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...
Yesterday I was stuck at work for 11 hours straight due to p/t conferences scheduled after regular school day. The day before we'd been off for snow and I had an allergy induced flare. (Another story. Have four suspects) So I was still dealing with it and the RA was quite apparent if you looked at my finger joints. When asked, I am quite open to discussion of RA - and a colleague asked while we were hanging around waiting for parents.
Turns out her father has it. He's been on Remicade and other drugs since they came out. While they helped his pain they didn't stop deformation of his elbows. And now he's facing a third surgery to remove cancerous tumors in throat. His only risk factors are the RA meds. They don't know if he'll face chemo. And don't know if he'd survive chemo at his age. He's now off all RA drugs because of cancer surgeries and they're afraid the RA will flare up.
It's a bad situation all around. The surgery is Monday.
Turns out her father has it. He's been on Remicade and other drugs since they came out. While they helped his pain they didn't stop deformation of his elbows. And now he's facing a third surgery to remove cancerous tumors in throat. His only risk factors are the RA meds. They don't know if he'll face chemo. And don't know if he'd survive chemo at his age. He's now off all RA drugs because of cancer surgeries and they're afraid the RA will flare up.
It's a bad situation all around. The surgery is Monday.
My Sister in Law's father has esophageal cancer - diagnosed two days ago. He was a firefighter and that's the primary suspect for cause...BUT, aside from smoking and chewing tobacco, the NUMBER 1 CAUSE is acid reflux! Years of indigestion takes it toll and emerges as cancer.
I'm so sorry for your friends dad. That's heavy stuff. :(
Peace
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