How good are your good days? | Arthritis Information

On days when you have "good days" how good do you feel? Energetic and
pain free? Twinges of pain? Just one or two hurtin' spots? Muscle pain? Do
you feel like you don't even have RA?

I'm asking because I'm trying to better figure out how effective my
treatments are. I'm taking failrly low doses of mtx by now, and last month I
had 7 pain free days in a row (well, one day my foot hurt for a little while).
I'd like to attribute this to AP, but how do I know I wasn't just having some
good days?

So, what are your good days like?There seems to be a lot of us looking at this thread and nobody posting , so I'll jump in.

This is horrible to admit, but the last good day I had was after I accidentally took twice as much synthroid as I should have. It was a day after the double dosage and I really felt good. But, I still had pain, my knees and back especially, which I could lay to the OA and fibro.

I honestly can't remember the last pain free day that I had, but as I said, there's a lot going on here. I figure a good day is when I can control the pain by taking a short break from whatever I'm doing (usually trying to catchup from the really bad days!) and just make myself relax for 20 minutes or so before going back to doing.

kathleen
HI guys, if I can get through a day without a sleep and not too much endone, then that is a good day, a brilliant day was like today when I managed to swim with my kids and go for a bike ride with them, even though I am on a mobility scooter, they love it, and so do I. They are so tired they flaked out tonight, no reading or story telling just cuddles and off to la la land - glorious, I thank God everyday for them and hubby. Have a good weekend guys, hope there are lots of full painfree days ahead.
NB;
I am still waiting for results of my sons MRI brain scan, will let you know next week. I have applied for Orencia and should start within 2 weeks!!!!! hugs Janie.
Gimpy. I have to compare today to a year ago. I am 90 percent better since
starting plaq. The past two months have been harder and I think the colder
weather may be the problem. Seems that wet/cold is hard on me. Most of
my days are good though.

Hi , A good day for me is not waking up exhausted. I've been feeling really tired, like all I want to do is go back to bed after I get up....not good. Also, my painful foot isn't hurting, the cortisone shot worked and now I can walk the beach and get some exercise!! much needed. Been sitting way too much. I guess a good day for me is being able to go about my life, shopping, cleaning (not tooooo much!!), taking care of family without pain, swelling.

Is that too much for us to ask? Our meds should work , right?

Lynda

Gimpy,

I think you're going to get a wide range of answers. Everyone is so different and I from what I've seen on posts, damage seems to play a big part too.

I can tell you that when I first started Plaquenil in 2004, it was wonderful. I had NO fatigue and only occasionally had some very mild achey wrists. I've been having a lot of problems lately with flares. I've been flaring almost constantly and its back to a migratory fashion like when this all started.

At my last visit with my RD I asked him if it was unreasonable for me to strive for being completely pain free. He said NO. But I think that answer may have a lot to do with the fact that I don't have damage and that my flares tend to be episodic.

I have had and still occasionally do have absolutely pain free days. I'm starting to get a few more of those days now that I'm up to 15 mg of MTX. When those pain free days happen, I always think the RA has gone away and I'm cured. Then it rears its ugly head again!

My "good days" are great. Lots of energy, very little pain, good mood. I'm having a streak of good days right now, and it is AWESOME. I am going to force myself to get some rest this weekend, as I have a tendency to overdo it when I'm having an anti-flare. Good days are those with energy and little or no pain, but the real test for me is if the left side (arm, leg, face) feels "normal" or close to it, that is, there's no weakness or numbness. I think I'm seeing a pattern of feeling best after my MTX dose on Sunday and then by Friday I'm starting to feel less well again. Not sure about this, I'll have to pay strict attention.

My good days make me feel normal (I know everyone's normal is different) but my body is at peace, its quiet and calm. For me those days of inner peace are a great mental soother. Which I've found is why when the inner peace is gone the downward sprial of anger and misery is so intense. Its like have a glimpse at heaven and then having it snatched away. ITS NOT FAIR (stamping of feet and teddy in corner

I've just had 6 days of heaven and my face is puffy and swollen this morning and just dont get me started on how I wish I could take my jaw off my face for some relief.... sorry rant over.

Once we experience the pain of this disease, I think we are ever vigalent and looking for it to re-emerge.

Most of the time I don't even feel like I have RA. Occasionally, I get twinges, but that is always dose related. Since I'm now on antibiotics M-F, on weekends I just kick but and live life (and do paperwork, sheesh!) I don't have twinges on the weekends.

Pip

Thanks everyone, for the replies. It's really helpful.

So, Pip, does M-F mean every day from Monday to Friday? Are you still at
100mgIBID? Why the change? I'm asking because I've been considering trying
daily doses. < =text/>_popupControl();

A good day for me is when I can get through the day without taking a nap, my pain level is 3 instead of a 6-7, and I can sleep through the night without waking up in pain. My RA is currently out of control right now, but I still have some good days.

Right now I'm not in control but a good day is when I sleep all night, can take a long walk, not have to use pain meds except for some damage pain, and my fingers and ankles look slim. Lindy

Well I have been in remission for a few years, no flares. My knees are shot, I still walk but some day they will have to be addressed. Right wrist has some erosions from my first two years and that bothers me somtimes especially riding, but its not debilitating. I take 3 advil in the morning for my knees.

This is me in 2006 riding Deals Gap in NC.

Antibiotic Protocol, Minocin from Feb 2000-Nov 2003. I follow a mostly vegetarian diet limiting refined processed foods.

higgy39389.6850347222

Oh, Higgy, that is too cool!

GoGo -

My AP doc added Zith to my regimine because my RF was still stuck at 260 and my strep titers were inching upwards. Strep is usually hit with the penicillan family so...he wanted to hit my baddies both ways. So, Mino MWF and Zith T, Th with weekends off for good behavior.

I am really against the daily dosing. I just don't think it kills as many of the buggers as the pulsing does. Just search the RB - it's common to herx when going back down to a maintainence dose. Yes, you feel better again but why go thru that all over again? The idea for going for the 'cure' is to get as many dead as possible ASAP without killing the patient.

Even the MP people believe the herx is a sign of healing. People who didn't herx on AP herx on the MP.

Pip

This is from a trip I took from Georgia to Connecticut June 2006. This is on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I took the back way and rode the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, it was about 2600 miles total. This was taken on the way home towards the southern end of the BRP.

Pip, I know what you mean, but I also notice some people seem to do better at 100mg IBID daily, then cutting down to MWF and so on. I wouldn't want to stay on daily dosing for years and years. One thing, though is I don't want to do daily dosing AND mtx...I need a liver!

I'm building a foundation for my sisters new house in 2004.

Diagnosed with RA Feb 1998, Antibiotic Protocol with Minocin from Feb 2000-Nov 2003. I follow a mostly vegetarian diet limiting refined processed foods.

higgy39389.7108796296Go Higgy! And some days I have trouble putting on foundation. You're a true inspiration.

I think i have good superman days. I don't know if i count pain or not. I mean the no fatique. And walk two miles and Lift what i want do what i want. I had bad fatique last flare and came out of it on my own. But i don't know yet if it is this infection or if i have bounced to a new level. I will let you know i am planning on having a good day really soon. That is on my to do list.Until late March of this year, my good days far outnumbered my bad and except for some minor discomfort in my hands and feet, my symptoms were well controlled by MTX + Plaquenil + Relafen. I ran a very busy catering service; worked nearly every day in the studio, kept a large garden, and managed to keep an acre relatively free of weeds and debris. I lived fully and well.

In March, I had a bicycle accident that resulted in double compound fractures of my left medial forearm: radial and ulnar. During a series of surgical procedures, I was taken off the MTX and by the end of the second week went into a flare that has only recently showed signs of abating.

This past month a good day was being able to get out of bed unassisted and being able to wash my hair. This month WILL be an improvement!I haven't had a good day in so long, I don't remember. I have so-so days that I can do things at home in spurts, like the dishes, the laundry, etc. but that with pain meds. I have had bad days where I can't get out of the recliner and having the heating pad on, took the maximum of pain meds, and pratically crying cuz I hurt so bad. I am still trying to get this ugly monster under control. I go to dr on the 9th and I will probably be switched to something new. Either enbrel or remicade. Humira hasn't really worked for me. My morning stiffness is better and swelling has went down in hands but my feet are big and ugly. I recently starting getting pain in my knees and never had that before so I think it's time to try something new.

I guess I am with CinDee, I haven't had a good day in so long. I think if I did I would overdo and go back to square one. I had pain all day today, and most days, but I had more energy today. I still had to lay down for about an hour and a half, but I just got my infusion on Wed. I had less pain...mostly between 5 and 6 instead of the raging 7-8 that I have been blessed with for over a year.

A good day for me is when I find myself striding when I walk. I can step up on a ladder or step stool. I can get on the floor with the kids, with only a little pain.
I feel like cooking, and don't feel like I will die if I don't get to bed by 830. I can rad more than just leafing through a magazine.
On a REALLY good day I get interested in sex.

I have maybe 5 to 7 of these days a month.

kathy_in_wlsv39390.4724768519

I'm in the group of, what's a good day? Haven't had one in some time. I'm becoming more house bound.

For me a good day would be one where I can walk in to the store or walk around my place without looking for a place to sit down. I miss not being able to get out more.

Marisa