A New Arthritis Hell

[Guest]

Chin up Dave, the three months will soon pass.
And if your sausage fingers get in the way use two sets of tweezers to do the delicate work, that is what I use, but c/a some 240 wet n dry about 10mm long onto the tips to aid grip.

[Tim Marlow]

If your hands are really starting to stiffen up and swell gloves like this really help Dave

https://www.arthritis.org/partnership/ease-of-use-products/imak-arthritis-gloves

You can wear them overnight and your hands will be much better in the morning. Your physiotherapist should also be able to give you an exercise regime that helps improve flexibility as well.

[Guest]

Dave , sorry to read this.
Hope you manage to find relief in the meds .

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Dave. It’s been a few weeks now…..how are you doing on the meds?

[davecov]

Hi Tim,

Things got a lot worse for a while but my condition has stabilised although doing modelling right now is proving to be a challenge. A nice challenge though because it keeps me occupied. It is much more manageable now but I have still to start on Immunosuppressor medication in two weeks time. I am having a Pneumococcal vaccination tomorrow which will be followed by a blood test on Tuesday in readiness for the Immunosuppressors. The dosage for that will be increased incrementally every two weeks with blood tests being taken prior to the increases. Hopefully, by twelve weeks from starting on these tablets, I will be on the maximum dosage and things will have started improving. We will see.

Thanks for asking.

Dave

[Tim Marlow]

No problem Dave. I remember all the pre checks…..mostly bloods and MRI scans I remember. Seems you have to be ill enough to go on them, then checked to make sure you are well enough to go on them LOL. Didn’t you get a steroid jab to tide you over though? I did, and the symptoms disappeared for about three months while the meds started working.

[Jim R]

Fingers crossed that the new meds work. By the new year you'll be back at the bench I'm sure :thumb2:

[davecov]

No problem Dave. I remember all the pre checks…..mostly bloods and MRI scans I remember. Seems you have to be ill enough to go on them, then checked to make sure you are well enough to go on them LOL. Didn’t you get a steroid jab to tide you over though? I did, and the symptoms disappeared for about three months while the meds started working.

My consultant decided against giving me steroids as I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes too and as I had that under control, he didn't want to disturb my progress with it.

Dave

[Andy T]

Didn’t you get a steroid jab to tide you over though? I did, and the symptoms disappeared for about three months while the meds started working.

Zoë had that. She was like a different woman, literally overnight. Amazing what the right medicine can do.

Yes the effects faded but she was overwhelmed at the relief it brought after months of suffering, and it gave her hope for what the longer term treatments could achieve.

[wotan]

Dave

Sorry to hear about your issues. The lads on here have more direct experience than me although I do know that growing old is not for the weak hearted. Hang in there and I hope the meds cocktail gets to work asap.

All the best from over the pond.

John

PS Hair loss is no biggy, my avatar looks a lot like me i'm sure you will look great wearing hats, I have for many years.

[Tim Marlow]

Zoë had that. She was like a different woman, literally overnight. Amazing what the right medicine can do.

Yes the effects faded but she was overwhelmed at the relief it brought after months of suffering, and it gave her hope for what the longer term treatments could achieve.

That’s exactly how I felt. The steroid bounce is quite impressive really, quite euphoric . You feel like a world beater for a few days. They can be given again if Zoe experiences flare ups in her symptoms, by the way, up to five times a year (I think). Unfortunately they get less effective the more you have, but there is a tablet form that is also effective and can be used instead. Here’s hoping she doesn’t need them though :thumb2:

[Andy T]

Thanks Tim, I/we weren't aware of that.

Fingers crossed (pun intended) the meds seem to be doing the trick. She had to have 2 weeks off the meth' recently due to covid & flu jabs, and was starting to flare up a little. Back on the tablets for 2 weeks now and it has calmed right back down.

Sorry for the hijack Dave but hopefully it's all useful information.

[Tim Marlow]

Glad the meds are working Andy. Must admit I never stopped taking the meth when having the jabs, I never thought about it and just carried on as normal.

[Guest]

Just hope you get the relief Dave, sounds most painful, I get the odd twinge in my left hand and that's bad enough.

[davecov]

A little update on my Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

On the Diabetes side, I had my three month Diabetes blood test this week and my HbA1c is now 38 (5.6%) when it was 86 (10%) three months ago. Blood pressure is now 128/82 (was 136/90). Cholesterol is now 3.2 mmol/L (was 3.4 mmol). I have also lost 1 stone, 5 lbs over the same period. If my understanding is correct then my Hba1c is in the normal range and not even pre-diabetic. I will be seeing my GP on 19th December to discuss the results of the blood test.

On the Rheumatoid Arthritis side, I had been improving quite a bit but with the occasional flare up which seems to happen more when the temperature gets lower. Having had the Pneumococcal vaccination, I finally began taking the Methotrexate immuno-suppressors just over two weeks ago, starting with 10mg for the first two weeks. I saw my GP who took the first blood test and gave me two lots 12.5mg to take over the next fortnight. However, having received the results of my Methotrexate blood test, my health centre gave me a message from my GP not to increase my dosage to 12.5mg but to stay on 10mg. My GP is away at the moment but no doubt he will tell me what is behind the decision not to increase when I see him on the 19th.

Dave