Information and opinions on health from Rena at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/40737/index http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/40737/149324/kicked-curb-back Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:08:30 -0500 Rena I haven't done a share post in a while, so I thought I'd share. I've been through a rough patch this last year. I had carpul tunnel release surgeries on both hands which required me to stop my Enbrel for a while. That caused multiple really lovely RA flares. Then after years (5 to be exact) of my complants of pain in both my elbows, I started showing signs of severe muscle atrophy on my right hand and slight muscle atrophy/wasting in... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/40737/149324/kicked-curb-back http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/149323/year Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:06 -0500 Rena      I haven't done a share post in a while, so I thought I'd share.  I've been through a rough patch this last year.  I had carpul tunnel release surgeries on both hands which required me to stop my Enbrel for a while.  That caused a nice RA flare.       Then after years (5 to be exact) of my complants of pain in both my elbows, I started showing signs of severe muscle atrophy on my... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/149323/year http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/135809/bad-budeprion Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:38:43 -0400 Rena      I started taking a new med. (Budeprion) on 3-1-11.  By 3-25-11 I stopped due to the side effects I experienced.       I am sure everyone here has delt with or will deal with medication side effects.  Wow...this one really ran me thru the ringer.  My depression got much worse.  I experienced nausea, aching all over, fever and chills.  My ears began ringing and... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/135809/bad-budeprion http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/133888/acid Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:12:10 -0500 Rena      Hello everyone.  I have been off line for a while and have now decided to crawl out of my hole and back into the land of the living.      I have been struggling with a lot of health issues, as I am sure everyone else does too.   But...it seams that mine seam to all wait to hit me until their are at least (3) of them.  Murphy's Law is a Killer!!!      I just... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/133888/acid http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/126710/tired-spirit Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:46:05 -0500 Rena      Just wanted to post and say "Happy Holidays".  Hope everyone is able to relax a bit and enjoy the holiday season.  Sorry that I have been off line for a while.  I had to make an unexpected trip back to Missouri.  My father had emergency open heart surgery.  It was quite a big deal.  I spend a lot of time at the hospital.  Thank goodness for those vinyl love seats the hospital... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/40737/126710/tired-spirit http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119205/news Sun, 05 Sep 2010 06:03:04 -0400 Rena      I started taking Enbrel in March.  It took a while to begin to see and feel the effects of my new RA drug.  In conjunction with giving myself Methotrexate injections, the Enbrel has visibly reduced swelling in my knuckles and has improved how I feel.  I have also been able to reduce my Celebrex from two pills per day to one pill per day.  I was allergic to Plaquenil, (broke out in a rash all over),... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119205/news http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119089/ra Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:08:19 -0400 Rena Arthritis & Rheumatism  © 2010 American College of Rheumatology September 2010 Volume 62, Issue 9 Pages 2569-2830 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: An American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative (pages 2569-2581) http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/119089/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/43436/piper Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:11:39 -0400 Rena      I've just returned from a really nice time camping!  I love to camp.  I really enjoy a "more promative type camping" as apposed to a "go to a camp ground type camping".  I went up and parked at a creek in the mountains in my little 11"  1960 vintage camp trailer.  I say "mostly primative" because I dig a hole and set up a portable outhouse, fully stocked with a toilet chair and portable hand... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/43436/piper http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/40468/blood Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:50:59 -0400 Rena I just got a call from my Rheumy that my last blood test after starting methotrexate has come back abnormal. This is only my 3rd one. I also just has a physical at work last week. My urinalisis tested with "trace" amounts of white blood cells, indicating a possible infection. What the heck??? I was allergic to Plaquenil and got a rash all over, within a month of starting to take it. And now,...I've been taking the Methotrexate... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/40468/blood http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/38503/steam Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:38:16 -0400 Rena      I'm a shift worker.  I work a (4) on, (4) off rotation.  I work (4) day shifts 07:00am to 07:00pm, have (4) days off, if I don't work any overtime, then I work (4) night shifts 07:00pm to 07:00am.  I feel like I am my worst enemy with my RA sometimes!  With my bizarre shift changing schedule, and my frequent overtime work, I really think that I'm making myself feel worse.  I've been told that if... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/40737/38503/steam