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Massage therapist. The irony is too great.
I was a happy massage therapist until RA struck me down about 7...
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Friday, February 27, 2009
View All of massagediva's Posts
I was diagnosed with Ra about 7 months ago. I feel like my life has been stolen. I have a very 'good' rheumy, but so far we haven't found the right cocktail of medicines to stop the horrible flares. Now, normally my day job is that of a massage therapist. I became a massage therapis...
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Welcome
Jamie
Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 01:03 AM
Dear MassageDiva,
I understand you feel. "Having my life stolen" very aptly describes how the newly diagnosed feel. I know I keep saying "I just want my life back". I am still in denial because I think that maybe the diagnosis is wrong and this will all just go away. Other people just don't get it and probably never will. Your line of work will be very hard on your body. I used to love to give my husband a massage but now my hands are too weak and sore.
I did great on the prednisone, it was weaning off of it when the depression really hit hard. I am a pharmacist so I can help you a little bit with the Cymbalta. I take it too. The literature states 4-5 weeks for it to start working but in my experience it takes longer and the benefits just keep getting better over time (months/years) I increased from 60 to 90 mg after weaning off the prednisone. After two months at the new dose I am really feeling the benefits now. The two most common causes of treatment failure with anti-depressants are 1. taking too low of a dose 2. not taking it for a long enough treatment period. People are afraid to increase their dose, if you really aren't responding after 3 months you may consider it.
Hang in there and give it some time.
Jamie
re: Welcome
massagediva
Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 03:23 AM
Thanks for the info about the Cymbalta. I take 60 mg twice a day, well three times right now. I was on Effexor for years but it seems to have stopped working with the Arava or other RA meds. Prednisone and I just aren't a good match. I can't wait for the swelling to go down and wean off of it. I think I'm in denial much of the time too. I keep thinking the diagnosis must be wrong, or I'll just get over this...etc.. I need to start keeping a log so I can see what it is that is triggering these flares. A few weeks ago, my jaw locked shut for 4 days. Now, I lost weight but I don't recommend this!
Dear MassageDiva,
I understand you feel. "Having my life stolen" very aptly describes how the newly diagnosed feel. I know I keep saying "I just want my life back". I am still in denial because I think that maybe the diagnosis is wrong and this will all just go away. Other people just don't get it and probably never will. Your line of work will be very hard on your body. I used to love to give my husband a massage but now my hands are too weak and sore.
I did great on the prednisone, it was weaning off of it when the depression really hit hard. I am a pharmacist so I can help you a little bit with the Cymbalta. I take it too. The literature states 4-5 weeks for it to start working but in my experience it takes longer and the benefits just keep getting better over time (months/years) I increased from 60 to 90 mg after weaning off the prednisone. After two months at the new dose I am really feeling the benefits now. The two most common causes of treatment failure with anti-depressants are 1. taking too low of a dose 2. not taking it for a long enough treatment period. People are afraid to increase their dose, if you really aren't responding after 3 months you may consider it.
Hang in there and give it some time.
Jamie