understand that what you are going through…just about everyone goes through. http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/kuble r_ross/kubler_ross.htm
Well, I really feel that if your wonderful fiancée felt that you were not a whole woman and was really all that worried about some of your limitations that he would not have asked you to marry him or he would call it off. I really don’t feel you have anything to worry about in that department. As far as starting a family, well you can go off meds to get pregnant. Many people do. Most of the time women enter into remission for the duration of their pregnancy and for some time after the baby is born. Do you have a good support system in place? Your support system can come in handy on those days you might need a little extra help around the house with the kids etc. My RA was not that bad when we had our kids so I really don’t know too much about this. I didn’t get bad until our kids got into elementary school. Then we moved to AZ where I went into remission. Now they are teens while my RA is out of control and they help a lot. For them, this is their “normal” life. Mom has always had RA and has always had some limitations. Your RA will be “normal” for your kids. I’m sure someone else will come along that will be able to help you with this much more than I can.
We are always here for you!!!
Originally I only had osteopenia in my hips as well. A year later we did the second bone density scan and the number was worse and also included my spine this time.
I've had RA for more than 13 years and been on predisone many, many times as well as numerous cortisone injections. I've also been on a constant DMARD treatment since I was dx'ed. That's what has cause mine.....at least they want to blame it on that anyway.
I wasn't ever on Predisone for more than a few weeks to a month and a half at a time. If that contributed to my osteo problems I sure would hate to be one of those that has taken Predisone for years on end without fail. That has to be a probelms causer there.