Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Recently, I saw a neuro for swallowing problems and my uro for another UTI infection...yep this is a new one just dxed Tue from culture.

Neuro did some throat x-rays which shows athritis in my throat. now, I will be discussing options with spine doc and rheumy.

Uro has a new game plan. I will be having weekly treatments of several meds mixed together that will be placed in mside my bladder. I have to hold the solution for 2.5 hours.

The treatment is for 6 weeks. I really hope I can hold it in for the time needed.

Although, I am not looking forward to being cathered, even for a little while, I am looking forward to possible good results.

The infections are coming faster and hitting harder. I can feel my body growing weaker with so many assaults.

I love my scarred, out of shape, aging body. It has served me well.

Funny, how I never saw the beauty when I was young, scar free, healthy,and a beauty in the eyes of the world, and now...it's beauty brings tears to my eyes.

Truly, I am beautiful in my own eyes.

My body is not betraying me, it is just sick.

I know this may sound strange, but I can almost separate my body and soul now. Though, they are combined, at present, and I never felt this degree of separtation before,I can now.

It doesn't feel strange just sounds strange.

And no, I am not dissociating.

Shoot, I love this old body with all my heart.

Perhaps, I can keep it for a long, long time.

Hugs

Bits, although the UTI treatment sounds rather unpleasant atleast there are things to try for them. I get them on occasion too and they make a woman miserable.

Arthritis in the throat? Not good. So,so sorry to hear this. What is happening with your chronic wound? Are you any closer to being able to start RA meds again? Praying for you.

Hugs, Donna

Bits , it's amazing that they even have the technology to deliver such a treatment. We'll pray that it does the trick for you. Maybe this is the answer to your problems.

Arthritis throat.. that's not good, but I'm sure that they'll figure out a good plan for you.

Keeping you in thought and prayer..

Dear Bits I don't know what to say but I do know how to pray. Blessings of healing for you, knowledge for the Drs, and Love CLAP

I don't know about tomorrow or what coming days will bring but I know the Lord is with me and his praise my heart will sing.

I knew arthritis had affected my vocal cords and jaws but was suprised to find out it is affecting my swallowing.

For the last year I have been having my throat stretched because we thought it was stricture from GERD.

Apparently we were wrong.

I will know more after talking to spine doc and rheumy. I see spine doc today and rheumy the 24th.

I really don't know how serious this is nor what we do for it.

I assume RA meds are needed. Which I haven't taken in a long time.

donna, my wound closed and has stayed closed for 4 months. Rheumy won't start me back on meds until 6 months has passed. He thinks the meds are what opened it and kept it from healing for nearly 4 years.

If, when I start back, it opens again...no more trying RA meds.

Also, if wound stays closed, as it is, for 4-6 months, there is a good chance I can have other knee replaced. It was scheduled in 2007 but cancelled 2 days before surgery because of wound.

Also, rheumy doesn't want me to start back on meds till after I have knee replacement. I can understand that.

Hoping to do knee in a few months. The one I had done in 2006 has been a blessing.

I guess I should not have been suprised arthritis is in my throat because it is in my vocal cords and jaws. Just sounded strange.

Thank you all for prayers and well wishes.

Group Hug

Biits,

Sorry to read all the problems going on. Prayers coming your way.

Bits, I hope everything works out well for you and of course, you are in my prayers. WE are surrounded by beauty, the ability to see it is lost on thee young, such a shame, but we have it and every precious sight and sound keeps us going. I hope all the treatments they do help you and was wondering if the arthritis in your throat could be that, sjorgens , lol don't know how to spell it, syndrome. I too find it more and more difficult to swallow, i tend to go for soups etc now. My aunt had problems with swallowing and in the UK they suggested botox injections in the throat, sounds yuck but maybe you can ask about that?Pls let me know how things go, i am rooting for you xxxxx

Bits I hope that you can hold it for 2.5 hours. They need to get you better like now! It always make me sad to see that you are hurting again. It is so great that you can see the beauty in everything. I hope your wound stays closed so you can get your knee replacement. keeping you in my thoughts always

Ok, update on talking to spine doc:

The arthritis in my neck is not enough to affect my swallowing. It is rare for arthritis to cause swallowing difficulties.

When it does it is because spurs have formed and close of the ability to swallow. They have to be removed by surgery.

He was very upset the hoarsnes I have been experiencing has not been checked out. Nor do we have an answer for swallowing difficulty.

When I told him rheumy said hoarsnes was caused from RA affecting my vocal cords he replied that was not good enough.

He said hoarsness is usually a bad sign and needs to be thouroughly checked out. That it is not ok for a doc to pat you on the knee and say the hoarsness was nothing to worry about.

Because it is.

So, he is sending me to a subspecialist to find out what is going on.

Well, this will be the first time I see a subspecialist.

I will also do the spinal epidural again. It really helped my back and helped the Ra pain tremendously. Of course, if one has a med that is 25x stronger than cortisone injected into youe spine it's bound to help inflamation thruout the body.

This med is safer than cortisone.

I want to thank all of you for caring and encouraging. You are my family. A loving family.

Many hugs

wow bits i was really surprised to hear about the hoarsness. I will have it off and on for up to two weeks at a time. When iI mentioned it to my rhuemy he said it wasn't ra related. Do I need to find a third rhuemy?