On Thursday afternoon I had a prednisone injection in the rt. shoulder. I was in so much pain by that time that I sobbed and told my doc. I was ready to do the Rituxan. Being the wise doc. that he is, he told me "this is not how we make these decisions." He told me to wait until Monday, then call him and let him know how I am doing and we would go from there. He increased my prednisone through Monday to help me out. Unfortunately, I don't feel as though the shot has worked or the increased prednisone is helping out. I've never had instant relief with a prednisone shot. Once it took 24 hours to kick in and another time 3 days. So I am still hopeful that it will release this very painful rt. shoulder.
Yesterday I didn't even dress. I stayed in my nightgown and robe all day because it was easier than trying to pull my pants up. That is horribly painful. Tom was babysitting at Sarah's and Matt was at work, so who would see me all day? Today I had Tom help me dress in some very loose and comfortable workout wear. And my shoulder is just a bit better in that I can touch my right ear with my right hand today! Woo-Hoo! This is getting darned boring.
I have to thank my son, Matt for all of his help with this blog. He was my encouragement to start it. When I can't figure out something with it, he has been my assistant!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Yesterday afternoon my right shoulder began hurting to beat the band. Today I can barely move my right arm. Washing my hair with one hand was not at all fun. My husband could see I was in a bad way this morning so he helped me get dressed. Tom was so patient with me this morning: He held my arm up in the air and transferred comb and curling iron to me so I could do my hair without moving my right arm. It was still painful, but we managed to laugh our way through it. And it turned out looking quite good!!
I've called my rhuematologist about this intense pain & he is going to see me tomorrow afternoon to give me a cortisone injection in that shoulder to get me by.
He had given me an injection of cortisone in the left shoulder when I saw him last on Jan. 10th. These cortisone injections are only temporary, but when in tremendous pain, they do help.
All of the information regarding Rituxan can be found at Rituxan.com under patient information. I hurt like heck, but I would sure like to hold off with the Rituxan for a bit.
I've called my rhuematologist about this intense pain & he is going to see me tomorrow afternoon to give me a cortisone injection in that shoulder to get me by.
He had given me an injection of cortisone in the left shoulder when I saw him last on Jan. 10th. These cortisone injections are only temporary, but when in tremendous pain, they do help.
All of the information regarding Rituxan can be found at Rituxan.com under patient information. I hurt like heck, but I would sure like to hold off with the Rituxan for a bit.
Monday, January 24, 2011
A Little History
Monday, January 24, 2011
After years of one health problem and another, I was diagnosed with Lupus & Sjogren's disease. My husband & I were saddened to know that I had an autoimmune disease, but grateful to know what it was and that we could deal with it. I had found a terrific rhuematologist who prescribed prednisone and plaquinil. I was on these meds for some years, when he added methotrexate and took me off the plaquinil.
I work out twice a week with a personal trainer and have been doing that since years before my diagnosis. I added "gentle" yoga to my weekly routines about a year and a half ago.
Since late summer I've not been feeling very well. I've had more bouts of pain than ever before and more days using a cane to aid in walking. I ceased doing some hip exercises my doctor had recommended as they seemed to make the pain in my hip joint worse. Each morning and evening I have a couple of shoulder exercises I do. Just after the new year I got in to see my rhuematologist with my list of complaints. He felt that my current meds were not working for me anymore. To make a couple of weeks of a long story shorter, my doctor recommended that I go with the infusion drug Rituxan. He told me all the possible side effects and scared the wits out of me. One infusion is $10,000.00 and I would start with one and then two weeks later have another. I'm not really certain about subsequent infusions. I still have to talk more to my doctor about all of this.
In the meantime after talking with my husband and children, I have decided to try a month of "organics". It started Saturday evening and I need all the encouragement possible to stay on track. I want to see if going organic with all of my foods can make a significant difference in how I feel. I've read many times, many places over the years that food additives, preservatives, chemicals, etc. trigger Lupus flares. I know I can not use artificial sweeteners. God, they are BAD!!! They really make you hurt. So this is a start. I'm not quite ready for the Rituxan.
I have heard two good reviews of the Rituxan which have helped to ease my fears. My massage therapist told me a couple of days ago that her father credits being alive with Rituxan. He had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was on it for 6 months. He has been in remission for several years. That's a good story.
My son, Adam, checked with a Doctor of Pharmacy who told him it is the closest thing to a "miracle" drug. That's a good thing.
Last week Monday was a cane day. Really painful.
Tuesday was a "slow walking with a limp" day. Painful.
Not a day goes by without some pain in various places.
I have dry eyes. I use Restasis. I have dry throat. I have stomach problems due to the Sjogren's and how it drys you out.
If anyone knows anything about Lupus or Sjogren's, please share. I don't currently belong to a support group, but would like to.
After years of one health problem and another, I was diagnosed with Lupus & Sjogren's disease. My husband & I were saddened to know that I had an autoimmune disease, but grateful to know what it was and that we could deal with it. I had found a terrific rhuematologist who prescribed prednisone and plaquinil. I was on these meds for some years, when he added methotrexate and took me off the plaquinil.
I work out twice a week with a personal trainer and have been doing that since years before my diagnosis. I added "gentle" yoga to my weekly routines about a year and a half ago.
Since late summer I've not been feeling very well. I've had more bouts of pain than ever before and more days using a cane to aid in walking. I ceased doing some hip exercises my doctor had recommended as they seemed to make the pain in my hip joint worse. Each morning and evening I have a couple of shoulder exercises I do. Just after the new year I got in to see my rhuematologist with my list of complaints. He felt that my current meds were not working for me anymore. To make a couple of weeks of a long story shorter, my doctor recommended that I go with the infusion drug Rituxan. He told me all the possible side effects and scared the wits out of me. One infusion is $10,000.00 and I would start with one and then two weeks later have another. I'm not really certain about subsequent infusions. I still have to talk more to my doctor about all of this.
In the meantime after talking with my husband and children, I have decided to try a month of "organics". It started Saturday evening and I need all the encouragement possible to stay on track. I want to see if going organic with all of my foods can make a significant difference in how I feel. I've read many times, many places over the years that food additives, preservatives, chemicals, etc. trigger Lupus flares. I know I can not use artificial sweeteners. God, they are BAD!!! They really make you hurt. So this is a start. I'm not quite ready for the Rituxan.
I have heard two good reviews of the Rituxan which have helped to ease my fears. My massage therapist told me a couple of days ago that her father credits being alive with Rituxan. He had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was on it for 6 months. He has been in remission for several years. That's a good story.
My son, Adam, checked with a Doctor of Pharmacy who told him it is the closest thing to a "miracle" drug. That's a good thing.
Last week Monday was a cane day. Really painful.
Tuesday was a "slow walking with a limp" day. Painful.
Not a day goes by without some pain in various places.
I have dry eyes. I use Restasis. I have dry throat. I have stomach problems due to the Sjogren's and how it drys you out.
If anyone knows anything about Lupus or Sjogren's, please share. I don't currently belong to a support group, but would like to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)