NRAS Logo
Logged in as: pedro-pmc Search | Moderate | Active Topics | My Profile | Members | Logout

New Topic Post Reply
update :( Options
Ailsa-H
#1 Posted : Monday, September 12, 2011 7:42:17 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered

Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
Hi - sorry I have not been around much lately. Not felt good all summer so back to school has not been great. I have had a very painful hip and knees so went for x rays and back to rheumy today.

She gave me a steroid injection into the hip and wants to do the knees in a couple of weeks. She said the X rays show the RA is causing damage to my knees. I had 2 months of Enbrel, which was good but had a bad reaction to it, then 5 months of Cimzia during which DAS has actually gone up to 6.8. She said she would give me another 2 months as I really don't want to change to something else again.

Had to ring the out of hours GP on Saturday as I was in so much pain with my hip/back and all the muscles in spasm. Tramadol was doing nothing so they added diclo-something or other. Now I'm feeling very nauseous and headachey as well as fed up to the back teeth. In the past 48 hours I have had MTX, Cimzia, Tramadol, diclof, amitriptyline, omeprazole and steroid.

Might as well get all my moaning out of the way in one post .. both my 'boys' (23 and 20) lost their jobs last week - oldest one's own stupid fault so struggling to be sympathetic ThumbDown - and I'm taking Katharine to Bangor to Uni on Sunday. I know I should be happy for her but I will miss her so much.

Sorry for the big moan ... xx Ailsa
LynW
#2 Posted : Monday, September 12, 2011 8:08:30 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
Hi Ailsa

Good to hear from you again but sorry things are so tough at the moment. I know exactly where you are coming from so really feel for you. I am kind of between meds at the moment; after last year's knee op the Enbrel failed to kick back in when I restarted it, had to stay off methotrexate due to neutropenia and only recently restarted on a small dose (its not working!), so basically surviving on high dose prednisolone and wagon loads of pain killers. Next stop Rituximab methinks! I do hope you are able to get the meds sorted soon, it's so important to avoid the dratted joint damage, as you know!

My daughter went to Bangor Uni and I can re-assure you Katharine will be very happy there. I loved visiting, the place is fab and the camaraderie and friendship is second to none. What is she studying? Abby did Psychology. Is Katharine on the Ffriddoed (I can even say it!!!) accommodation site? I missed her dreadfully, being my only daughter, but oddly you do kind of get used to it. To be honest if she wasn't emailing me with gossip (I can be terribly nosey!) she was on the other end of the phone! And don't forget, before you know it she will be home again for a reading week or a long weekend! Good luck Katharine, Croeso y Cymru, enjoy the experience!

Whilst you're heading west to Bangor I'll be doing a similar trip east to Lincoln where Jake is starting uni . Unfortunately his twin brother didn't get into uni, missed by one grade so it will be a strange occasion. Not sure how I should be feeling really, obviously happy for Jake as he starts his new life (although worried too!) but sad for Ian as he scours the prospectus' ready to re-apply for next year.

Boys eh? Who'd have 'em? It's so difficult finding jobs right now (says she stating the obvious, sorry!) so wish your lads good fortune in their searches.

Hope things are starting to settle down a little and the diclo-something is starting to take effect (note to self ...must ask for some of that!! ).

Keep in touch Ailsa, have missed your postsSmile Looking forward to hearing how Katharine gets on too!

Lyn Smile
My son, Ian, completed the BUPA Great North Run on 15th September running for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). You can read his story at http://www.justgiving.com/ianlukewilson

Rose-B
#3 Posted : Monday, September 12, 2011 10:26:53 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 4/20/2010
Posts: 1,749
Location: Somerset


Hello Ailsa

Great to hear from you. Missed you posting. So sorry to hear though that you have been so unwell.
It is difficult to be positive isn't when your in pain, hurting, and fatigued. I do underdstand you will
see my posts that I also have had bad time. I have to give myself a telling off.

I missed my Daughter also when she went to Uni, but she did keep in contact by text
and came home every 4 weeks. Time does go by though so guickly.

As with Sons - I have worries with my Son as well (I think you spoke before that this) so
I really feel for you

Chin up ThumpUp
jeanb
#4 Posted : Tuesday, September 13, 2011 8:39:35 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 3,006
Location: Timperley
Hi Ailsa

Good to see you again but sorry to hear what a lousy time you have been having. Pain and fatigue just grind you down and suck your soul out.

You will definitely miss your lovely daughter when she goes to uni. I missed mine terribly BUT after a few months it got to be a good miss!! When she returned to uni after her very frequent home trips, I didn't miss the piles of "stuff" dumped in the hall or the 5 washer loads of clothes which always seemed to accompany her!

I do hope your boys manage to find alternative employment soon - this must be a big worry for you.

Hoping the medics can sort out your pain relief and, hopefully, find something to halt the joint damage.

Lovely to hear from you - keep posting

Love Jeanxxx
sheila_G
#5 Posted : Tuesday, September 13, 2011 3:39:54 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 3/28/2011
Posts: 956
Location: North Preston
Hi Ailsa

Sorry you are having such a bad time at the moment. Isn't it enough to have RA without all the other problems you are having. You will miss your daughter but you will soon get used to it. I hope your boys find suitable work for them soon.

Sheila x
BarbieGirl
#6 Posted : Tuesday, September 13, 2011 7:13:23 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 1,110
Location: London
Hi Ailsa, sorry you have been so ill, hips and knees who'd have em!!!! hope the jab helps, I've had one today for same thing (well, probably the same anyway) so fingers crossed. Katharine will be fine, its so hard to "lose" daughter's to uni, (sorry boys, do love you too!!!) Lyn has told you about Abby, sol hopefully thats been soem comfort. Wish her well from me. My daughter missed out on her place due to a problems with GCSE maths. She is so disappointed, and going for it again next year. Hope you feel better soon x
BARBARA
suzanne_p
#7 Posted : Wednesday, September 14, 2011 11:16:18 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 8/25/2010
Posts: 1,289
Location: Buckinghamshire
hi Ailsa,

sorry to hear you're having a tough time of it.

it's never easy when your " babies " fly the nest but you do get used to it and look forward to their visits home,

hope things work out for your boys .. we never stop worrying about them do we.

hope things settle down pain wise for you,

Suzanne x
Ailsa-H
#8 Posted : Sunday, September 18, 2011 6:53:31 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered

Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
Aw, thankyou ladies ! I'm feeling much more like me after a dodgy start to the week with ferrocious dire-rearBlink Think it was probably the Cimzia/MTX/steroid/amitriptyline/diclofenac/omeprazole/tramadol mix I had last weekend. Anyway, injection seems to have sorted out my hip so things are looking up!

Thankyou so much for the reassuring words about Katharine going to Uni. It's been a long day but I've managed not to shed a tear, though I have that feeling that it will take something tiny to trigger a deluge!

Bangor IS lovely Lyn! I felt very reassured about leaving her there. It was all so organised and friendly. Before we had unpacked, 2 'buddies' had callled and invited K out to events tonight. Her room is lovely and there is a nice quiet girl next door so they will probably get along. BUT ... how hilly is it??! We went to Morrisons in the car in search of coat-hangers and drawing pins. Another student told us it is only 5 mins walk into town so we decided to have a look round. Well - it may be only 5 mins going, but it would have been a whole day job to get me back up that hill!!! We got a taxi, much to Susie's amusement. Oh, to have 16 year old knees again!

Hope your day has been a good one too Lyn and you got Jake settled in. It will be strange for his brother - hope he manges to find the right course for himself for next year. Katharine is doing Linguistics, by the way, and was in her element with all the Welsh signs as she can't wait to start learning the language!

So - reasons to be cheerful: I can cook for 4 again for the fist time in 20 years; I am in the last year of a child in school uniform, after 21 years; and my hip doesn't hurt, even after all that driving! ThumpUp

Hope you are all well. Thanks again for all the lovely thoughts and advice Rose, Jean, Suzanne, Barbara, Sheila & Lyn. I've missed you and will try to get better at staying in touch. Take care, XX Ailsa

Ailsa-H
#9 Posted : Sunday, September 18, 2011 6:59:58 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered

Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
Sorry Barbara - meant to say sorry to hear about your daughter missing out this time. It must be very disappointing for her. Hope she can get the wretched Maths GCSE.
Sometimes things end up working out for the best. If my ex had got into Uni the previous year as he'd planned, we probably would never have met and I would be 5 children poorer. Wish her luck from me XX Ailsa
Users browsing this topic
New Topic Post Reply
Forum Jump  
You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

SoClean Theme By Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF 1.9.3 | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.156 seconds.