Information and opinions on health from Ish 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/604046/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/604046/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/604046/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/151039/st Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:56:46 -0500 Ish Hello,   My brain is arguing with itself. I'm taking Methotrexate (injectable) and Enbrel. Things were going along swimmingly. I was feeling better, not nearly as stiff, I was feeling really positive about everything. And then....   And then, The Flare. I'm working through it, but it's discouraging to say the least. I have no idea what set it off. I guess it just is what it is. Then you add the fact that for the last month or so,... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/151039/st http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/143896/ra Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:25:28 -0400 Ish Hi, I've been away for a while. Not because I wanted to be.... but because of hurricane Irene. She knocked out the power for 9 really long days, and the phone and Internet for several more on top of that. As has been mentioned here on several occasions, weather changes and hot weather can make RA a bit more miserable. I can attest to that. Nine hot and humid days with no air conditioning and barely a breeze were a challenge. It brought on... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/143896/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/143290/ex Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:40:24 -0400 Ish Hi,   I was wondering how you strike a balance.   I exercise daily. And although it annoys me to do it, I've modified my exercise routine to placate the RA. But always in the back of my mind is the worry that I'm doing more damage to my joints. But if I don't exercise, then my bones and heart will suffer.    Plus the question of flares. Am I constantly triggering flares by exercising?   I'm so... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/143290/ex http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/142928/ch Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:13:37 -0400 Ish Hi,   I was really hoping that my doctor was an expert in rheumatology. I mean, she IS a rheumatologist after all. She's been through medical school. She's trained in her specialty. So looking at it from that point of view, it wasn't really wrong to hope that she had a clue.   That was the hope. This is the reality.....   If I'm honest, I should have started looking for a new doctor a long time go. I had that funny little... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/142928/ch http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/140607/2-5 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:38:26 -0400 Ish Hello Fellow RAers!   It was wonderful! I woke up Thursday morning and felt pretty normal.... "old normal" that is! Barely stiff, barely any pain. Wow! What a weird sensation!   As the day wore on, things were still good. Hmmmmm. Then came the dreaded night stiffness and pain?? No indeed!! A very pleasent night! Slept like a baby, not a rotisserie chicken!   Okay, obviously something's wrong, right? The next morning was the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/140607/2-5 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/139740/ki Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:54:48 -0400 Ish Hi,   I find it difficult to share. That makes it sound like I flunked kindergarten, doesn't it?   In a society of blogging, status updating, and tweeting, I guess I would be catagorized as a highly private person. I find it horribly difficult to say anything other than "I'm fine" when someone asks how I am.  That's a perfect answer for acquaintances, but what about family and close friends? That's where my problem... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/139740/ki http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/118152/ci Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:55:00 -0400 Ish Hi,   So, my brain is going in circles. I can't seem to make a firm decision about treatment... and yet, in reality I have. The Enbrel should be delivered tomorrow.   But.   But, I'm not sure. But, I'm worried.   My circular argument goes something like this.... yes, I know that I'm stiff and in pain. BUT, has my quality of life decreased to the point where I should even be considering this step? If I back away from... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/118152/ci http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/109795/st Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:13:58 -0400 Ish Good morning,   I was wondering if anyone else has a lot of stiffness in the evenings? Sometimes it seems worse than the stiffness in the morning.   Thanks, Ish http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/109795/st http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/103003/do Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:32:56 -0500 Ish Hi,   I was wondering if anyone else has double vision sometimes?   None of my doctors seem to have a clue as to why I have this. It started abruptly, and now it just comes and goes.   Since RA seems to be all about random weirdness, I was wondering if this might just be related to the RA.   Ish http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/103003/do http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/97951/wri Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:53:43 -0500 Ish Hi,   I was only diagnosed in April of this year, so I'm still learning. My lesson for today? Cold hurts.   The last two days I've woken up with my whole hands and wrists hurting and stiff. Not just a couple of fingers here and there... the whole hands. Not nice. My reaction was, "well, hopefully it'll go play in other joints tomorrow". That was pretty much okay with me (okay? sounds crazy, right?) all until I made the mistake of... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/604046/97951/wri