Good Morning yeay I slept til 6 today I have been waking up around 4. Cat great gig sounds like a hell of a good time. MT I have not been brave enough to do shots yet I just keep putting it off. Sounds painful in the foot though ouch. The days I stay on my diet I feel prety good It is called Fit for Life. I am going to get into see a acupuncturist as soon as we get our med tax free money going again in Oct. Kids are liking school and I am surviving good. Hubby goes back to work today Yeah I love him better when he goes to work and comes home lol. I had a dream I was working again last night what a nightmare. All of you who work I hope you so something you love and it is not to hard on you. I am glad I am able to work from home and keep up with mylittle guys. It is enough for me now. Hope evey one has a good day. Jamie

Hi everyone!

Cat, sorry I missed the gig excitment. Sounds awesome and I'm so glad to hear you got through it with minimal problems. Good for you. And very inspiring!

Mary Ann, my dad used to have the shots into his joints (he has RA). He said it was very painful but definately worth it in the long run. I hope the good outweighs the bad for you too!

My rhuemy put me back upto 60mg prednisolone a couple of days ago. As much as I loath having to take that much the difference is unbelivable! I've been able to come up to my flat in Birmingham and collect my stuff for holiday... three days ago I was an absolute wreck. It's crazy! Going to stay on 60mg for holiday and then consider the IV (steriod sparing?) treatment again when I'm back.

I hope everyone else has a good day! Chlo

Good morning Everyone!

Nice to be back. It took me forever to read all of the posts that I missed over the past week but it sure was nice to see how busy you all were.

MT - Hope your renovation project is getting off to a good start. I read about that theft at your work...caridac patients with guns!! Sorry about your reflux at night. I have that problem too. I keep Tums or Rolaids by my bedside and I pop them throughout the night. Would you believe I sometimes wake up with one still in my mouth!!

Nikkie - Wow! You sure stick to your exercise plan. Good for you. We actually just got the Wii Fit for our house and I am slowly trying to get into an exercise routine although my breathlessness is making it a little difficult. I have to be content with a much slower and whimpy routine but something is better than nothing right? Hope you enjoyed your trip to Columbus and besides your shin splint, I glad to hear that you are relatively pain free.

Marilyn - What seemed to be an upward swing last week is heading back down. My goodness you have a lot to deal with! Your doctors, long distances, your constant symptoms. Hang in there and don't let it get the best of you! My thoughts are with you!

Sausage Fingers - Glad to see we have another new member! Welcome! Love your username...I can sure relate!!!

Jamie - I enjoyed your story about your son's matchmaking abilities. You really seem to have mastered the ability to enjoy your children and grandchildren. Sorry to hear about your pain and blackouts though. Hope you get that checked soon!

Snap - Thanks for your post about diet and supplements. Glad your appointment with your female "House" Rheumy went well. Funny how we get nervous before those appointments eh? Almost like being evaluated isn't it?

Help (Marianne) - Thanks for recommending that book. I have it reserved at my local library. How are you enjoying your new dog? I had a Bichon Maltais as a young girl...what a great dog! A real cuddler! Hope the CA heat is not getting to you.

Cat (Matt) - WOW! Have you ever been busy! I share your perspective on the "spoons" article. Congratulations on the Rainbow gig! You're right...being part of something big makes your individual challenges disappear doesn't it? Hope there are more gigs in your future...and by the way...there is no cut off age for fun!

Oddman - I sometimes get the shakes but it doesn't seem to be as bad as what you are describing. Hope you start to feel better soon!

Geterdone (Christine) - That was good advice regarding doctors. You live in New Brunswick...what a beautiful province. I just saw a story on last night's news broadcast about a march in a small town in New Brunswick which aims to obtain coverage for the costs of Avistan and other drugs for cancer patients there. Hope your province responds positively.

Momzor (Ash) - Hope you're doing well. Thanks for posting that article. It was insightful and although I agree with Cat that we should avoid self-imposed limitations, I agree that the analogy can be helpful when trying to give someone a "clue" about what this disease can be like!! Haven't heard about your Dad...how is he doing? and how are you?

Chloe - I was on a similar dose of Prednisone for a while and as much as I did not like taking that medication, I have to admit that it did the trick! Good plan...take it during your vacation so that you can take full advantage and after you come back, you can look into other options. Keep your chin up!

Kristin - So much for no drama! How are those boys that were in the accident? So sorry to hear that you have been having so much pain. Hope you feel better soon.

MelissaL - Welcome to the group...you will find great support here! Sydney and now Munich...Das ist wunderbar! My husband is German and his family is in the north in Braunschweig. What a beautiful place to live.

Polar Bear - Glad to hear you're feeling human but my prayers were aiming a bit higher for you! Still tappering off the prednisone? I have also shed tears over the moments that I have had to allow to pass me by with my children but when you think of it, I'm sure you will see that there are some pretty terrific moments that this illness has slowed you down enough to spend with your kids. I am worried about you. Hang in there my friend...better days are ahead. I will double up my prayers and good thoughts and I hope you did get out there to listen to your son's new stereo.

Andi - You seem to be going through so much with your uncle's passing and now your aunt's cancer. It's wonderful that you are able to be there for your mother at this difficult time...I'm sure she appreciates it, especially if she knows what challenges you face every day!

Matyanka - Hope all is well in Michigan!

Erare - Where are you girl? Hope all is well with you too!

As for me (if you're still reading this incredibly long post!) my family and I had a nice time in Qubec city. What a beautiful place on earth! I was busy with the legal conference and a number of meetings ( nice to talk law a gain for a little bit!) while my husband and children visited the city. I would join them for dinner in the evening and I did get to spend one full day with them before we headed back home. I did have a couple of scares during the trip. I completely lost my breath as we were walking up the typical hills of old Qubec and I couldn't catch it. I almost blacked out twice. It was a bit of a kick in the shins for me since I really thought I could at least handle a leisurely walk with my family. I guess I did too much! I've been taking it easy since my return and I am looking forward to my next Rheumy apointment next week. Looks like this treatment is not doint the trick! What now? Anyways...I'm sure glad to be home!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Jose

Hey guys!

Wow Josee...sounds like a roller coaster of a trip! Glad you're back safe and sound!

Cat...you rock! Sounds like a wonderful time.

Chloe...bummer about the meds...but great about feeling a little better!

Jamie...try the shots if you really need them! I had to get 3. I haven't had one in many years though, and yes they hurt, but they are sooo worth it!

As for me...doing well. Going to be very busy over the next several weeks...going back to dayton!!!!!!Yay!! So, I have to find a job, get packed and get going. My journal says it all if you're interested in the whole sorted story...if you're my friend;)

My shin is feeling much better. I took the weekend off from exercise. But I did clean my 3 story house and start packing Saturday...surely that counts for something! Oh, and I don't recommend playing raquetball without taking your inhaler...EVER! Life lesson 991...learned:)

Need to go back to work now...love to you all and hope you have a pain free day...as always;)

Nik

Hello everyone,

MT, my first thought was ouch! when I read about your shots in the feet.. I really hope that soon you will find relief soon...

Jamie, glad you have a diet that makes you feel better. I have done accupuncture for many years for varying things, I love it!

Cloe, sorry that you have had to go on such high dose Prednisone, but glad that it is doing the trick for you. I am unable to do anything over 10mg (which then basically doesn't help much) due to what it does to my heart etc.. I hated the stuff with a vengeance... Hope it does the trick to enable you a wonderful holiday!

Josee, thanks for the welcome :) I'm sorry that you suffered while away - I hope that your rheumy will be able to help you more, suffering like that is no joyride.

Nik, you sound really excited about moving :) I wish you a wonderful pack & move, and painfree days :)

For me, today is not so nice.. yesterday I was really hit with exhaustion, and today I felt unwell from the moment of waking (glands, stiff neck etc).. I also started feeling nausea and broke out in those lovely sweats again. Hate those da*n sudden, excrutiating pains that hit me in the temple too. I feel so sorry for my son, he is so little and tries to be a grownup to his Mummy... I feel like I am really letting him down. No kid should have a mother who can't do anything with him, or who falls asleep for hours at a time.

Pain-free thoughts to you all :)

Hey, folks,

MT, I don't think you are being fair about American boys. It's not fair because whatever you suspect us of is probably true, and it's not fair that you're catching on to us! Glad the cortisone shot is working...

JM, I understand how you feel about work. I am desperate to get back to work... I told my wife the other day that I was lurking around the office supply store and look longingly at file folders and keyboard trays, and she told me to go out to the desert and drop some acid. She was NOT serious, of course-- but I know what she's saying! It is weird that I miss work, though I'm scared of it, too.

Chloe, I didn't realize that was prednisolone, not prednisone... sorry I wasn't reading closely enough, of course that is stronger... hopefully, your body will re-learn how it feels to be normal again, and short courses of the steroids will help! Again, I am a big fan of the alternate-day dosing (at 5 to 20 milligrams) of prednisone, but it seems like no one prescribes it this way anymore. A few years of that really helped me, and when you're young, the side-effects don't seem to be as bad.

Actually, I am really wiped out from the show today, took a day to catch up with me, shocking headache all day. I also had my hearing with the EDD. (That's the unemployment insurance folks.) More on that later. It was ugly and exhausting, I think we did well.

Ah, Josee, what a nice trip that sounds like, even with the scare... and there you are, doing a little work on vacation! I know you'd really wanted to get back to work, so maybe that really WAS part of your vacation from MCTD. Sorry about the scary moments... and it may just be that you are exhausted, as you say. Maybe you will come back even stronger after a little rest. That's what I'm finding... short term, doing too much wipes me out, but four or five days later, I get some benefit from it... that's so good you pushed as hard as you could!

Wrk, I am glad those shin splints are better. No asthma here, but my sinuses have been pretty bad recently...

Okay, gotta close my eyes, head is killing me, and I'm not taking anything before 7:00 PM... maybe the headache will let up...

Best,

--Cat