A New Arthritis Hell

[Jim R]

Mixed news Dave but your positive attitude will be a huge advantage for you. Very sad about mum. Alzheimer's is a truly horrible condition.

[Tim Marlow]

Sorry to hear about your mum, that’s awful. Hope you get this blood cell issue sorted out quickly Dave. Just keep in mind that sulphasalizine take six to twelve weeks to become effective so don’t leave off starting them until you are only just hanging on. The wait can seem endless. I’ve been there, and it’s like going through purgatory.

[davecov]

Thanks All. Guest, I am not worried about hair loss. The only time that I ever worried about that was when I joined the Royal Navy and faced the NAAFI barber for the first time!

Dave

[Guest]

Dave, feel for you over your Mum , we lost the mother in law to Alzheimer's. A truly horrible illness.
You are certainly in the " wars " lets all hope you improve health wise your self.

[Guest]

Thanks All. Guest, I am not worried about hair loss. The only time that I ever worried about that was when I joined the Royal Navy and faced the NAAFI barber for the first time!

Dave

When I joined the Guards I think they borrowed the trustees from Reading prison to cut our hair....

[davecov]

I had my upper endoscopy on Wednesday and it seemed to be over before it had started, thanks to being sedated this time. It was discovered that I have a bit of irritation on my stomach lining. It was explained as possibly being caused by my Naproxen Rheumatoid Arthritis medication. A biopsy was taken as well so that a test can be carried out for Helicobacter pylori. I have never heard of it, but apparently it can be a cause of indigestion or stomach ulcers. I don't show outward signs of either problems but ulcers can also be caused by certain medications so hopefully the biopsy will help find the answer. I have to phone my GP next week to get the biopsy results. I have also been given a date for my second colonoscopy - oh joy! It is on the 25th March. It will be a more thorough procedure this time so I will be opting for sedation for that too. Aileen will have to take me to hospital and bring me home as I won't be able to drive myself after the procedure.

My Rheumatoid Arthritis is really bad today and I am unable to do any modelling as a result. That was thanks to Aileen and I being out a lot in cold temperatures yesterday, with the threat of snow showers hanging over us. We spent hours wandering around garden centres and travelling to various villages in the Borders. That was followed by some gardening and the assembly of a garden bench. Whilst knocking ten bells out of wooden dowels with a mallet was therapeutic in one way, it has caused big problem with my hands. I should be okay tomorrow though, if previous experience is anything to go by. Thankfully, with my medication routine well established, my RA flare-ups have become more of an irritant than the complete incapacitation of the past.

Hopefully, by the end of this month I will have all of the answers as to what is going on inside and the reasons for my anaemia is revealed.

Dave

[Jim R]

Again a mix of good news, not such good news and wait and see. Fingers crossed for the results. The waiting is definitely stressful.

[Flip]

Sorry to hear of the wars, but glad you're able to manage it.

[Tim Marlow]

Glad it’s progressing Dave. The history of H. PylorI is quite interesting. It was only discovered in the early eighties and the way the link between it and stomach ulcers was proved is not something I’d like to do.
I find the cold flares my RA as well, especially in my hips. I find changes in atmospheric pressure also can. Glad yours settles that quickly :thumb2:

[stillp]

I hope they get you sorted soon Dave.
Nasty stuff Naproxen, but it does work well.
Pete

[boatman]

HI Dave jen an i hope things go well for you sir
ATB from us
chrisb an jen

[Miko]

Spending time outside in nature is so theraputic, even if it's just wandering around a garden centre and pottering in your own garden, psychological wellbeing is so closely related to physical wellbeing, gardening can be such a rewarding experiece

Don't envy you colonoscopy!
Ouch!

Miko (the japanese call it 'shinrin yoku'

[davecov]

Another little update.

I would like to start by mentioning the great service I have been getting from my village health centre and the Borders General Hospital. Appointments are arranged very quickly and results of tests are returned fast too, sometimes the bloods results are phoned to me within eight hours of giving the blood.

This morning I popped into the health centre to pick up some medication and asked if it was possible for my GP to phone me at his convenience today, to discuss my endoscopy, biopsy and medication. Within an hour, my GP was on the phone. Very impressive. The good news is the biopsy was negative with no signs of Helicobacter pylori or anything else to worry about in the stomach. The irritation shown on my stomach lining is being blamed on Naproxen and I have been told to stop taking it. The replacement medication is Etoricoxib and my Omeprazole dosage is being doubled for the next four weeks to see if that settles the irritation, although I don't suffer any ill effects from it. In fact, I wasn't aware of it until the endoscopy.

For the past two days, my Rheumatoid Arthritis has hardly been noticeable compared to a few days ago. Then again, I haven't been doing anything silly following my exploits in my garden. Temperature and weather does play a big part in my symptoms and as things are gradually warming up, the flare-ups are lessening and I am able to do some modelling for longer periods.

As for my anaemia, still no word from my haematologist after the last blood samples, so the reason for that remains a mystery. Investigations are continuing as to what is causing my iron levels to remain low but while it remains so, I can't start on the Sulphasalazine. Over the next two weeks or so, I have to give another blood sample, undergo a colonoscopy and catch up with my GP again. Hopefully, it will be more good news, even if the anaemia problem isn't solved.

Dave

[Jim R]

It seems as if things are moving in the right direction which is great to hear. Also great to hear praise for those involved in your treatment.

[Tim Marlow]

Great news Dave. My GP service is very similar. A real breath of fresh air compared to the area I was in before. Hopefully once you get on sulfasalazine you can cut back on the NSAIDs as well. Just the anaemia to nail down then…..