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...
Instead of two posts I figured it was easier for everyone to respnd to one. In case you have one or the other's experience.
First....Depression. Do you deal with it? I've never been depressed except once in my life when I was 21 or so, had no job, had to move back in with Mom and was not chosen as a Bridesmaid in a close friends wedding but my BF was who had known the bride much shorter than I was. That all changed quickly as I got a job and all was fine again, moved out a while later.
Well, the last two Wedsnesdays I have battled severe depression. Worst I could ever imagine. I've always been one of those people who if I was sicker than a few days with a cold or flu I would get depressed due to my health. I hate feeling sick, who doesn't right? So it's going on almost a year I been on MTX and I know I do my injections on Tuesday AM and I know how Wednesdays will feel like. The last two were bad. I woke up both times to body aches (new symptom). I never could tolerate cold. I would get teased because when I walked down the frozen food aisle at the market I would shiver. Remember when frozen ailes were not glass freezers but open chest type with no covers? LOL I realized it was because my muscles tigthen when they're cold. Plus the nausea and overall Blah/malaise/fatigue feelings that day are BAD. My motivation is out the door and ran away. All this as I try to run a business. And the weird thing is that Monday I was out early cleaning/feeding the horses as I belt out songs from The Sound of Music! In a great mood! Today, I am back to normal. Happy, good mood etc. It's Friday! Last weekend was nice. I did a group ride with 35 others riders and then the trail boss hosted lunch at her house. We came home and relaxed. Sunday I pulled husbands saddle (all leather and heavy) off the top rack, carried it to the porch and cleaned and polished it. He broke his shoulder so it's healing. Then I hand raked and cleaned my 1/2 acre of horse poo. Ever since our garden tractor broke I have been loving hand doing all this. I have gained muscle and strenghth. So who deals with depression? And it is all the time or the day after MTX. Are you on anything? I never liked anti-depressants because they made me feel weird....because I was misdiagnosed for years. My anxiety was caused by my ADHD, now it's caused by RA! Grrrrr.
Second....Colonoscopy and upper GI. I have one scheduled for next Wed. I start taking Dulcolax Monday at 4 PM. Then Tuesday is the clear liquid diet. I don't do well with no food. Then at 4 PM I drink the full gallon size bottle of prep. YUCK! Worse part. I had one at 47. Then after I take one Dulcolax. The prep is worse than the procedure.
I was told no drugs the day before, blood thinners, aspirin, Ibuprofen etc. Okay fine. I would imagine no MTX as well. I can't imagine going in on a Wed feeling like the above. BUT the only issue I had was my Xanax. I am on a high dose, 3 MG a day. I tried a couple of months ago to cold turkey it. I didn't realize you couldn't without going through hell. Took last pill on a Sunday Morning and didn't sleep for 48 hours, was hallucinating, alost woke husband up at 2 AM Weds to call 911 but slowly brought myself down by breathing. He had no idea I had done that. I could barely fuction and could not drive at all. I called my psychiatrist Wed and he was not happy. He said that was one of the most dangerous drugs to get off off even after short term use and I been using higher doses as my disease progressed and I had not been diagnosed yet. He said get back on it. We can start a tapering plan when your ready. I never knew Bendzo's were so addictive. Your body screams for them just 10-12 hours after your last does and goes into withdrawal. Withdrawal is one of the worst things I have ever gone through. So I am back on them. But I asked about taking them the day before and I kinda got a yes but nothing after midnight so bring any medications with you for after the procedure. I take vitamins but no big deal, thyroid meds and MTX as well as prescription omeprazole due to the nausea I had 7 days a week. Now I only have nausea wed. So what happens Wed when I go into a panic attack. Do you think taking a xanax will make a difference on that day? Anyone have that issue come up. I can even skip my ADHD meds no biggie....I'll just be an airhead Tuesday. I've had both procedures done before and they found a polyp. This will be the last test and then I'll know I am healthy and everything is the RA. Waiting for my results from my Edometrial biopsy still. Had that done Monday and still spotting. I guess it will take longer to heal.
Any idea's about anything above?
and you could ask the booking sec to put you on as high maintenance/high risk as the first procedure of the day. they save those slots for the diabetics and the folks that are fasting their morning meds so they can get em in and out at the butt crack of dawn. doesn't this entire procedure last like 7 minutes or something and you are awake like 5 minutes later and if you ask could they not be theoretically giving you any med you warrant once you are properly awake/alert with good vital signs?
also for those going into those procedures that start freaking out don't they offer that legally high med what is it called versid? maybe you'll get that
call the surgeon's office
depot
And to answer your question, I’ll bet just about all of us feel down some days. Those are the days when you just have to give yourself a kick in the butt and get on with things. It could be so much worse. My friend's 15 year old daughter died of mitochondrial disease on Friday - things have to be put in perspective.
RA does not cause anxiety. One's attitude towards RA can cause anxiety. In your case, with a diagnosis of ADHD, I wouldn’t be surprised if you struggle with the inability to be as active as you “normally” are. Perhaps you need another less energetic outlet to distract you?
Regarding the colonoscopy and endoscopy. I cannot stress enough: YOU MUST FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S INSTRUCTIONS. We are not physicians and our experiences and our own doctors' instructions may be completely different. You need to follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. And guess what? The prep is nowhere near as bad as it used to be.
As far as not doing well without food: none of us do. But it’s one day out of 30,000 in your life. You won’t perish. And it’ll be over with before you know it.
[DepotBlue: Did you mean the drug Versed? Good stuff.]
Good luck, Melly! In less than 24 hours this will be a distant memory!
I have Gasritis, not a surprise due to all the "illegal" Ibuprofen I been taking (post gastric bypass) since RA reared it's ugly head. Oh and stress. Got lots of that last couple of years.
They cut one polyp out. Had another one cut out about 6 years or so ago. Good for another 5 years. Prep sucked. :)