Family and Auto Immune | Arthritis Information

Well my sister is going threw something? Fibro hormone changes ect. She can't sleep and that alone is freaking her out. Musle spasms. Restless leg. She has been in pain for awhile but the not sleeping thing is her biggest problem at the moment. She has taken Celexa for fibro in the past and did fine. I don't think it is agreeing with her this time. Maybe it is just the lack of sleep. She is just wired. She had a baby a few months back and thinks it maybe a hormone change. We know she has fibro. We worry about RA. I know fibro can start out with insomnia. Does RA ever do this. I have chronic fatigue so i wouldn't know?

Also a sad thing. my moms cousin that has MS also has pancreatic cancer. She has maybe a week they say. Her mom had RA and died of cancer. So AI in my family does not have a very good out come so it would seem.

I certainly am praying for her. She has had a very hard year she says. I think the past several years have been hard for her. I am sure this is a scary time for her. I can't imagine .

A week? Wow. My prayers for your fam, Milly. How are you doing?Prayers for the family and cousin. Also Justice Ginsburg who has pancreatic cancer.My mother died of pancreatic cancer, and its hereditary. When I was having the severe acute pancreatitis attacks, it was of deep concern, but it turned out to be a badly infected gall bladder. So pancreatic cancer is always on my mind, and its becoming more prevalent it seems.

Milly, good to see you, long time no post. Cathy

justsaynoemore2009-02-07 12:16:11Milly- sorry your sister is having troubles- hope she feel better. I was glad to see you after being gone for so long also. How are you feeling? Wow Milly...hang in there. I'm sorry your family has had to deal with so much. La

Thanks all. As to how I am feelling. Depends on what day it is. I am very dry. Dry mouth, sinuses, eyes. Yuk!

I am doing better on the Chloriquine Phosphate. I quit taking prednisone about a month ago.

Thats worth celebrating. Still taking pain pills. I think the shot i got in my shoulder is waring off. My feet ache almost all of the time.

I am not as fatigued as I used to be. I am alot more active. Maybe to active. I am pretty sore at the moment. But i am determined to stay off of the prednisone. I so much wanted my face and body back. It seems to be returning slowly.

My sister that is a mystery. Mom went to stay with her and help with the baby and kids. She thinks on top of everything else that she has the flu. Obviously she is exhausted. Wondering if her thyriod could be keeping her awake? She is a very skinny girl. I think I will yell at the doc Monday and insist she get some bloodwork. Come on doc she is my sister. It took years for my bloodwork to vendicate me.

I will let you know if we find out anything.

Hi Milly - So sorry to hear about the troubles with your family. Has your sister ever tried Lyrica? It is such a good drug for fibro. I had similar problems with sleep after my last baby was born. I was so exhausted, but couldn't sleep when I went to bed. When I started having problems with TMJ, the doctor treating me prescribed Trazadone at bed time to help relax muscles since I pretty much clenched my jaw all night. When I started taking it it was so wonderful because I could actually sleep 6-8 hours and wake up feeling rested. Of course with a baby sleeping 6-8 hours might be unrealistic. My husband took a couple of extra nights and would let me sleep. Also, on the nights I did get up with the baby, I was able to back to sleep pretty quickly where before I would lie in bed awake for two or three hours before going to sleep.

Vitamin D is supposed to help with muscle aches among a bunch of other things. I started taking it last summer (along with a low dose of thyroid support) and cannot say enough good things about it.

Milly- so glad to hear you got off the prednisone! I haven't heard of what you are on. Sounds like you are keeping busy- glad you are able. If you still need pain pills it makes me think your RA meds aren't working like they should. What does the doctor say?
Keep us posted about your sister- I agree blood work is in order.
Well it is true that my RA meds could work a little better than they are. On the other hand they are working better than anything else I have taken so I am leary of change. I know it could be worse. I am allergic to so much stuff. Change is scary. I see the RD next month. I thought about calling him today. Just never got around to it. I have a strange rash on the inside of my elbow. It is not to bad I am watching it for now. Maybe it was from my antibiotics. Anyway I will call RD in a few days just want to see how this rash does first.Well shut my mouth- my RD just put me on pain pills instead of adjusting my DMARDS.
I'll never figure this disease out...
I do remember you saying you have reactions to a lot of drugs- I don't blame you for wanting to stick with what you are tolerating and sucking up the pain.

Hi Milly,

I am really sorry to hear about your mom's cousin, very sad. Many prayers to you and your family.

I sleep 3 hours on and 3 hours off with RA. So I feel it does affect the sleep, also prednisone and other medications for RA, fibro, etc. can affect sleep. but you said she just had a baby so it could be so many things. I think it is a good idea to mention this to her doctor. so many of these conditions share some of the same symptoms. so very hard to say what's going on, even doctors have to rule out certain things to figure it all out.

take care.