All posts tagged: RA progression

Cannabis at Eleven

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For about half of us the biologic medication of the last twenty-five years has been helpful in reducing symptoms and lessening disability. Methotrexate has been a big help. It is especially helpful when given in combination with the biologics. The JAK inhibitors can cause cancer. Since I have had five cancers, they are not advisable. It has been eleven years since my diagnosis. I have learned to live with my symptoms. I do know that it is important to keep moving. Sitting in your favorite chair reading a good romance novel or instead catching up with your broadcasts, or podcasts, is inviting. But it is still important to alternate physical motion with sitting in the easy chair. We all know how stiff we feel after sitting for a while. It is called gelling. I still have a bad flare that lasts a week once a month. There is not much I can do when my pain level is between a five and a seven. The inflammation level is high and makes me feel sick. I …

The Cruel side effect of Flares

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A side effect of having flares is their random quality. One day a person with RA may be out dancing with the girls. The next week she may not able to join them because she is not well. Repeat. And then repeat. Is she neurotic? Her friends may be thinking. They stop asking her to go with them. Another young mother with RA  may ask her husband or her mother to help more with the children when she is having a flare that puts her flat. She was able to explain the severe and random nature of rheumatoid arthritis flares. Her husband and her mother had come to understand the severe and random nature of RA and were happy to help her more when she needed it. So, this is what a person with RA has to deal with.  You may be spending a large share of your time in severe pain. You may have serious doubts about your future. People will still look at you and say you look healthy to them.  And although …

August Journal

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I watched the last night of the Democratic convention. Vice-President Harris is a surprise.  For the last three years she has been the quiet figure standing near President Biden when he speaks. No more. She is a breath of fresh air. She is strong. There is no doubt what her agenda will be. This is my summer of learning about baseball. They do have a lot of little rules and it is about the numbers. We are Phillies fans. Through thick and thin. My favorites are Straum, a toe tapping relief pitcher, Castellanos, right fielder and dependable hitter, and Stubbs, relief catcher, energized team player. I like them because they all are characters and all are solid team players. My rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is about the same. The medical establishment offers me little at this point. I am still on Kevzara which helps up to twenty percent. I am on a low dose steroid, Medrol. My pain levels range from four to seven on a scale of one to ten. I supplement my medical treatment with …

Writing and RA

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About six months ago I fell into a writer’s block. I could not read another article on rheumatoid arthritis or write another article about living with it  I continued to read my Danial Silva novels, and as time passed I let Bob, my sourdough starter, pass into sourdough heaven. Who knows why what did happen. But I changed. Yes, I did. I watched the world series with my son. I was totally amazed at how unpredictable a game of baseball played out. It was fun. I love the Phillies. I joined my son and became a Phillies fan. We watch all the Phillies games that we can. I know all the players. Bryce Harper, first base, JT catcher, Bohm and home runs. All the players are great. Last night’s game was exciting. The Phillies were behind. Bohm finally  tied the game and Castellanos made the winning play in the tenth inning. Wow! Seven years ago I wrote a  10,000 word start to a novel. I put it away. I decided to take another look at …

The Balance of an RA Life

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Rheumatoid arthritis is unlike many diseases. RA is a disease that is chronic. It is a disease that is progressive meaning that it will get worse over time. It is debilitating meaning that it will interfere with your ability to have a normal life. There is no cure. It is a tough disease. It may start slowly. It might not even be symmetrical right out of the gate. Or it might be like mine. Acute. Severe. All the classic symptoms. And it never really stops. Mine is seronegative which means the test for certain factors is negative. Those with seropositive disease have more joint damage but those with seronegative have more systemic inflammation. I recently had a full body scan after I had surgery for melanoma. There doesn’t seem to be more melanoma lurking in my body, but my whole cardiovascular system has atherosclerosis. No wonder those with RA die of heart disease! A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is not a ticket to feel sorry for yourself. It doesn’t help. I was lucky to learn that as …

RA, as time passes.

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My RA is different now than it was in earlier years. Now I feel like I am in a continual flare with variations. Sometimes worse. Sometimes much worse.  And luckily, sometimes better.  Today it is worse. I take tramadol and add 500mg ibuprofen. I take an extra Medrol. The amount of cannabis that I tolerate is improving and does help most days. I am very conservative. My primary orders the tramadol. Tramadol is a weak, synthetic opioid. It helps me but doesn’t help every RA sufferer.  My rheumatologist has agreed to my Medrol regime. I feel low dose ibuprofen helps inflammation as does cannabis. My son made pancakes this morning. Excellent. Cheered me up. Yesterday we went to Sprouts to buy a turkey breast. I am struggling with losing my sight. I take the AREDS 2 vitamins that help slow eye disease and I take moisturizing eye drops to keep them moist. I wear sunglasses when I go out. We have had the balloon fiesta, Halloween, and Elections. Next is Thanksgiving, peppered with birthdays. Then …