So, I made a list last night...

for my own little pity party.  My hubby is out of town, I felt so bad about myself that I got some chocolate and watched Hell's Kitchen.    Here's my list:  Monday, 6/13:  Neck sore - yawning hurts, hurts to turn it any way, heat helped for a bit.  Hips hurting when I get up and walk from sitting down.  Started a yeast infection for the first time in 5 years .  Hands same (sausage fingers), tingly.  Knees are getting sore going up/down stairs, popping.  Lower back same (sore in AM).

Pity party for Karen.  WHY won't my GP do anything more?  Oh well, at least I'll have quite a list for my Rheumatologist when I get in there in 13 days.  Yes, I'm counting.

Karen

We're counting down the days with you Karen. I really believe you are going to find the help you need with this new RD.

Hang in there my friend!!

Lovie

Hi Karen,

I remember I had to wait 11 days to get in and it seemed like forever.  I had a real book going for the RD myself .  Hang in there, won't be much longer. UGHHH! I missed Hell's Kitchen  completely forgot. That guy is such a meany, is'nt he?? 

I hope the days pass quickly for you, maybe you should watch     "Blow Out" tonight .

Take care, keep checking in,

 Pam

The chef on Hell's Kitchen is hilarious, he's so mean!  (His middle name should be Richard.)

Karen, your description was me a few months ago.  Hurts to yawn, for crying out loud.  And my non-RA friends think it's sort of funny when I tell them it was hard to sit down on the toilet, and hard to get up off the toilet.  We won't even discuss getting toilet paper off the roll....

Any chance you can call the rheumy's office and put yourself on a cancellation list, just in case they can get you in earlier?

Hi KarenNTx:  I haven't seen a Rheumy yet, this will be my first visit.  My GP won't do anything else for me and I am not on any medication.  I did the Medrol Pack when I first went to my GP and it worked wonders by day 2.  Unfortunately, everything is slowly coming back and I still have 13 days to go.

Sara:  I am on the cancellation list!  So everyday, I just hope the phone will ring and then I hope I can get a sitter quick enough.

Thanks for responding everyone.  I will update you as soon as I know anything.

Karen

Hi there, Hope you do get
in to se the RA sooner. But whenever you do,
making a list is a great idea. I somethimes think I
will remember everything I want to ask and then get
in to see the dr. and my mind goes blank. In the
past, I've also been one of those peole that don't
want to 'bother' the dr. by asking to many
questions...not the best way to go.

I was just diagnosed a few months ago, and all the
inflamation and pain started with a repetitive stress
injury to my hands. They became a swollen as
balloons. Then my sholders and knees. Thankfully,
they had me take 2 wks off work for workers comp.
That really help reduce the swelling.

But anyway, during this time one of the most painful
things was getting on and off the toliet! (I had also
sprained my knee) Wanted to take a bath so bad,
but couldn't get in and out of the tub (I live alone).
When I mentioned this to my family, I think they
thought I was nuts.... So Sara, it's interesting to
hear someone else mention the same thing.

Hope your doctor appt. goes well...we will be
counting the days with you.

I find myself appreciating the silliest things now--like not crying every time I had to go to the bathroom.  (And by the way, I wasn't so elegant as MSO.  To hell went the TP roller--I just set the roll on the counter and used my thumb to hold it as I pulled paper from it.)  And how about shoes--am I the only person with two completely different-sized set of shoes--one for days when you're all swollen, and one for when you're your normal size?  Shoe horns!!  Saved me from going barefooted to work some days.  Newsflash!  They give them away free at shoe stores, just for the asking.  And how sweet is it to pick up your coffee cup with one hand?

OK.  I'm done with silver linings for now.   

i remember those days... i still revisit them at times, but not to the extent that i used to!! I remember crying (and i mean sobbing) cause it hurt so bad to get up off my couch. I had to slide to the ground and then use my arms and hands to help lift me up because i could just stand up from sitting. I would get so frustrated cause i wouldnt alway make it to the bathroom or whatever i needed to do (sorry for being so graphic, but its the truth.) The day i moved into my apartment (4 years ago and before i was dx) i couldnt lift my right arm without using my left to lift it. I felt bad that all my friends were moving me in and i was jsut tanding around!
    Man this is a bad memory! I lived and live alone, so everything i do here is me doing it. I have since moved into a house and now take care of the house by myself. I am WAY better off now with meds and can do most things. I have felt really good for a week now and tonight is the first night since Thursday morning that i feel pain in my feet and knees. I had a tiny bit of stiffness last night, but nothing really in the big scheme of things. tonight, after being caught in the rain and doing some yard work in a tiny bit stiff. Ill take some aleve and go to bed in a bit.
    and as for the shoes.. i bought a pair of double wide running shoes and had the foot doc put pads in them and i can wear them all day every day! but i havebeen able to wear 2 other pair of sandals.. Thats it 3 pair! and im going to disney this summer! UG! My feet have bubbles on them and it looks like my pinky toes are folding into my other toes, but the joint below them are sticking out.. not easy to fit shoes on my feet!

Ok im outtie for tonight, tomorrow is last day i have to get up for work YEAH! night, and remember the pain you WERE in and thank whomever you need to for the lack on pain today!

Unicorn--

Since you're going to Disney, my favorite place, I can't resist a few tips.  Don't know if you're doing FL or CA.  I just got back from a trip a couple months ago to Florida. 

First, shoes.  I found these great shoes--like Birkenstocks, but not so expensive. ($20-$25) They're made by Beaver Creek.  I found them at Shoe Carnival and Rack Room Shoes.  Don't know what part of the country you're in. Anyway, they have huge toe space.  Sort of a clog.  All leather uppers.  So comfy.  Felt like I was wearing bedroom slippers the whole time at Disney.

Second, get the electric cart!  Pricey at $30 per day, but so worth it.  At 3 of the 4 parks, they get you and your whole party head-of-line privileges.  (MGM did not do it.  They just made you sit in a wheelchair as you waited forever in line.  Something about they're ADA compliant, so they don't have to let you cut the wait short.)  Anyway, if you park hop in the same day, no worries.  You only pay once for the cart--they just give you a new cart at the new park at no additional charge.  And the fact that you are able to walk is not an issue.  You just park your cart close to the head of the line, get on the ride, then get back on your cart and drive away.  Best thing about it is the basket to carry all the crap you bought that you didn't need.

OK.  I know you probably already knew this stuff, but had to tell you anyway.  And gotta say, if you're doing FL, have you lost your mind?  Florida in summer?  Enjoy the lovely heat and humidity...

The cart thingy... Been there done that! I went to disney ( FL) 2 summers ago in August with a friend (co worker) of mine. Now get this... we are both severely over weight, she has diabetes and a hereditary degenerative back and i have RA. Well the first day, we both walked, not too bad. The second day she got the cart and i walked. Still not too bad.. The third day, At MGM no less, i had blisters on my feet so here we were, racing around inTWO carts! Hee hee, mine never went as fast as hers tho! I dont remember if they let us cut in line or not at MGM, but i know it was great for epcot and the kingdom.  it was FUNNY!!!!!!!!!

We are going in July, knowing it will behot, but i know that the parks are open really late at ngiht if we are saying on disney property, so well come home in the afternoon and then go in the parks later at ngiht when its cooler.

Ok well my classroom is cleaned up and everything is lockerd up for the summer, I need to put my keyboard and mouse away to go to lunch.. then i guess ill read a book!

Til i get home... later

Ouch!! Sorry to hear you're not feeling well Karen.  It's okay to have a pity party hon, just don't fall in the deep dark hole.  We'll be counting the days with you so keep us updated.  I sure hope you find some relief at the Rheumy.

Peace & Love...Neasy