update | Arthritis Information

Hello to all!
I wanted to update that I received a recorded message from the Cardio office that my Stress Test looks good! I have not talked to my Family Doc yet. It has been a really hard couple months.

Started with RA flair and a round of Prednisone, then neurological problems, then my incident that got me a night stay at our City hospital, now of course I am on Day 7 of a nasty cold!

I have flowed from one ailment to another with no real break in between, all the while trying to keep up with my everyday life. I am so tired. I have tried to read and keep up with the postings here, but I will be honest and admit most of my time that I spend online is keeping up with my sons’ progress while he is in Basic Training at Fort Benning through a discussion board on Face Book.

I have been extremely tired. My Foot drop has improved dramatically, Halleluiah! I did find out my MS Doctor, Dr. Kottill Rammohan, Head of MS clinic at Ohio University is retiring, I hate that. I really liked him, I will miss him, but I will keep an open mind and reserve judgment on who I end up with and not try to compare them to Dr.Rammohan, he was so good to me! I will miss him. I hope everyone is well, and I plan to read up a bit and post a few responses later this evening.

Best Wishes,

Lisa

Wow...you've had a rough time there, Lisa. So sorry about all that's happened.

That's great news about the stress test! YAY!

I had a bad cold too...but I'm feeling better today. Hope yours gets better soon. I hate colds!

That's too bad about losing your MS doctor...I hope you end up with a doctor you like just as much!

Kelly

Lisa,

So glad the stress test proved negative. Gold star to you!

That's such a bummer when a good doctor is retiring. I went through that 3 years ago with my endocrinologist and still haven't found someone who comes close to being as smart and intuitive and great as he is.

Nasty cold seems to be all over the place. But then those of us with autoimmune diseases are germ magnets.

I can understand the need to closely affiliate yourself with your son. It's a rough transition for him and for those who love him. [Hey, I was born in Fort Benning!] But from what you've written, he's doing really well, so this should give you comfort.

Take care.

Hi Inflamed,

Good to read you again. Spring is just around the corner. Get better soon.

LEV

I'm so glad your stress test looked ok! Here's to a much less "exciting" spring [QUOTE=SnowOwl]

Does your MS flare up seasonally? It must be rough to have both MS and RA, since as a general rule heat makes MS symptoms worse but is comforting to RA pain. I hope the good test results and keeping an eye on your son's successes improves your morale, while you rest and regain some ground from what's ailing the bod.

[/QUOTE]

Hi Snow,

No, Ms does not flare with season changes. and yes, It can be taxing to deal with 3 auto immune diseases, Thyroid, MS and now RA. I know they are all connected somehow...(auto immune)

As far as the general rule goes for Heat and MS...what happens to someone who has MS in extreme heat or if something raises body tem, like hot bath or fever, it aggravates old symptoms. It does not cause a flare at all, as soon as you cool down the symptoms disappear. So yes, it is a pain at times. But I manage it very well.

Heat does feel good sometimes on my joints, I have a heating pad, which does NOT cause ms symptoms for me at all. I have on occasion soaked in a hot tub, knowing I will have that "weakness", but oddly it helps me hit the sack and I sleep better. I do NOT do hot tubs...but my tub in my bathroom has those jets so I am content with that.

Also, want to point out that MS does not mean a person is or will become crippled. That was my hugest fear; yes it could happen, but so many, many, many people that suffer with it are walking around the malls and streets, living a relatively normal functioning life. You know...they look good...so there fore they must be good... (Rolls eyes)

Thank you for the well wishes, I just want to get rid of this nasty cold , I started with it last Week…hopefully it is gone soon.

Thank you for your concern Snow, as always…have a good day!

Lisa

#1inflamedOnline2010-03-25 13:37:12Oh...One more thing!
Thank you EVERYONE who has wished me well !
One more wishing you well!HI Lisa, great news, I am glad it went well in the end, say hi to that brave son of yours and we will keep him in our prayers, hugs Janie. Hey Lisa.... so glad to hear about the stress results!! woo hoo!!

Sorry about your cold... just battled one out myself and used the neti-bottle thing and kicked a very "mucasy" head cold in three days!! I'm amazed and will now and forever be a believer!

Hope you feel better soon..... Miss you everywhere! ;)
That's awesome news about your stress test.

I really hope you get a break soon. You've had a really bad time lately.

Gentle hugs...

Glad that your stress test went well. Wishing you many good days in the future. I'm so glad your stress test results are good!

We went through the terror of a possible heart attack with my DH last April. The paramedics came to his meeting; he was sweating, had chestpain, passed out. In ER, the cardiologist admitted him for 2 days of tests and repeats of tests and everything was negative! That was handy, getting all that done in only 2 days instead of making multiple appts over weeks or months. I was the one who sent him to a gastroenterologist with the thought it might be a stomach ulcer and to insist on having an upper endoscopy done. That showed an ulcer due to GERD (gastro-esophageal-reflux-disease) right where the acid backs up out of the stomach sphincter and sits. He takes Protonix now and feels good. Years ago he learned to follow my advise; I'm always right about him (this, retinal detachment,etc) ... why can't I be about me?

About your cold... If you are on Methotrexate (or any DMARD?), it does nothing to help with TNF, in fact it makes it worse. So, my RD told me when I get really sick, to hold off on taking my Mtx one week. She said RA pts, esp if on Mtx, get hit harder and longer by illness than other people. She's right; a "simple" headcold for me is extra miserable, I get fever and it is bad for 10 days, then starts to gradually ease away in next 2 weeks... it almost always goes to bronchitis or pneumonia if it's a flu which happens less often now that I get the flu vaccine annually. Anyway, you might want to ask your RD about this for the future.

I hope you are feeling better by now.