I don't remember how long I tolerated the soreness, I blamed the pain on my weight gain. The limping was bad enough that others commented. I tossed back it was age catching up with me. I was 40 afterall
I do remember how long I felt exhausted. Thanksgiving 2007, I had so many plans, things I wanted to do around the house, but I was just to tired. Not sleepy, not even exhausted, just tired and unmotivated. During my well-woman exam several months later, I told my dr. that it was like my blood was tired. The blood slugged through my veins. The tiredness came and went, but my blood work showed I had autoimmune disease. Dr. Randi recommend I see a Rheumatologist.
I'm not usually one to mess with my health, but this felt like a suggestion rather than a strong recommendation. They left this news on my voicemail rather than having a conversation with me, so I didn't give it much thought. I was back in the dr's office because of a shoulder problem a few more months later and this time she recommended to me face to face that I go see the specialist.
I was still in denial about what was going on. There are two kinds of sickness, those you get over and those you don't. Initially I thought this was something that I'd take medicine for and it would go away, now I realize, it's mine all mine.
I started seeing Dr. Ali about 6 months ago. She is a feisty woman. She's sharp witted and sharp tongued. I love her.
Without scaring, me she made me realize this was not something I could ignore. We started to find a remedy for my pain.
I do remember how long I felt exhausted. Thanksgiving 2007, I had so many plans, things I wanted to do around the house, but I was just to tired. Not sleepy, not even exhausted, just tired and unmotivated. During my well-woman exam several months later, I told my dr. that it was like my blood was tired. The blood slugged through my veins. The tiredness came and went, but my blood work showed I had autoimmune disease. Dr. Randi recommend I see a Rheumatologist.
I'm not usually one to mess with my health, but this felt like a suggestion rather than a strong recommendation. They left this news on my voicemail rather than having a conversation with me, so I didn't give it much thought. I was back in the dr's office because of a shoulder problem a few more months later and this time she recommended to me face to face that I go see the specialist.
I was still in denial about what was going on. There are two kinds of sickness, those you get over and those you don't. Initially I thought this was something that I'd take medicine for and it would go away, now I realize, it's mine all mine.
I started seeing Dr. Ali about 6 months ago. She is a feisty woman. She's sharp witted and sharp tongued. I love her.
Without scaring, me she made me realize this was not something I could ignore. We started to find a remedy for my pain.
She put me on Prednisone and Celebrex. I'd been tired for so long, I was a new woman when the Prednisone kicked in and I got my energy back. I told a friend with RA how much better I felt and she told me it was a Prednisone high.
The high must have lasted for 4-6 weeks. Some of the side effects eventually include increased appetite. Since you have to go in for frequent bloodwork when taking Prednisone, I saw Dr. Ali once a month. At the one month visit, she asked how I was doing on the medicine and I said fine. She asked about my appetite and I was fine. She said, "Good, the medicine is working." The next month, I told her I was hungry all the time and she said, "You don't need this medicine anymore."She switched me to Plaquinal (not sure about the spelling.) and I continued with the Celebrex. I dropped the Celebrex dosage to one pill a day. I didn't think I really needed two.
All was going OK. I didn't think the Celebrex was helping so when I ran out, I didn't hurry to refill it. About the time I switched to one pill and then ran out, the pain increased daily. We went to First Monday Trade Days in Canton for my birthday and by the end of the day the pain in my ankles was almost unbearable. I walked like Frankenstein because it hurt to flex ankles. Putting my weight on them was another exercise in pain. The morning walks were another form of torture, by the time we were on our way back, my feet felt like they were on fire. The pain was in every joint in my foot. Pain everywhere. Finally I refilled the Celebrex prescription, still not realizing the connection with the pain, but I went back to two a day to "catch up" - totally self-medicating, but Dr. Ali told me I could take one or two a day it was up to me. The pain got so much better. I still have stiffness, but out right pain is less frequent.
The tired comes and goes. The pain comes and goes. I'll try to make notes and see if I can figure what triggers the pain and the tired. I'll do my own CSI work. My joints are the crime scene.
It's mine. It's here and I don't think it's going anywhere. At my last visit the dr told me to get some sun to help my skin and something else to do with my Vitamin D. And she said I would have less pain if I lost weight. I so knew this was coming and I needed something to push me. I have an appointment with her in 4 months. We made a deal that I would lose 10lbs. I got that no problem. I'm shooting for 20.
All was going OK. I didn't think the Celebrex was helping so when I ran out, I didn't hurry to refill it. About the time I switched to one pill and then ran out, the pain increased daily. We went to First Monday Trade Days in Canton for my birthday and by the end of the day the pain in my ankles was almost unbearable. I walked like Frankenstein because it hurt to flex ankles. Putting my weight on them was another exercise in pain. The morning walks were another form of torture, by the time we were on our way back, my feet felt like they were on fire. The pain was in every joint in my foot. Pain everywhere. Finally I refilled the Celebrex prescription, still not realizing the connection with the pain, but I went back to two a day to "catch up" - totally self-medicating, but Dr. Ali told me I could take one or two a day it was up to me. The pain got so much better. I still have stiffness, but out right pain is less frequent.
The tired comes and goes. The pain comes and goes. I'll try to make notes and see if I can figure what triggers the pain and the tired. I'll do my own CSI work. My joints are the crime scene.
It's mine. It's here and I don't think it's going anywhere. At my last visit the dr told me to get some sun to help my skin and something else to do with my Vitamin D. And she said I would have less pain if I lost weight. I so knew this was coming and I needed something to push me. I have an appointment with her in 4 months. We made a deal that I would lose 10lbs. I got that no problem. I'm shooting for 20.
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