It has been so long since I've been able to participate in the forums on any kind of regular basis....and I have missed it!!!

I have, over the past five/six months, often felt like the White Rabbit of Alice in Wonderland fame... constantly checking my pocket watch and comparing where I am against where it is that I should be.

My mom continues to decline. The last time I posted she had just started treatment with Remicaid (for rheumatoid arthritis) and her other meds have been juggled & rearranged in an attempt to provide more long-term pain relief against the fibro & the RA.

Her RA is not yet in remission. She has actually felt worse over the past several months. Yesterday she had 'fluid' drawn out of her right knee and it was sent for testing. Her rheumy didn't like how the area looked on an xray...a repeat xray showed the same thing. What that "thing" is...we don't yet know, but her rhuemy is telling her it probably won't be good.

My dad had been critically ill due to recently diagnosed congestive heart failure, blockages, leaking valve, severe muscle damage. He will be having a defibrilator implanted Dec. 12 because he had a very high risk of his heart stopping due to Sudden Cardiac Death.

At the beginning of this month I started taking Lyrica: 50mgs, 1 capsule, twice daily and

Mobic: 20mg, I tab daily

The Lyrica is for fibro and the Mobic is for arthritis. I took both of these medications in January and after three/four months stopped taking them. I had become more active and I felt tremendously better, physically. I made the decision to try and keep the progress going on my own.

Well, it worked for a while.....then, WHAM!! I felt worse that I did the first time I took the meds. After talking with my doctor I started back on the above meds. I've been taking them for less than a month.

My doctor said that several advances have been made in the medical world's ability to diagnosis and treat fibro. He told me that I got started with a treatment plan...now...that my future did not have to be anything like what my mom is currently going through. I have to say I am very much looking forward to proving him right!!!!!!!!

Okay, I will close for now by saying I am exciting about renewing older friendships and establishing new ones! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving

Thanks for the hugs! I'm sending a truck load back to you...to be used all at once, or one at a time...I'll let you decide!

You sure have had a lot going on, and I am sorry for your pain and all of the stress you must be going through.

I look forward to getting to know you better in the future.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My aunt is 90 and has a lot of heart problems. She was ready to go last year until her cardiologist suggested she try co-enzyme Q-10. It's given her a new lease on life. It's expensive but she was able to give up all the rest of her supplements so to her it was worth it.

I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. Remember that we are here if you just need someone to talk with.

dragonfly

Mydragonfly

Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for keeping my folk's in your thoughts and prayers.....and thanks for the suggestion regarding the Co-enzyme Q10, I'll mention it to my dad.

Now, I'm going to mosey on over to the general forum and check to see if anyone has come up with any brand new stress & at-home pain relief techniques !

Welcome back ...we re glad to have you with us again.

I m sorry to hear everything that is going on with your mom and dad but it sounds like they are in good hands with your care.

Will keep you all in my prayers of comfort and support.

Marilyn