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Date: 29.11.2010
From: dolly

Subject: want to help with whatever i can

i am 56 years old. ihave had rheumatoid arthritis for 41 years. ihave had 30 surgeries to do with RA. so i think i have some pretty good experiences which may help somewhat. if anyone has any questions in sharing how i dealt with many situations i would gladly like to share answers to whatever i can.
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Date: 29.11.2010
From: Vanessa

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

That is a great offer, Dolly. I am 56 also. I have been dx w/inflammatory arthritis. I have a question for you...how long did it take before youe were diagnosed w/RA, and did you have positive blood tests? What medicine are you taking for your RA? Thanks, V
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Date: 29.11.2010
From: dolly

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

to vanessa i started the symptoms at the age 15, the swollen hands and feet. went to the doctor and he said it was the typical growing pains. my mother and i accepted that for three years then i moved and got myself a new doctor and he did a blood test right away. few days later he called me back in his office and told me i had rheumatoid arthritis and referred me to a rheumatoligist asap. rheumatoligist suggested alot of physio therapy and anacin. forty one years later after almost every arthritic medication out there i am on regretfully prednisone, darvon and humira. humira is a self injection (in my stomach) twice a month. it takes the severe pain and swelling away and i have more good days than bad. i used to take 100mg darvon (2) four to six times a day, now i am taking (1) 100mg once a day sometimes twice. i take 10mg prednisone once a day, but if im going to have a long busy day i will take 20mg,then the next day i will go back to 10. i hope this info is helpful but please feel free to ask anything. my rheumatologist thinks i could be very helpful to others because what i have been through. talk soon.
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Date: 01.12.2010
From: dolly

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

THE FIRST TIME I POSTED A STORY AND THEN I CHECKED FOR ANY REPLIES IT SAID I HAVE RECEIVED Two REPLIES. WELL, I ONLY SEEN ONE WHICH WAS FROM VANESSA AND I DONIT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SECOND ONE, SO WHOEVER POSTED THE SECOND ONE CAN YOU REPOST YOUR REPLY AGAIN. SORRY IT HAS TAKEN ME AWHILE TO RESPOND TO THIS, AND THANKS FOR RESPONDING. TALK SOON.
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Date: 02.12.2010
From: Tom H

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

Dolly, you seem to have problems with your CAPS LOCK :-)
I have a question, at what point have you felt at your best and how mobile were you at that point, i.e. could you play sport? how mobile are you now?
Thanks
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Date: 02.12.2010
From: dolly

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

hi tom thanks for the solution, i'm really new with computer stuff and i can only type with my two ring fingers so i'm a little slow and alot to learn. as for your auestion i used to be very active in sports till i was about 20 and i had to stop work at the age of 22. i got married when i was 22 and had ababy at 23. after having my baby my health completely crashed ver rapidly. for the next 10 years i had surgery once every year. but i have had a total of 30 surgeries. i'm more active than i was back then. i haven't had any surgeries for a few yrs now. if i try and do house chores it takes me twice as long as someone else. ican drive in town for an appointment, but if it's out of town my husband will drive me. i can walk maybe a block then i need to sit down because of back pain. i have a manual and an electric wheelchair. i also have a lift chair for my tub and a walk in shower. i also have electric lift recliner chair. all the couches and chairs in my house are higher than normal. i'm 5'8" tall, useed to be 5'10", that's what prednisone will do. hope this info helps you. thanks again in replying to my post, dolly.
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Date: 03.12.2010
From: Tom H

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

You seem to have really put through the ringer. Thatnks very much for your reply and best of luck to you.
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Date: 03.12.2010
From: dolly

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

thanx tom, remember feel free to ask whatever. you take care now, dolly
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Date: 04.12.2010
From: Angela

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

Hi Dolly, I am 53 and got RA two years ago.My question is what have your esr and crp blood tests been like over the years?and if and when they were high was that when your joints got worse?
I ask this because my bloods are always quite high, and although I dont have swellings orfeel any worse, I always wonder whether the RA is in destructive mode while it is happening, or worse still could it be affecting my organs if I dont feel worse in my joints.
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Date: 04.12.2010
From: dolly

Subject: Re: want to help with whatever i can

hi angela. thanks for replying to me. my RA started 41 yrs. ago. for the first few yrs[starting at 15] was just swelling and somewhat painful,[it got alot worse] after i had my son, well all hell broke loose. my blood work showed full blown RA. my "sed rate" was very high. when i had a bad "flare up" the numbers were high. through the years the doc did many tests and it took awhile to find the right "cocktail" that was gonna work for me. right now i'm on humira, prednisone, and hydromorphone. everyone with RA has a differnt "cocktail" for what works for them. my blood work right now is o.k. compared to long time ago i don't get severe "flare ups" like i used to. i do still have a "bad day" but that's usually from overdoing it. i get blood work done every two months to check my organs, so far so good. my doc says i'm doing well when it comes to my organs considering how long i've been putting all these medications through them. RA can be managed very well if you can "read" your body and know when something is getting worse or something feels different. get to know your body well. it does take time to find the right "cocktail". take care now. talk soon, dolly.
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