MsFluttersBie

Health Interests

Rheumatoid Arthritis,  Fibromyalgia,  Bicornuate Uterus,  ADHD,  Anxiety,  Depression

Drugs I am Taking

Etodolac 500mg 2x daily,  Methocarbamol 500mg 2x daily,  Omeprazole 20 mg daily,  Vicodin 750mg as needed,  Marijuana

About Me

I was diagnosed at age six with poly articular JRA. I was treated for several years with 1000 mg daily of Naproxen sodium. I went into remission around age 14 and had 6 years of relative inactivity. At age 20 I had a miscarriage and was at the time working two jobs, about 90 hours a week. I suddenly woke up one morning starring at the ceiling and unable to move at all for about four hours. I contacted my diagnosing Rheumatologist who determined that the hormone shift had made my RA fully systemic. He put me on prednisone for about a year, though I had not seen much results. I asked if there were any other options. He started me on Methotrexate and Enbrel. Although this combo worked for about three of the four years I was on them. Unfortunately My Immune system became inactive. I saw an Immunologist who gave me a pneumococcal vaccine and that jump started my white blood cells into recognising infections again. I have stopped taking the Chemotherapy drugs and the TNF blockers. I am too affraid to ever take them again, or to be another experiment. Since then I have also experienced tremors, ticks and seizure like movements in the limbs and face (which have been unexplained by a nurologist). Although my bones and cartilage are in relatively good shape my ligaments and tendons have become extremly crepedis, between the snapping, popping, and grinding it has made every movement painful and a constant reminder of my inabilities. I try to stay active but recently even pushing myself mentally to get up and keep moving has been dificult, so I have a hard time actually working out and pushing past the pain. I struggle with being a "gogogo" kinda person and not pushing "it". I have always tried to deal with my pain mentally and I am starting to have a hard time coping. I have yet to give up on living life, and refuse to check out (pain meds)although the idea of it is sounding more and more enticing. I eat a relitavely healthy diet of brown rice and vegitables lots of fish and fiber, with only an occasional moment of Snack Cake Heaven or Fast Food Fantasy! Although I have seen a difference in my overall energy level these changes seem to not affect how offten I am under attack. And it seems that striking the ballance between keeping moving and not overdoing it is a daunting task. My brain is always wanting to do more when my body tells me not to do anything. I am now truly understanding why they label this as a degenerative disease. It is not only taking my physical abilitys, it's starting to take my Ambition for Fun! I am here looking for Options, Advice, or Words of Encouragement. If you have any suggestions, words of wisdom, or just need someone to talk too, please feel free to contact me! If you would like to get to know me better you can check out My MySpace@ http://www.myspace.com/missfluttersbie Peace . Love . Unity . Respect