Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Early Good Morning friends,

It is 3:30am and here I sit, in my comfy chair, heating pad at back and ice bag under ankle.

Psuedogout is flaring, in my ankle, and it hurts badly. it is a different pain than RA or OA. Psuedogout is a sharp biting pain. Like something with sharp teeth is raking down my ankle bone. Actually, that is a good description since what is happening is calcium crystals (little needles) are attacking my joint. "Poke, Poke, Poke..."

Whereas I have to use heat for RA and OA, I have to use ice for Psuedogout. For my back I alternate with heat and ice. Raoul told me about the ice and it is amazing how well it helps my back.

I have an appointment to do MRI at 6:30am and must be up by 5am just so I can move well enough to go. Even if I went to sleep right now I could only sleep for 1.5 hours. That would make me feel worse than just staying awake and going to bed when I get home.

The MRI is for my back. Last week it was discoverd vertabre had collapsed and other back issues were really bad. Much, much more arthritis in back than 2 years ago.

Also, will hav blood drawn to test for Sjorgrens. Sigh...

Hopefully, this will wrap up doc visits/tests until next month when I see rheumy and see PC for 6 month check-up. Well, I most likely will see back doc after he gets report about MRI.

Someone mentioned surgery would probably be discussed because of collapsed vertabre, I hope not. Unless life is at stake or I cannot move around or pain becomes horrible I will not have surgery. So, I hope we can find a good treatment.

Guess, I'll go put on a pot of coffee, throw in a load of laundry into dryer, fold a few clothes, and find a good movie to watch and just wait...till it's time to go for test.

Wish me luck friends.

Morning hugs

I wish you the best of luck today my Dear Bits!! I am up early too. It is almost 5:30 here. I was just going to reply to your shrimp post and I noticed you were up. So I am replying to this one instead. Your shrimp dinner sounded amazing and it is so wonderful they let you take it home I am sorry about your gout flare (OUCH!!!!) I know someone who has that and I see it is very painful for him.

I ended up going to Staples to look for a chair for work, one that reclines and was lucky enough to find one that does what I need and seems very comfortable. It was only 150 dollars compared to the 400 I was going to pay for the one on the internet. I kept putting it off because I was afraid that after I got it it wouldn't be comfortable then I would have wasted that money. The only thing is it doesn't have a foot rest like the other one so I went and bought one at target for 20 dollars afterwards. I am really hoping it helps me be more comfortable at work so I can stay longer. I had a good couple of weeks of almost full weeks then last week was hit by a flare and so far out of 6 days I have only made it in for 3 of them and was only able to stay a couple of hours.

I did a burst of pred because of the flare and by the second day my legs swelled like balloons. I'm not doing the pred anymore, it helped the hip pain for awhile but then leaves me with other pain that the pain meds don't help with and I feel like the swelling is causing all kinds of damage in my knees and ankles that I didn't have before. Not to mention I cant see the swelling is good for me, it kind of worries me.

Anyway - good morning to you Bits! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers today for your tests!

*big gentle hugs*

Good luck, Bits. I hope all goes well.

Back from testing. MRI done and labs to check for Sj.

Chuck is making us breakfast. Perfectly fried eggs over medium, crisp bacon, buttered grits, thickly sliced homegrown tomatoes, hot biscuts, real butter, red current jelly, freshly squeezed orange juice, and wonderful, wonderful fresh coffee to which I will add farm fresh cream and sugar.

I am hungry so I will eat well. Afterward, I will lean back in comfy chair, covered in a heavy red/black/grey electric lap blanket, little fireplace burning with as much beauty as heat, all snuggly feeling in my pjs and socks, Biff laying against my hip, blinds shut, light off,tv turned low and slowly go to sleep. Probably until around 5pm.

I love my sleep schedule of up all night then sleeping thru the day. But, I really don't have a pattern...just sleep when I can.

Good night friends.

Hugs

How did the tests go bits?

I won't know till docs call.I just kept my eyes shut while in MRI tube, but boy, was my back hurting when I got up.

I did sleep till around 5pm and ate leftovers from Red Lobster for supper.

I have to go to PC's office in the morning for another blood draw. I sure wish that test had been ordered when they drew the blood Wed.

I am very thankful for all medical help, but do get weary when I have to go so often.

Tomorrow I am fixing Roast Beef and Gravy. It has been in my family for generations. Only flour, salt, pepper, and water plus the beef is all it takes. You leave it in the oven for hours and the water reduces down to the richest, tastieat gravy there is (my opinion). The meat falls apart and has absorbed the rich flavor of the gravy.

I guess because the ingredients are so pure you really taste the beefyness of the dish.

Oh, the smells that come from it are amazing. Hot, rich, brown smells.

Along with it I am making Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas, Sliced Tomatoes, and Sister Shubert Yeast Rolls. Plus sweet tea.

All I have to do in the morning, after getting home from doc, is put the roast on. Chuck will keep an eye on it. It will take me less than 3 mins from start to finish to have it in the oven. I will make potatoes, shortly, while I am up, then heat them for supper.. I have to do all things when I feel like it rather than a planned thing. So, potatoes will be made while I feel well enough to do so. Even if I am flaring in the morning I can do Roast beef because of the simplicity of it. Chuck will do peas and rolls if I can't. He will do sweet tea, too.

I love talking about food and wish with all my heart I could cook/bake everyday.

Our son spent the night with us Mon and was very suprised at how much weight I have lost since he saw me last. We talk several times a week, but only see each other every few months. I know it is worrying him.

While here, i heated up Sausage Gravy and Chuck made 5 biscuts for him. He misses mamas cooking so I try to fix him something he loved from his childhood. His wife is an excellent cook, but mama's cooking is always appreciated.

Well, I'll let you know about test results when i get them.

Hugs

Post edited by: bits, at: 09/07/2011 11:19 PM

You do love to talk about food. That's good though because I think it is good for all of us to have something we love to think about, imagine about and talk about.. not to mention you always make me hungry!! LOL (my tummy is growling now and I haven't been hungry all day!)

I did eat earlier but it was more of a force yourself to eat something or your going to be sick later.. at first I thought I really wanted it and then I felt nausea and didn't wanna try. I lost my appetite again a few months ago

That was wonderful you were able to see your son. My oldest and his fiance moved out about amonth ago and I miss them (him mostly) already. It's funny but just knowing he was here and I could say hi to him and see his face if I wanted to always made me feel good. So I always miss him when he moves goes. He's 24 though so they need thier own space and thier own life.

The last time I had an MRI I was in so much pain that day I cried through almost the whole thing. So I totally understand... I can be such a baby sometimes .. but it really hurt trying to stay still for an hour.

*hugs Bits*