Information and opinions on health from Ching Chan 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/795571/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/795571/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/795571/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/85568/lose Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:06:24 -0400 Ching Chan I am currently taking methotrexate.   At first, I would experience an ulcer here or there. Usually I'll get an ulcer in my mouth. Lately, its been increasing in severity. Currently I have 5 ulcers on my tongue and one on my lip. It hurts, to say the least. My tongue looks so dreadful, like its decaying. My doctor says its a common side effect.   I'm a cashier, so when I talk or smile, it hurts. It's ok because its my job and I push... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/85568/lose http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/84840/fru Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:53:34 -0400 Ching Chan Since my last post I have decided to find a rheumatologist here in the US. The only problem is, there is only two in my area. One is no longer accepting anymore new patients. The other won't see anyone without referrals regardless if I have insurance or not. The general doctors that I go to won't give referrals unless I have medical insurance, which I don't. So I seem to be stuck in a rut.   Currently, I'm applying for Medical Assistance,... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/84840/fru http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/78906/nor Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:09:53 -0400 Ching Chan So I've been on my meds for two to three months now, and I do feel a difference. I can now get out of bed in the morning. I don't have as much trouble walking. I can walk up and down stairs. And I don't have trouble bending my knees.   The only thing that worries me is my finger. The same one that bothered me in my last entry has been bothering me a lot lately. The pain prevents me from falling into a deep sleep and usually wakes me up in... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/78906/nor http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/74627/time Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:10:08 -0400 Ching Chan I'm 22, a senior attending Penn State University, and I'll be graduating this December. I just spent the past three months in Shanghai, China studying abroad. While I was in Shanghai I noticed that some of my joints, actually a lot of my joints, were hurting. A lot. It got so bad I couldn't even take notes during my morning class because I couldn't even hold my pencil. After a month of doctors visits, they finally confirmed that I had rheumatoid... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/795571/74627/time