I have been doing good since the rainy weather is gone. I went to a weight loss dr to help me loose weight about a month ago its coming off very slowly. With still being on the prednisone and my lack of or ability to do hard physical exercise. I will say the meds he gives me are great I have more energy than I have had in 4 years I almost feel normal and my house is as clean as its been in a long time. Hope all is doing well!!----Michelle

Heading into fall here in WI, kids are enjoying school and hubby is back to teaching (and off the darn boat!). Waiting on my LTD claim decision, which I applied for thru my employer in late June...getting nervous. My plan is to continue working part time. Just switched back to a previous rheumy whom I've missed dearly. Waiting for Plaquenil to start making a change, but 1.5 mos in is still too early yet.

Wow? Had a bad day yesterday. Potassium level drop to low and lost all control of emotions and terrible dizziness.
Loaded up on tabs, drink mix etc. Feeling like I got hit by an NFL lineman.)

I have been diagnosed with DM for 1 year, however now my rheum. says its overlap. Not sure what kind of overlap yet. Have just seen a new rheum. last week, gave him a stack of labs, scans.etc. He seemed to really take an interest, will go back next week to go over the info. I gave him.

My blood continues to be seronegative for everything, even ANA.
Am thankful for everyone here!

I am not doing that great. Just found out I have limited Scleroderma to add to my list. With a really high ANA. I am tired all the time and that is with my doctor putting me on prednisone. I hope I feel better soon.

suffering with my first cold/allergies of the year......really sucks being on oxygen with a head cold......dries my nose out sooo much!

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather.....if you live where you get fall weather! My favourite time of year!!!

XO
Beth

Still dragging around a bum leg. Should go in regarding it, just don't want to pay the co-pay to be told he has no idea what it could be.

Feeling VERY discouraged with my SSDI process, just buried in paperwork. Then they-SS-say they haven't received paperwork I faxed in, twice, asked what I am suppose to do as I've verified the fax numbers and I have confirmation fax sheets. Asked for supervisor and low and behold they found the paperwork. That last bit took over a freakin month.

I am enjoying the fall weather. Would love to go hiking in the beautiful mountains. Will have to do a drive by for now.

Hope everyone gets to feeling better soon.

Take good care,
Teisha

Great responses, wish I could hit back on all of them... MT, I am sorry about your hassle with LTC, I have decided I don't want them to have my money because I doubt they'll be solvent by the time I need them, and I can't be bothered to read the contracts or get to know the decision makers who would ensure they would actually pay off.

I hate the damn fog and damp weather. Been taking Flagyl for a stomach parasite )=(awaiting tests) that I got camping, and regretting I went on the trip, even though it was the first three days off I've taken in six months. Ghastly crap, makes you jittery, and shitty hallucinations, not even anything interesting, just distracting and irritating.

Pretty down right now. I was strong in the water and in the best shape of my 50s three weeks ago, and now I'm just fighting my way back to where I was six months ago.

Hey everyone
Mary Ann, good luck and I hate the weight gain also. I am currently on 15 mg prednisone yet have to weight daily for fluid. 3 lbs in a day or 5 in a week call the docs.
Michelle, great news, I hope we can all figure out the weight thing.
Restoreativepose, Hopefully the Plaquenil starts soon and good luck with LTD. If you were on Short term disability first it shouldn't be a problem.
Keeper2u, Please be careful with your potassium, Not only can to little make you feel bad it can also cause heart attacks. Are you on water pills? There known to drop your potassium, Keep the doctors involved until you get it under control, to much and to little can hurt you bad.
Nancy567, you may not know it but thats great news, and an appointment so close together is very hard to come by, Sounds like you have a concerned Doctor and thats hard to find.
jlh2375, The prednisone should help soon, hope you feel better.
Beth, my friend in lungs. I am not sure if you have one but inline water bubblier in your Oxygen might help. If you dont have one ask the supplier of your oxygen about it. I use one and it really helps with the irritation.
Teisha, Paper work takes forever, but glad you still have a good attitude and are planning on doing things. Goals we all need to set.
Catalyzt, you wild man, Glad were on the roller coaster together.

And as for me, I got approved by my cardiologist to have my shoulder replaced. Avn caused the ball to die, same as my hip did. Still having problems with weight and now congestive heart failure isnt helping. Sed rate is 91 and hopefully my rhumy will drop my prednisone and start trying new meds soon.
Later Robert

The head cold seems to be lifting.....

Robert, I've tried the bubbler, but I'm not on a high enough flow and it just dribbles out....even with a water trap. I used a mask for a few days and that seems to help with the dryness.

I hope everyone has a good weekend

Moving along well... Started eating right and exercising...
No pain no gain right???

I haven't had too much pain, but my joints have been killing me. My knees are usually the worst and then my fingers but on some days, I'll wake up from sleeping because my elbow and entire arm is in excruciating pain. My arm hurts because of my elbow. I used to think it was because I would bend my arm while I sleep, but when I woke up this time around, my arm was laying flat but dead. I could NOT move it on its own or put any strength in it because the pain was too much. It's really unbearable. I had to wait it out a few minutes and then use my other arm to lift my dead arm. It's difficult to explain the type of pain I experience in my elbows and joints. My wrists seem to be getting worse too. *sighhhhhhh

Also, I've been so tired lately. All the sleep in the world doesn't seem like it's enough. I don't feel like it's quite fatigue but just really tired.

I hope everyone else is doing better!!!! *hug*

-Marianne

Just checking in to say "still alive" Had a very busy summer, did lots of camping with the family - well in my case lots of sitting on the lawnchair at camping lol. My hubby has recently crushed a vertebrate in his back so he has been home lots and man is he whinny lol. Headed back to Edmonton for work this week - so yeah I have 3 quiet days. Middle son met a nice girl from Ohio on the internet. She spent 4 months here in Canada with us over the summer. They went back to ohio a couple weeks ago and the damn Canadian border won't let her back in cause she has a dui in ohio. So....tomorrow we see an immigration lawyer so wish us luck. I am confused.....we are neighbours for god sake a dui rates right up there with hardened crimes like murder, armed robbery etc. what the hell.

Getting ready for the winter to set in. I do like the colours and smell of the falling leaves in autumn but I know what is coming next for us here SNOW and lots of it. Have been aching a lot, I think from the weather change, quite tired and getting fat. Like a big old grizly bear fattening up for the long cold winter lol.

Anyway, hope to be back on line more often, Nice to see everyone is still here and we have lots of new people.

Take care all. Leanne :)

Good to see you back, Lela.

The US and Canada have really turned to fascism at the border, and I am so sorry your son's girlfriend is having such trouble. I have no doubt the US would be capable of something equally stupid, even if it wasn't exactly that.