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...
Hi all. I hope everyone is doing well, and that the rheumatoid arthritis is in remission. I have been having every flareup known to man for the past year, and a lot of it is my own fault, because I got afraid of taking my biologic in light of the pandemic and immunity issues as well as vaccination information and lack of availability of my rheumatologist except through telemedicine, which is now only done by telephone, and no visual aspect included.
My ESR is still standing between 43 and 67 - lots of pain and stiffness, boils still coming up every week, whether I take antibiotics or not. I still have all of my eye issues and the brain fog and dizziness as well, but now I am having very bad headaches, so I took a baby aspirin and then a tylenol, and wound up taking another dose of my blood pressure medicine before bed and it brought the pain down from a 20 to a 3. It may have been weather related, as we have a huge cold front moving through this part of the country, but I feel somewhat better today than I have for several weeks.
On top of getting older, I feel a sense of emptiness because there is really no support that doesn't turn political or divisive. I have lost family members also, so I miss having those phone calls and hearing those voices. There seems to be less traffic when I go out, so it seems like there has been a loss of population too. Maybe it is me.
Anyway, I miss my friends and I miss my family members and I miss you guys as well.
I hope all is well.
I too have had extra cranky joints because I keep delaying my infusion for RA. I know it's probably not completely logical, but I know if I caught COVID I would be so miffed with myself that I wouldn't be able to stand it and I know from history I can stand a lot of RA pain and being dysfunctional soooo I keep putting it off.
I can relate to the emptiness feeling. Recently I realized that people I thought were friends really aren't. Their decent people, but when I called out for a social connection all I heard was an echo. They're all back to working their various jobs and I'm still holed up in my home. Which I'm grateful I can do, but it was getting very lonely.
At any rate, I hope your still hanging in there and can find some joy somewhere. My joy seems to be doing more with my dogs (they have no political opinions which is very refreshing to say the least!) and setting up another aquarium. I "think" I might be able to put some fish in it next week assuming that it finishes doing the nitrogen cycle deal that's so important to us fish keepers.
I am glad that you are increasing your family with some new swimming members, I haven't seen an aquarium since I went to the doctor's office. and she has a really wide variety of tropical fish and beautiful corals and wavy seaweed of different varieties. I am always struck by those flourescent colors and fancy designs the fish wear, It reminds me of being in a dance club in the 70s with the blacklights the discoball, mesmerizing patterns and everything being in motion. What a happy time machine!!!
We have all had to face our lives with a very close mirror and having to learn to deal with ourselves now. The first thing I learned was wearing my mask. I never knew that I would have to face my breath, which I thought was springtime fresh, but, I learned that it was not, and that it fogged up my glasses with the fumes from my own body. I never knew I was doing that to my family. I couldn't blame anyone else, because the air was fresh when it went in my nose. I had no idea that I destroyed air like that. So now I love altoids and trident under my mask. That was lesson one.
I miss everything about our previous lives, but I think we should always do something new (like you are doing), so we can feel motivated to stay connected and to keep living and keep going.
Have a good day and thank you for responding to me.
Time to make dinner - Tacos, jalapenos, beans and rice with salsa.
Thank you Smith101
That's too funny about your description of your doctor's aquarium. And a very fitting one it is!
I have tropical aquariums and the water is kept around 80 degrees. I've found cleaning the glass on the inside of the aquarium really feels good on my hands. Oh, OH! And if you want to see the type of fish I love keeping look up Blood Parrot Fish. I know some think it's horrid to keep such fish as they are bred for their deformities and don't occur in nature, but you know - they are just too cute. The one in the aquarium right by me as I type this I've had for 11 years now and I'd be lost without her.
I think any time someone gets frustrated, disheartened, or depressed a return to nature is one of the best medicines. Unfortunately as I live in Minnesota going out into a forest isn't exactly pleasant with our windchill, temps., snow and ice. So bringing an aquarium into my home (this one is a planted tank) just seems very anchoring for me.
Hey, thanks for taking me to the disco with you! Keep on keeping on!
So - butt trumpet? You almost made me fall out of my chair. Those beans and jalopenos are probably more effective than the walgreens brand of bran flakes.
The main thing is to keep everything moving. Don't let anything stay anywhere too long and get stiff and dry. because then you get snap crackle and pop, and that is what the origin of the arthritis is, it starts on the inside. (do not fact check this - this is personal experience and self-opinion based).
So - I hope you have a good day, and stay warm, because in Michigan we will have another cold blast coming for the weekend.
Longer and warmer days are ahead
It seems that COVID has caused glitches in everyone's treatment. I was about to switch biologics when the vaccines came out. I stopped Humira and then scrambled to get a vaccine appt (that took 4 weeks), finally got the Pfizer vax, and then waited 2 more weeks before starting on Enbrel. So I was off all meds for more than 2 months.
The Enbrel isn't working as well as hoped, so I'm back on methotrexate too--not my favorite medication.
Then my insurance changed in January, and the new specialty pharmacy denied the Enbrel. My doctor has submitted more info, so I hope things get straightened out soon. I'd cross my fingers for luck if I could.
In the meantime, I'm living with stiff joints, but at least I'm not dealing with arctic temps!
I am sorry that you went through the medication switch around during this pandemic. I think everyone had some apprehension about aggressively fighting the RA while killing your immune system which you need more than ever, I understand completely - no one can make that decision for you except you.
So you are still kicking only stiffly, That still counts in my book.
Sorry you are feeling blah. I think people got in the habit of staying home and are continuing to do so. Enjoy the reduction of traffic.
Good luck on your MRI and I hope you get some relief soon. Thank you for ringing in. I am glad to see you are still here too.