Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I have been completely blindsided by the last four days. I have done three Humira injections over the last six weeks, and three MTX injections over the last two. The latter was a change from oral MTX. I'm also taking Celebrex for inflammation and Tramadol as needed for pain.
I have had four good days. I had sort of forgotten what those were like. I have a little pain and I've certainly lost flexibility, strength and aerobic stamina since this whole shitshow got started. But my brain and I are in synch again (it had felt like it was one step behind somehow.) I have not needed a nap during the day, and by 'need' I mean being unable to stay awake. I have slept well. It is crunch time on the farm and I have been working at the same capacity in the greenhouses that I did four or five years ago (I know that literally, since output gets tracked pretty closely). The weird feverish / sweating thing seems to have improved, and that's impressive since the greenhouses are about 90 degrees right now.
Here's how good it is: I just realized I hadn't picked up the mail yet. We're talking rural here, this is not a casual thing. It's a hike, and there's a hill. And I just went out and got it, like, you know, no big thing. Four weeks ago, the thought of having to walk down there and get the mail out the mailbox and walk back up to the house would have been overwhelming.
In other words, four normal days.
I have no illusions that there will be a fifth; I'm not getting my hopes up and declaring that this is an actual remission just yet or anything. But it's the first genuinely encouraging week I've had in a year.
Let's all hang in there, friends. There can still be good days.
That's terrific that you have these days to warm your spirits. I'm one of those people that keeps on hoping (there are no jinxes), so I will leave you with some of my hopes for your continued ability to get the mail and enjoy "norma" days. Btw, normal is always overrated. Be crazy good.
hugs
depot
A couple of months ago, I was up to 7 mg of mthx and waking up every morning with my hands not hurting. AT ALL! I was pretty excited and motivated! I got off the prednisone completely. But I got a serious respiratory infection from my grandkids, and I had to go on antibiotics, plus decongestants. So, my liver enzymes went up.
My rheumatologist made me go off a week, and then down to 5 mg of mthx a week. I have not recovered to that place of feeling good, having energy and being able to do things. And on top of it, we babysat the grandkids and both my husband and I got very sick, again! It's been 3 weeks, and I am still coughing up stuff. My family doctor had me go back on prednisone for my lungs, and the lungs are feeling quite a bit better, although not totally clear. But, the same regime with antibiotics, decongestants and antihistamines. So, I'm skipping my blood test this month.
My goal is to get my liver settled, then get back up to the 7 mg again and see if I can get back to that place. As it is, my tendons are flared so badly in so many places. I never had tendon flares ever in the first 18 years I had this. Last night the left hand was 10/10 pain. It was excruciating! Every tendon was flared, plus I have this nonsense with impingement injuries in both shoulders, which were doing their thing at about 8/10 pain. I say nonsense, because I was never injured, it is a result of tendon flares.
Oops! Got off topic complaining about my woes!
I would love to see your greenhouse. I have always used to grow my bedding plants and put in a good garden, with raised beds, my husband has built. (I don't have enough sun in the new home I am in to grow in front of the windows,and not enthusiastic enough to put in grow lights!) At one point, I had plans to do gardening for a living, but ended up in teaching, instead. Well, I am so glad you are able to do the work that needs to be done, again! Keep up the good work? Or, I hope these good days continue!