lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Okay, I had my appointment with the rheumatologist today. Yeah, he put the hurt on me. Kept twisting and turning body parts in ways of which I'm not even accustomed to!
Well, I has some joint problems in a few places today. And he was able to pinpoint those areas with no problem. He could clearly see it in my knuckles, wrists, and my right knee. As for my right hip, since it's such a fleshy area and runs deep, it's difficult to find the signs of pain and inflamation, so he had me point to indicate where it hurt. I pointed to three positions and he told his "resident" that he was teaching that my response was impressive because some people will only point to two of the places I indicated, which doesn't always indicate a true hip problem. But when I pointed to my groin area, that impressed him and he said that I definitely have a problem with my hip. Duh!
Doc got a copy of my labs from my gastro and said though my Rheumatoid Factor test was negative, it didn't mean squat. (So why did I have the test then???) But he said I do indicate I have rheumatoid. Another big DUH!
Now, I'm allergic to sulfa and a lot of arthritis medications are sulfa-based. But he did prescribe an anti-inflammatory called Hydroxychloroquine, which will take about 3 months to kick in and do it's job. So I asked, "Well, what do I do for immediate relief until then?" He wrote another script for Salsalate, which he claims has some pain relieving agents as well as a anti-inflammatory and would start to work in approximately 2 weeks, perhaps less. Best if kept off the board docs don't want to give out any dang real pain relievers, I swear! But I figure, "Hey, I've gotten this far, another 2 weeks isn't exactly going to kill me. I'm just praying and praying that these things work for me!
Now get this though. The first script for Hydroxychloroquine may mess with the retina's of my eyes, so I have to see an opthamologist every 6 months! Geez, that's all I need now...to go blind! LMAO
I know, I'm taking it lightly, but I need to keep a sense of humor about all of this stuff.
As for the Lupus test...a great, big negative! Yeah!
Haven't gotten my labs for my Hep C as they are still pending. I didn't even hear anything about the H-Pylori test my gastro did. Maybe that's still pending, too. I imagine I will hear from him as soon as he gets them.
So, needless to say, if these pills work for me, I've got some big plans awaiting me for my future. I'll let you all know about that sometime soon. 
Thanks for all of the concern from my dear friends on here. You've been remarkable in keeping my spirits up and giving such wonderful advice, support, and encouragement. How does one thank you for all of that? I guess I can only do so with the absolute most sincere thank you. I am grateful to have met wonderful, caring, and compassion people and I consider you my dear friends. Thank you!
lemongrass
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ezone
Stranger
Reged: 01/08/04
Posts: 2
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Lemongrass,
I was glad I ran across this post as I have an appointment with an RA doc in a few weeks and have been very anxious not knowing what to expect. My bloodwork was positive and one need only to see me in the mornings to know somethings not right. Funny, I'm alergic to sulfa also, limits the type of meds. I;ve been suffering for many years and had to switch drs to finally get diagnosed...what the Best if kept off the board do we pay them for? Anyway, I hope the meds work out for you and you start to feel better soon.
ez
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Hi, Ezone!
I'm glad that you could find this information helpful. I hope I didn't scare you though. That wasn't my intention. In fact, when doc was teaching his resident, he specifically said something that I thought you might find interesting. He said some patients will not tolerate particular movements and such, so you can object to being twisted about if you feel it may bring you a great deal of pain. I, on the other hand, figured that if my rheumatologist couldn't exactly pinpoint those trouble areas himself, I might be doing more harm than good for my case, so I just dealt with it. It wasn't like it was torturous or anything and the moment I told him, "Okay, you can stop that now!" He would stop. Hehe.
Oh, there are a lot of people allergic to sulfa, by the way.
Good luck with your appointment and I hope that you've found a great doctor to help you! Please keep us posted. PM me just in case I'm not around and your post gets buried.
Have a wonderful day!
lemongrass
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booker
Board Addict
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 348
Loc: The Moon
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Hello, dear! So glad you are back! Reading this post I couldn't help thinking about the different meds doctors will give you that may ruin the lining of your stomach, may ruin your eyes, steroids to reduce inflamation (no need to explain long term use of those and their damage!) etc. but god forbit they give you a pain med that helps the pain and the only thing that is "wrong" with pain meds is you "might" get addicted. Oh, I guess I got a bit off topic but this thought just popped in my mind and had to say it!
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"would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better off than you are, or would you rather be a ....."
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piper65111
Member
Reged: 12/16/01
Posts: 105
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There also not very good for your liver or kidneys I worry about that all the time.Any besides me worry about your liver?
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booker
Board Addict
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 348
Loc: The Moon
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the APAP can be hard on your liver. You are not to take more than 4,000 mg a day. That would be 8 pills unless you take the 10/325's. Fortunately, I take a small amount of lipitor for cholesterol and have my liver checked 2 times a year. I have a friend who takes 4,000 mg a day per her doctors orders and she gets liver checks frequently.
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"would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better off than you are, or would you rather be a ....."
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booker
Board Addict
Reged: 08/15/03
Posts: 348
Loc: The Moon
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Oh gee, I should have said "it is my understanding" that you can take up to 4,000 mg a day. That is what I have read but I came off sounding like an expert. Sorry about that!
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"would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better off than you are, or would you rather be a ....."
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Princeton
Newbie
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Frozen Tundra
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I too take lipitor and have a doctor that is very insistant that my liver functions be checked regularly. I actually WAS advised by my physician that I could take a max 4000 mg of APAP a day during time of high levels of pain (note-he also checks kidney function along with the regular lipitor liver tests). With his "permission" he did tell me to not make a habit to take such a large dose on a daily or continous basis but in short term spurts when needed. Now, as I digress...I suppose I need not go on to add that if I had been actually given a medication that actually relieved pain the whole topic of taking large quanties of APAP wouldn't have even needed to be addressed. Is it me or is there something wrong with this picture??? (yes, sick humor included)
Princeton 
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so take me as i am this may mean you'll have to be a stronger man rest assured that when
i start to make you nervous and i'm going to extremes tomorrow i will change and today won't mean a thing
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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Booker & Princeton, tell me about it!
You know, me and my husband always laugh when we hear those medications advertised on television for say IBS, high cholesterol, incontinence, depression, etc., etc. We look at each other and say, "With all of those possible side effects, I'd rather deal with the trouble at hand!" Ridiculous is right. And to think addiction to an opiate is considered much more dangerous! Oh give me a break! You know what? In my book, pain is priority, I'll worry about the addiction later, just give me some dan!m meds already!
lemongrass
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