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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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I know I've been a bad girl and have not been on the forum for sometime. Guess what? I've been in remission and have been busy with trying to forget about having RA until it raised it's ugly head again today. Just to update everyone, I finally finished my thesis and have heard back from the exam board - I passed my MSc with merit! now that I'm officially a cleaver clogs, I have to put it to good use and find myself a nice job when I come back from India next year. Yes, I am still going ahead with my trip to India, hopefully in February. I know some of my friends think I am mad, but I'm not looking for a cure, I just want to improve my quality of life. I've seen the neurologist about my back and if the epidural doesn't work will have to have an operation to remove a benign growth situated in one of my discs, oh what fun!
When I saw my rheumy the other week I was given the results of my muscular skeleton scan, which showed only minimal changes when compared to 2 years ago. With this in mind, I have decided apart from pain control meds not to take medication for RA. I have tried them and after 7 hospital admission this year do not want to take anymore risks with my health, and would rather learn to cope with the illness on a day-to-day basis. My rheumy has agreed to monitor me and is interested to see how I get on with alternative treatments in India.
I'm very excited and have managed to track down lost relatives in India and spoke to my aunt in Mumbai today, and will be staying with her and my cousin, who I have never met, in February.
love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Welcome back Barbara and congratulations on the exam result!  How lovely for you to go into remission because I know you were suffering so badly. I don't blame you for not wanting to take the drugs, especially with so little change shown. I'll be interested to see how you get on. I don't think you are mad to go to India, what I read about it sounds a wonderful relaxing experience and can only do you good. Hope we see you a lot more on here now that your studies are finished! Lots of love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009 Posts: 216 Location: Leicester, UK
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Wow Barbara - attagirl! I send my heartiest congratulations on your MSc with merit. To achieve that on top of all the dreadful problems you have had is worthy of a gong. You enjoy the euphoria and give yourself a huge pat on the back.
What a relief to hear you are in remission. After seeing the state of your feet last April, you jolly well deserve it.
As for your wanting to visit India. It's my belief that you should do as much as you can while you can. So I agree 100% with your decision and hope that the weather and treatments you find help you more than the meds have.
Look forward to hearing of your travels and hope you will 'blog' while you are away.
Much love for a successful trip.
Ann"I cannot do everything. I accept that. Not being able to do everything is no excuse for doing nothing." ~ Helen Keller
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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This sounds very exciting Barbara! YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Barbara Great to hear from you and WELL DONE, what a clever person you are. Brilliant. Like the others have said so pleased that you are in remission I just hope that all goes well for you and long may it continue. A great aim to be able to go and visit your relatives - a wonderful incentive . Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Thanks to everyone on here. I still have yucky feet, but it's not as bad as it was back in April when I had to be hospitalised. I dare not visit the beauty parlor for a pedicure, I think one look at my feet would send the poor woman gagging and into the toilet! I now have lizard like feet with dry scaly skin, and my toe nails are falling off. I guess I wont be able to find work as a foot model.  LOL. To finish my MSc, I had to lock myself away and switch off to what was going on in the outside world; it was the only way I could have achieved it. As far the RA, since yesterday I have been suffering again and today, I'm in bed. I'm hoping this is only a blip and related to the change in the weather - wishful thinking, ah? love, Barbara XXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Barbara,
pleased to meet you and well done on your fantastic achievement.
great news you are in remission and hope this is just a blip you are going through.
interesting to hear your approach now in not taking RA Drugs but just pain management but i can see from just this post you have certainly been through it and got the T-Shirt so to speak.
interesting times for you ahead with your trip to India.
i was diagnosed in June and am currently on 20mg Methotrexate having upped it from 15mg 8 weeks ago it has improved but not enough so will be reviewed at the end of the month.
my RA is mild compared to so many ... waist up i.e. shoulders, hands and wrists and i do have Osteo in my knee's which gives me the most pain.
on a note re your feet, i suffer with dry skin on my heels due to the fact i mainly wear mules as i find them easier to walk in unless snow is on the ground so i use a very thick foot cream every morning after my shower and it has really helped. i use CCS Professional Foot Cream from Superdrug and i smother my heels in it and put on a pair of old slippers until it's absorbed in and it has really helped.
hope you begin to feel better soon,
Suzanne x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Hi Suzanne nice to meet you too,
I was diagnosed 2 years ago, and so far my body has not been able to cope with conventional medication. I don't think that my RA is as bad as some of the members on here, as most of the problems I have experienced have been related to the RA medications. As I said, I'd rather put up with the pain than risk taking medication again, it has scared the life out of me! In saying this, I do realise and appreciate that a lot of people have been helped by RA medication and have been able to improve their quality of life. Who knows with time I might feel brave enough to try another medication....
Thanks for the tip re creams, I have a stock of them next to my bed! Unfortunately thanks to Humira, there is no cure for the palmoplanter pustular psoriasis on my feet and hands, and the creams do not seem to help much, but do keep them nice and soft.
Re my MSc, I've lost so much through RA, and pure bl..dy mindness kept me going, as I was determined not to let it defeat me.
love,
Barbara
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Barbara, Congratulations on a fantastic result, in your exam. Try not to worry about the recent blip it is probably the weather, I am just back from Fuerteventura and I am finding this weather freezing, I cant seem to get warm at all. All the very best when you go to India, sounds exciting.  Take care and safe journey when you set off on your travels. Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Barbara, How lovely to see you posting again, and many congratulations on your M Sc. I`m so pleased things are better for you RA-wise, as I know what a rotten time you`ve had, with being in and out of hospital so many times. Good for you for going to India - I hope it`s the trip of a lifetime for you, and that you`ll tell us all about it when you get back. Take care, Kathleen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Barbara- that's fantastic, and lovely to hear from you.
I was told last month that my RA is in remission, and on the whole I've been ok for a while. Long may it last.
Enjoy India
Maria
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Barbara, congratulations on the MSc with merit!!! thats amazing!! I think your trip to India is a fantastic idea!! You go for it, and also meeting members of your family you have never seen before. I envy you, also the remission is a fantastic piece of news. Sorry its been a problem today, lets hope that its just a little glitch.  BARBARA
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