Wow! That was awesome WarrioGal I really appreciate that you took the time & effort to do that!

good to see you - :)

thanks for sharing this

how have you been?

depot

I'm doing well, thanks, RA-wise. I am still on antihistamines of hives. reduced the number but still on it. Allergist wants m on it till March...says biggest mister people make is going off too soon an having them come back worse.

Had cataract surgery in one eye so far. Went very well, I see improvement and am eager to have second one done.

Also, the pre-op for that surgery said this:

Diastolic left ventricular filling pattern = ABNORMAL

What does that mean? Google doesn't say much - but it is heart failure and is more common in those of us with RA, of course.

This is very nice.

I have the same heart thing: left diastolic ventricular dysfunction. That means that the amount of blood being ejected into the artery is not in a normal range. The term left ventrical ejection fraction is used. Mine was 62% or 65% (both numbers in a echocardiogram report, but I've read that 50-70% is normal. The amount of blood varies with each heart beat, so there will always be some variation. My PCP said not to worry. Check your number, and ask your doc.

no number. just said "abnormal"

GREAT job. Pictures are always worth a thousand words. Newly diagnosed people can relate. And I can relate.

Thanks so much for doing this.

Lynn

Thanks!

That was awesome - thanks for sharing - and nice to SEE you!

Your story left me feeling very hopeful. I'm sure it will be helpful to countless others. Thank you for sharing it!

Very well done Warrior! My hands are not quite as extreme as yours but pretty close. Mine went from normal to what they are now in 18 months. If it weren't for biologics I would be. You have my praise and admiration for going through this during the "dark years".

Nightshades - WOW! 18 months! Mine took many years. In fact my left hand went way before my right because I had had surgery on the right hand - synovectomies to remove the thickened synovial fluid in the joints - and also a nodule was removed. that hand held well for decades and then went in a short period of time to being as bad as the left.

I have considered MP joint replacement and would do it if I was not living alone.

i get it warrior gal. I had the left thumb MP joint done and left wrist and I live alone. the recovery was not pretty - but I did it. i am pleased with the function increase 2 years out. I am supposed to do the mirror right side. no way. well, maybe some day - like after a marriage :). not.

depotblue

One of the major problems I have - aside from dressing and preparing food - is getting rides back to the doctor for follow-up. I will only have MP replacement (all 4 joints on both hands) by an EXPERT of which there are few because few people get these deformity these days. I live in NJ and the best docs are in in Philly and NYC. I cannot ask friends to take me to this places for my follow-up visits. It's too much of an imposition. And then there is the daily living!! I have had previous hand surgeries including rupture tendon repairs etc...cast from finger tips to beyond writs. NOT FUN! Basic human functions are difficult even if it is not your dominant hand!

So, I live with it, with increasing loss of dexterity.

Hi WarriorGal,

I know this is a dumb question but I was just curious if you have the surgery I can just assume that additional damage won't happen because you won't have the synovial lining/fluid?

Not a dumb question....but not exactly the "right" question. The hand surgeons have told me that it will help align my fingers but it will NOT straighten my hands from their fist-like tightness caused by compressed (?) tendons...and it CAN revert back after a decade or so.