An Aud Life

Living in My World with People Who Don’t have Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:39:40 +0000

I’m not in contact day to day with another person who has a chronic condition like I have (at least not to my knowledge), so I don’t know what it’s like dealing with a person with an autoimmune disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis. My only point of view is from the side of the sufferer (the sufferer with RA), living with people who don’t have RA.

My post about ‘Arthritis Myths’ sparked this topic for me, when I wrote about how people assume you can’t or shouldn’t do anything anymore. It’s almost as frustrating as the pain in my joints. Most people are either one way or the other; treating me like a child who can’t cross the street without holding hands or not realizing how much pain and fatigue I feel during a major flare-up. There doesn’t seem to be too much of a happy medium, and trying to explain how you feel over and over gets old after a while.

I’m sure that every Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer feels the same at one point or another. When people first learn that I have RA I’m treated with kid gloves, like I’m going to break into pieces if I do anything more strenuous than sitting down. But in all honesty, most of the time, the more I active I am, the better I feel. I love power walking a few miles every day, yard work and digging in the dirt is bliss for me, and when it comes to power tools, whether construction or destruction… stand back and let me play!

Being able to be independent is certainly important to me, but I’m also not a martyr. When the pain, aches and fatigue are too much for me handle without a grimace, I am usually able to put my stubbornness aside and ask for help, and most of the time help is given. I do remember one person who made a comment about how he didn’t think that Rheumatoid Arthritis hurts that much. I asked him if he’d ever been stung by a bee and he said he had. I asked him if he thought it hurt.

“Of course it did,” he answered.

“Well,” I returned. “My RA is like having bee stings in every joint. Hands, feet, knees, shoulders and elbows.”

That bee must have stung him pretty good because he never made a comment like it again.

I think I can also be honest in saying that I do get jealous of ‘normal’ people who don’t have to get up early just so they can get the stiff soreness worked out before the rest of the family wakes, who get to enjoy a glass of red wine, not have to worry whether the in coming low pressure system will set off a flare up. But I also see the blessing side of it. I’ve discovered that I can handle more than I thought, it’s made me a stronger person, and I’m much more empathetic to other people’s pain.

Living with the “normies” can be challenging, the main challenge being that they just don’t have a sweet clue as to how I am truly feeling, but it’s not their fault; they just aren’t as ‘blessed’ as I am!!

A Quick Glance at the Tests Used for Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

Aud — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:20:44 +0000

When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2005, I had one blood test performed and some x-rays ordered, and at the time that was my extent of knowledge to the range of possibilities in diagnosing the disease. Learning more about RA caused me to look into the tests that are beneficial in proper diagnosis, and in turn, understanding what the tests actually did helped me understand more about the disease.

I had an Rh factor test (a simple blood test) taken which turned out to be positive. Antibodies are normal proteins found in the blood; the Rh (Rheumatoid) factor is an antibody that can bind or attach itself to other antibodies. The Rh factor isn’t usually found in normal population; however it is found in over 80% of adults who have RA.

A general CBC (Complete Blood Count) test may be ordered to measure red blood cells, their number, fraction and size; it also measures the number of white blood cells, and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. This will the Dr an idea of there’s infection, or any other condition going on.

I’m glad I just have to type this next one out, if I tried to pronounce it I’d mess up! Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) should be called the ‘inflammation measuring test’ because that’s what it does; it measures how much inflammation is in the body.

The C - Reactive Protein test is a little trickier which measures a special type of protein produced by the liver. During a time of acute inflammation or infection the liver will secrete this protein and the CRP measures the concentration of this protein in blood serum. Although it’s not specific, a high result of the protein gives a general indication of intense inflammation and Rheumatoid Arthritis causes a large amount of inflammation, especially during flare-ups. Because it’s not specific, a high CRP rate could also be indicative of rheumatic fever, lupus, cancer, tuberculosis, heart attack or pneumonia.

This next test sounds to me more like a weapon or air craft – the HLA B27. It’s a gene marker affiliated with quite a few related rheumatic conditions. They have a few things in common such as peripheral arthritis (affects the large joints of the body) and spinal arthritis, skin and gastro-intestinal disorder, certain glaucoma, and psoriasis like skin lesions. This isn’t a usual test that A Doctor would perform because a lot of patients with this gene never develop any rheumatic symptoms.

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) is a blood sample specimen from the patient, put onto microscope slides that have been commercially prepared with cells, to look for antinuclear antibodies. If the patient’s serum does contain the ANA, they will bind to the cells on the slide (particularly the nuclei of the cells).

A second commercially fluorescent tagged antibody is then added to the serum and prepared cells on the slide. The fluorescent antibody attaches to the serum antibodies and cells which have bound together, and when it’s viewed under an ultraviolet microscope, the ANA appear as fluorescent cells.

ANA’s are discovered in people who various autoimmune diseases, but can be also found in patients with infections, lung disease, cancer, GI diseases, hormonal disease, blood diseases, and skin diseases. Having ANA tests performed is only one factor in diagnosing RA, other factors need to be considered such as symptoms, medical history and other medical tests.

Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody (Anti-CCP) test is a fairly new test being preformed to help doctors diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis. It measures the citrulline antibody, and if it is a moderate to high level it not only confirms the diagnosis but also may show that the patient is at an increased risk for damage to joints.

One last test that I found was on Synovial Fluid, the thick fluid found in cartilage which reduces friction between joints and adds lubrication and cushioning during movement. Analyzing the synovial fluid helps detect markers of joint destruction, but this is not a test that is usually performed because it’s not the most comfortable test. A sterile needle is inserted into the joint space, and fluid is then aspirated into a syringe. The specimen is then analyzed in a laboratory and examined for red and white blood cells, crystals (in case of gout), and bacteria.

X-rays, ultra-sound and MRI’s are commonly performed in order to determine the possibility and extent of joint damage, in order to give doctors a better understanding of the intensity of the condition.

Initially these are the some of the first tests that are preformed especially during the diagnosis process.

While waiting for the results of my Rh factor test, I went through a roller coaster of thoughts and images in my mind. Sometimes I was optimistic, sometimes pessimistic and sometimes in complete denial. How did you feel while waiting for your results?

Major Rheumatoid Arthritis Myths

Aud — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:16:13 +0000

I’ve come across some funny comments that people make when they learn I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, some comments are just simple while others I find more frustrating. So here are some myths to illuminate the facts.

Myth #1- Rheumatoid Arthritis can be cured.
Oh, how I wish this was true. Right now there is no known cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. However there are a lot of successful treatments and procedures to slow it down and put the disease into remission, and increase the quality of life of a sufferer.

Myth #2- Rheumatoid Arthritis is an old person’s disease.
Some days I do feel like I’m 90 years old, but I’m only 33. RA can strike at any age. Children, young adults and middle aged people can be affected, and this condition doesn’t care whether you’re male or female.

Myth #3- “You felt fine yesterday, why are you feeling so terrible today?”
This is one of the frustrating myths. Although sometimes I do get a bit of a warning when a flare is going to hit, but that doesn’t happen all the time. Some mornings I wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck!! I may feel tired and achey, or in a lot of pain. No real explanation other than RA involves periods of flare ups and remission, and you roll with the punches.

Myth #4- Rheumatoid Arthritis is caused by the wet cold.
While I am personally affected by the weather, not all other sufferers experience the same thing and the cold and wet not the cause of the onset of the disease. Pain is caused from inflammation and the deterioration of cartilage in the joint. For me, warm baths, and other heat sources are very soothing for sore joints, and I feel pretty good when the climate is warm and dry.

Myth #5- Rheumatoid Arthritis only consists of minor aches and pains.
Yeah, another frustrating myth. I hate those commercials that say “Pop a couple aspirin or Advil and all your arthritis pain will be gone!” I’d love to scatter their chickens! All arthritis sufferers know that this is a crock of….(you fill in the blank)! RA hurts and it hurts a lot, and it’s more than aspirin, extra strength Tylenol or Aleve can handle. A regimen of diet, exercise, supplements and other medications is usually the best way to overcome RA pain.

Myth #6- Rheumatoid Arthritis is caused by poor diet.
Sure, I believe that diet greatly affects a Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer’s life, but it’s not the cause of the disease. I feel that the digestive system plays a major roll in the immune systems function and since RA is an autoimmune disease, I like to keep an eye on what I’m putting into my body, and I keep track on how I feel after I eat something, especially if I’ve never had it before or haven’t had it in a long time.

Myth #7- “If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis you can’t do…..”
Wow, not something to say to a stubborn person! There are some things I’m not able to do, and some things I probably shouldn’t do, but most are because I’m a woman, not that strong, and I’m an incredible klutz. A certain amount of help is likely to be required when fatigue and pain are at their worst, but some try to do too much for a sufferer and it can limit them. Certainly RA interferes with some physical activity but it doesn’t mean that someone becomes an invalid because of their diagnosis. Emotional and physical stimulation is an important part of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment.
Have you come across some odd or absurd comments about Rheumatoid Arthritis? Share them! I’d love to hear them!

9 Things I Asked my Rheumatologist

Aud — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:20:14 +0000

You’ve been referred to a Rheumatoid Arthritis specialist (Rheumatologist) and you’re anticipating your first visit. I’m sure you’re feeling anxious, nervous, intimidated and perhaps scared out of your wits, gathering your thoughts together and writing down questions to ask can make the most of your first visit.

For me, I had no idea what to expect, but I had a lot of questions that I needed answers to.
Here are my top 9 questions that I asked my Rheumatologist on my first visit.

1. Do I have arthritis? I know some blood work had been done, and my family practitioner suspected it, but I hadn’t had a definite answer.

2. What type of arthritis? I wanted to make sure that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the Rh factor confirmed it.

3. What the first bit of treatment? My family Dr had given me cortisone shots but I wanted to know the next step, which was Plaquenil.

4. What does this new treatment do? Alright, so I’m on Plaquenil- what the heck does it do? Is it a pain killer? NSAID? Anti-inflammatory?

5. How long until I notice improvement? I needed a time line, something to set my sights on, and I was told it would be about 6 weeks before I really noticed a difference.

6. What if it doesn’t work? If Plaquenil didn’t put the disease into remission, then methotrexate would be prescribed.

7. How will my progress be monitored? I was told to keep careful watch and record anything new, and to bring all this information back with me on my next visit. Participation on both sides of the table is very important and can make treatment more successful.

8. What other tests will I need? I had already had some blood work to determine the Rheumatoid factor, but a test for Marfan Syndrome was also ordered, x-rays and a biopsy procedure were also booked.

9. What else can I do to help myself? I couldn’t just leave it up to the rheumatologist to fix my problem, I wanted to be a part of it too. I was advised to keep physically active as much as possible, to watch what I was eating, keep my stress level low and to rest as often as I could.

So, don’t be afraid to get involved and ask questions. Doctors aren’t mind readers, they need to be asked sometimes in order to share information.

What other questions would you ask your doctor?

Getting a Grip on Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Even When My Hands Are Sore

Aud — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:34:17 +0000

The deep aches and sharp stings of Rheumatoid Arthritis pain are things I’ve learned to live with over the past few years. The first few months after diagnosis were terrible, I was incapacitated with pain. My feet and knees were so terrible I needed a cane to walk and my hands were useless to open jars, and buttons were impossible. I was quite an unhappy camper.

As I’ve said over and over, I dove into researching RA. Food became an interesting topic as I discovered that many others had noticed that certain foods caused more pain and discomfort than others. I thought I would give it a try; I had nothing else to lose.

Red peppers, red wine and shell fish were quickly noted as pain triggers and were begrudgingly eliminated from my diet, but still there was pain. How could I keep up with my young family? I had to find something better. I found weather played a big role and heating pads and hot baths became more frequent and favorite friends.

I noticed that stress would set pain switch on and if I wasn’t active for more than an hour, stiffness set in, so walking was put on the schedule, which also helped with relaxing stress away.

One particular thing weighed heavy on my mind and that was the dependency of pain meds. In the past, with other health situations I had gone through weeks and weeks of extreme pain and had been given copious amounts of narcotics, morphine, Vicodin and Demerol. But at the most I was 3 weeks relying on them because the pain was temporary and an end was in sight. This was different, I would be living with RA for the rest of my life, how could I get through without abusing drugs? Who in their right mind wants to live 24/7 with no pain relief? And narcotics certainly help deal with that, and wow, they make me feel great! It was a big decision to dig my heels in and be determined that I would do all I could to better this situation before relying on mind and body numbing drugs. So far, I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping pain away, and in dire situations I take a couple of Tylenol 3’s.

When living day in and day out with chronic pain, a person learns how to cope. I began to keep an eye on the weather in order to prepare myself for pressure changes, I always make sure pain meds were handy, heat sources close by and diligently keep my immune system as healthy as possible. But even all this doesn’t entirely remove it.

I barely notice it now, unless it’s a bad flare, or really take the time to think about it. I supposed I’ve gotten used to it so much that it doesn’t register the same as it did even 2 years ago. I deal quite well with the daily stiffness and aches, but the sudden flares still send me for a loop, probably because they are so infrequent now. The sharp pains that feel like bee stings in my fingers, elbows, knees and feet are horrible, and because I’m on blood thinners, the inflammation usually causes quite a bit of ugly bruises which makes me look like I’ve been beaten with a ball-peen hammer.

Yes, Rheumatoid Arthritis pain definitely gets on my nerves to say the least, but the more I live with it, the more I learn to fight it; and the stronger I get, RA’s grip on me gets weaker. Until a cure is found, I’m quite prepared to fight tooth and nail. Bring it on!

Meeting the Rheumatologists and Getting a Little More Familiar with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:24:02 +0000

In my last post I left off venting about my ‘ugly man shoes’ and the anticipation of meeting my Rheumatologist during the first few weeks of being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was early September of 2005 when I made the 45 minute drive from Gaylord to Petosky to meet Dr. Huebner at the Burns Clinic, and I sat in the waiting room not quite sure what to do. I heard my name called and followed the nurse into an examination room where she took my vitals and made a few notes.

Dr. Huebner came in shortly afterwards and did a double take. He looked at me, looked back at my chart in his hand, flipped a few pages and then looked back at me and asked, “Are you Audrey Katzenback?” I nodded and said, “Today I am.”

He looked back at the chart, “You’re only 30!”

“Yes, I remember my Birthday Party.”

“I thought you were much older. You’ve had 3 strokes and a hysterectomy. I don’t think I’ve ever come across anyone your age with this kind of history.”

“What can I say; I’m an Internalist’s Dream!”

After a review of blood work that confirmed the Rh factor in my blood and a check of my swollen, painful joints, he made a few comments about the hyper-mobility of my joints and the fact that my skin was quite loose. He asked if I had had any troubles with my heart and I told him I recalled having a heart murmur confirmed by ultra sound when I was 13.

“Well, you have RA, that’s for sure; but I also think you have Marfan’s Syndrome.”

Marfan’s Syndrome? It sounds like something a UFO would suffer from.

“Well, why not?” I thought, “Nothing surprises me now!!”

At that point I could’ve been told that I had male-pattern baldness, would be growing 3 more toes and my nose would fall off and I would not have been shocked.

More information was given to me about RA and now Marfan’s Syndrome, plus blood work ordered to confirm the newest condition, and another appointment was made to perform a biopsy on the bruised lumps on my knees. I left Dr. Huebner’s office more confused than before I entered it, not what I had hoped.

Back to the research, and things began to make a bit more sense when I was able to find facts for myself. There was so much information and help out there, it took quite a bit of the over-whelming sense away.

I had been prescribed Plaquenil when I first visited my regular Doctor a few weeks prior and that seemed to be kicking in and helping. Pain medications, mainly Tylenol 3, made it possible to exercise my joints, giving me more freedom, inflammation was going down, and the ‘ugly man shoes’ got tossed into the back of the closet! Things were looking up, but with any disease, things don’t always stay fine and dandy!

What’s Going On? The First Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:17:19 +0000

I thought I would take the next several posts to talk about what the first year of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis is like. I’ll talk about what I went through; noticing a few symptoms, realizing the need to see a doctor, handling the diagnosis, experiencing treatments, all the ins and outs of the introduction of RA into a sufferer’s life.

I think the first time I ever realized that there was something not quite right was driving with my mum down Main St. in Gaylord, Michigan. I stopped at a red light and started rubbing my hands because, they ached a lot and it was getting difficult to hold the steering wheel comfortably. My mum asked what was wrong and I said that my hands had been hurting for a few days, but I didn’t really think anything serious about it. A few days later, I noticed that my feet and knees were tender and a bit swollen, and still my hands were aching so I made an appointment with my doctor, and went without any expectation of what she would say.

I told her about my stiff, sore hands and my swollen tender knees and feet. She asked about my energy level, which I said seemed a bit low, but I had assumed it was due to the fact that 8 months before I had major surgery and knew how long it took to completely recover, then she looked at my hands and feet, and said, “I’m pretty sure you have Rheumatoid Arthritis.”

Like I said before, I had no expectations as to what I would hear from my doctor, but Rheumatoid Arthritis was completely out of the blue. “Didn’t old people get this?” I remember my grandmother’s hands and fingers all bent and twisted, and looked at my own. That’s what’s going to happen to me? “This isn’t right, I’m too young!”

She sent me on my way with some information, blood work orders, and a referral to a rheumatologist in Petosky. I drove home, sat at my piano and cried. I’ve played the piano all my life, before I could even write my name, and now I have some stupid disease that is going to rob me of it! My despair turned into anger and I got on the internet and began to stare this condition in the face.

At first, the information I found was a bit discouraging- there’s no known cure, it causes a lot of pain, it can affect other organs, and can shorten one’s life. Wow! I felt great!! (A little bit of sarcasm there) I kept looking and found that there were people who have been living happy, satisfying lives even with RA, and a spark of hope started. I’m a stubborn person and can sometimes be a bit cheeky, so I made the decision right then and there that I was not going to let Rheumatoid Arthritis take a full life away from me, and pretty much told it to bring its A-game because I’m planning on ‘jersying RA and scattering it’s chickens’! (A Canadian term meaning to pull one’s opponent’s hockey jersey over their head and continue to pummel them.)

The next few weeks were a bit challenging with handling pain, trying to find shoes that didn’t hurt my tender feet (the only ones that worked were men’s sandals, they were ugly and I was NOT happy about that!!), and waiting to hear the results from my blood work. I wrote down questions to ask my new doctor, and continued to research and fortify my determination to defeat this adversary.

How did you handle your first few days or weeks after hearing the diagnosis of arthritis? What was racing through your mind? Was it a shock or did you have a suspicion? I’d love to hear your story…

The Glamorous Side of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:24:00 +0000

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis can make a person feel very lonely, and definitely not very glamorous. A recent little search online into celebrities suffering with RA made me feel a little less isolated and maybe not so awkward feeling. Stiff fingers and sore, aching knees don’t seem quite so painful when you can watch others live with it as well. Those with more spotlight shining on them are able to give voice to not only themselves but those who can identify with them.

I watched “the Soprano’s” every week, and not until today did I realize that Aida Turturro, who played Tony’s sister Janice, has also been diagnosed with RA since a young girl. Now in her 40’s, she has become the spokesperson for “Joint Effort Against Arthritis,” an American arthritis awareness campaign sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. It’s also sponsored by Centocor, a US company that makes a well-known arthritis drug, Remicade.

I always thought James Coburn was a cool guy: tough, strong and silent with a rough cynical sense of humor. I like the late actor even more now because I’m able to identify with him and the discouragement of living with constant pain and the medical community not being able to supply any relief. Like him, I went off conventional medications like Plaquenil and Methotrexate and tried something a little unorthodox. He found deep tissue massage, electromagnetic treatments, and MSM to do the trick, I’ve found daily exercise, watching my diet, and Lyprinol (green mollusk extract) to help way more than what the doctors were prescribing me. *Just a reminder: I’m not suggesting anyone should toss their physician’s advice!!

Way back in 1928, Lucille Ball was diagnosed at the age of 17. She was a young model at the time and was told that she would be wheel chair bound for the rest of her life, but after 2 years of barely being able to walk, with metal braces on her legs, and other medical treatments, she overcame this road block and became the television sweetheart known the world over.

Being able to witness victories won over Rheumatoid Arthritis gives a sufferer a little more strength and encouragement to keep going. I can relate and gain from their experiences; feeling a little more inspired when the going gets tough and maybe even feeling a touch more glamorous!

Heart of the Matter : Heart Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:42:33 +0000

I have 2 strikes going against me when it comes to the health of my heart.

Strike one- Marfans Syndrome, a condition that causes my connective tissue to be defective and not act the way it should. It affects my skin, bones, eyes and my heart. At present, I only have a heart murmur, but more severe cases include aortic dilation, leakage, tearing or rupture.

Strike Two- I have Rheumatoid Arthritis which can cause inflammation of the membranes surrounding the heart. Thank goodness this isn’t baseball or I’d be out next strike!! I don’t like baseball and haven’t watched it since the Jay’s won the pennant in ’92. I’m a hockey fan!

OK, back on track… heart disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. A study done by Mayo Clinic researchers uncovered some results that would suggest Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers have a higher risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths. They studied 1206 people over a period of 26 years. 603 people had RA the other half did not. The entire grouped was matched in age, gender and location. Conclusions were made that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis are 3 times more likely to have been hospitalized for an acute heart attack, less likely to have a history of chest pains and 5 times more likely to have an unrecognized heart attack because of pain medications masking pain, and twice as likely to die from sudden cardiac death.

Fortunately for me, I’m on a pretty hefty dose of blood thinners because of a blood clotting disorder so I don’t have to worry about that kind of blockage. I’m not overweight at all, and that eliminates some stress on my heart. I do however need to be vigilant about how Marfans affects my aorta and that Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause membrane inflammation. Keeping my doctors informed, educating myself on what to watch for, new possible treatments, and keeping myself fit will all be beneficial to the wellbeing of my ticker.

Is your RA affecting your heart? Got some experience you’d like to share? By all means, send me a comment!

Being a Woman with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:06:36 +0000

Obviously, I’m a woman (gosh, I hope that’s obvious!), I’m also a woman with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Is there a slight connection of my developing this condition to my gender? Do women respond to the disease and treatment differently from men? These have been two questions that I thought would be interesting to get some answers to.

So what is this relationship between being a woman and having Rheumatoid Arthritis? RA can strike at any age, but most commonly a sufferer will first be afflicted in between the ages of 30 to 60, and it’s 2-3 times more common in women than in men. Several studies suggest that women experience more pain with Rheumatoid Arthritis than men. Now some may say that men can handle pain better… talk to me after you’ve had a baby!

At Karolinska Institute in Sweden researchers have been doing a few studies on some gender-specific tests on RA and some interesting results are being discovered. For instance, life quality is eventually more impaired for female sufferers than it is for male sufferers, the underlying reason may be that the medications are tolerated differently between men and women.

A study at the Institute on a specific therapy revealed that men responded significantly better to the therapy than women who had the same treatment, joint swelling and the sufferers own experience of the disease was also taken into consideration. The therapy just seemed to have a better affect on the men than on the women, the women felt sicker than the men. Hmmm, interesting.

This was something I found very relevant- women often develop Rheumatoid Arthritis when sex hormones are changing, perhaps after pregnancy or menopause. It’s not clear why this is but researchers have made a connection between hormonal factors and a woman’s chance of developing RA. This seems to be where I find my link.

Just before my second daughter was born I was put on blood thinners because of a brain clot (I’m going to need to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life) and because of the thinness of my blood, every month I was in incredible pain and losing so much blood I was becoming anaemic. Eventually I received a hysterectomy in 2004 which made life SO much better, but 10 months later I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis- coincidence?

Being a man may have made things a bit easier but I just wouldn’t look as good in my favorite bikini! I’m still VERY happy being a woman, even a woman with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Differences and Similarities between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis continued….

Aud — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:37:43 +0000

Diving back into the topic of the autoimmune disease, Lupus, I’m going to talk about the diagnosis and treatment processes that are involved. Right now, there isn’t a single test that is used to diagnosed Lupus, it’s based on a combination of results of symptoms, blood work, and the patients medical history used to discover the abnormalities in the organ systems. Urinalysis and x-rays may also be ordered to make further confirmation. Specific tests that are relevant to the diagnosis of Lupus are sedimentation rate and CRP that are used to identify inflammation, an Antinuclear antibody test, and a Complement test to detect the presence of a specific antibody or antigen.

The severity of the symptoms of Lupus will determine the type of treatment. For inflammation control, NSAID’s (NonSteroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs) are commonly prescribed for a patient. Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD’s), such as Plaquenil, is also a frequently prescribed medication to treat Lupus, along with immunosuppressants such as CellCept, cyclosprine and Imuran. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone are another option of treatment for Lupus.

As with other autoimmune diseases, there is no known cure as yet, but further tests of new treatments and discoveries are being performed and proven successful more and more each year.

So, as my title “Differences and Similarities between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis” says, let’s take a quick over view of the differences and similarities. Similarities: both are autoimmune diseases with no known cure, both cause joint pain and inflammation, fatigue, inflammation affecting other organs. Treatments are similar as well with NSAID’s, DMARD’s and prednisone. Differences are mostly in the symptoms with Lupus revealing a possible tell-tale of a ‘butterfly-rash’ or malar rash on the cheeks and bridge of nose, a discoid rash- sores on the face, neck and chest, mouth sores or ulcers and a sensitivity reaction to sunlight (photosensitivity).

Before I end, something’s that I also didn’t realize before was that there 5 possible types of Lupus:

-the most common is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus involving multiple organs and the most serious

-Discoid Lupus Erythematosus involves only the skin, not other organs

-A drug induced Lupus is a reaction to specific prescription medications. The symptoms mimic SLE but it doesn’t influence the central nervous system or kidneys.

-Neonatal Lupus is an unusual disease which affects newborn babies.

-Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus seems more of a photosensitivity form of Lupus causing skin lesions to appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun.

One more thing, when I’ve had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Duncan, I’ve always made a point of reminding her of how much I appreciated her as a teacher and now I’ll have to tell her how much I understand the road she’s traveled, as we both live and SUCCEED with our autoimmune diseases.

Thank you Mrs. Duncan!

Differences and Similarities Between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:34:49 +0000

When I was in second and third grade I had a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Duncan, she was a favorite and for a student who thought school was the bane of her existence, that is saying a whole lot! Just before Christmas of third grade, Mrs. Duncan became very ill and spent months away from school. We suddenly grew to appreciate her so much more when we met our naive, bland substitute teacher, who didn’t let us listen to music, read to us, or take us skating. School was once again torture and I spent most of the time day dreaming out the window. A few weeks after Christmas break, the principal came in and told us that Mrs. Duncan had Lupus and would return as soon as she was well enough. Not understanding as an 8 year old, that word, Lupus, has always stuck in my mind and even to this day when I come across it I think of my fabulous teacher, Mrs. Duncan.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and began informing myself, that I became more familiar with what Lupus actually is. Short for systemic lupus erythematosus, Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which like RA, that can involve joints and organs. Like all autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system begins to attack its own cells and connective tissue. The actual reason a person contracts Lupus is still not completely understood but it is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms between RA and Lupus, they are that similar. So let’s have a closer look at what Lupus symptoms commonly are.

The symptoms of Lupus vary but usually include a ‘butterfly-shaped’ rash that appears on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose, pain and inflammation in joints, fatigue, hair loss, inflammation of the kidney (nephritis), discoid rash which is are scaly sores appearing on the chest, face and neck, sensitivity to light, mouth sores, fever, swollen glands and possible weight loss.

1.5 million Americans are estimated to have Lupus; women are 10 times more likely to be affected than men, and for some reason African or Asian ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk of developing this disease than any other ethnic background. Though Lupus can occur at any age, even in newborns, disease most commonly occurs between the ages of 18 and 45 years old.

In my next post I’ll be talking about the diagnosis and treatment process of Lupus is. Please feel free to share!

I Searched For Some History of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aud — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:01:39 +0000

I thought I would do a little research into the history of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I really enjoy history and since I have RA, why not combine the two! It goes back pretty far; farther than I thought it would. Some skeletal remains in what is now Tennessee that are dated back to 4500 BC have shown some signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis. So far, that’s been the earliest appearance of this condition.

The first documented appearance of Rheumatoid Arthritis comes much later in 123 AD in India. A text called the Caraka Samhita contains a description of what sounds like RA, painful joints in both hands and feet, eventually spreading to other areas of the body, there was also record of occasional fever and appetite loss.

Then we jump ahead to 1591 in France. A French physician, Guillaume de Baillou, wrote one of the first books on the arthritis disease. He uses the term “rheumatism” to give description to an ailment with inflammation, stiffness in muscles, and pain in the joints. “The whole body hurts, in some the face is flushed; pain is most severe around the joints, so that the slightest movement of the foot, hand or fingers causes a cry of pain…At night…the pain becomes more serious and the patient cannot sleep.”

A Peruvian bark containing quinine, an anti- malarial agent was being used in 1680 to treat the symptoms of rheumatism. Then in 1763, another bark was discovered to produce positive results in fighting the effects of rheumatism; willow bark contains salicylate, the main ingredient for aspirin. Are you still with me? Sorry, if you haven’t found this exciting- I love it!

The term Rheumatoid Arthritis wasn’t coined until a London physician, Sir Alfred Garrod, came up with it in 1859 and that was the start of RA being recorded in medical books and records. Before the 19^th century came to an end, joint replacement surgery had begun with a carbon steel screw and plates system developed by W.A. Lane, in 1893. The x-ray is developed in 1895 which allowed physicians to see actual damage and inflammation of an arthritis sufferer. Two years later, in 1897, aspirin is manufactured by the company Bayer, using the willow bark substance, discovered over a century before. It fast became known world wide as a standard treatment for pain and rheumatoid arthritis.

Turning the corner into the new twentieth century, gold shots became a form of therapy for this chronic condition. In 1927, gold salts began to be injected into patients periodically to relieve muscle pain, associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Two years later, in 1929, the first artificial hip joint was patented and in 1939, down in Melbourne Australia, Sir McFarlane Burnet introduced the first autoimmunity theory. This is the theory that antibodies cause the body’s immune system to malfunction and attack its own tissues. Almost 70 years later, this theory still holds true!

In the 1940’s Rheumatoid Arthritis gained more recognition with the 1941 American Rheumatism Association, and in 1946, the American Committee to Control Rheumatism is founded and two short years later the Arthritis Foundation begins. More important discoveries are uncovered in 1948; Drs. E.C. Kendall and Philip Hench show the world that steroid hormones can be used as therapeutic anti-inflammatory- they win the Nobel Prize! Still keeping with 1948, a discovery just as important is made known; a test is developed called the Rose-Waaler diagnostic test, which reveals the antibody known as the rheumatoid factor is found only in the blood of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The next fifty years of the century saw many new treatments, procedures and surgeries discovered. Prednisone, a synthetic off shoot of cortisone is ushered in and begins the most popular oral cortisteroid medication, in 1955. Plaquenil is also introduced as the new anti-malarial drug used to put Rheumatoid Arthritis into remission (remember the Peruvian bark extract used in 1680? That’s the basis!)

There you have it; my little history research on Rheumatoid Arthritis. I would love it, if you could tell me more! Please do!

Getting Sick Totally Stinks

Aud — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:23:39 +0000

I really do not have a tremendous amount of content today either in my blog or my stomach. Yesterday morning I awoke with a sore throat and painful joints, the painful joints are usual, but the throat thing was new. At the office I was chilled and not my usual happy self, but I forced myself to perk up for lunch because I was meeting two of my closest girlfriends for lunch at my favorite restaurant. I was hungry and figured that maybe that was my problem. But after lunch I knew there was more to this story.

On the way home I had to stop at my mother’s to use her bathroom, all that nice sesame crusted chicken and raspberry creme brule- gone in a flush! But I felt a little better and made it home in time for the girls coming in from school. I was able to finish preparing supper (good thing I started it the day before) but I couldn’t stand to look at it! And smells…gag! I was steam cleaning the living room when my husband came home because I could “smell” something in that room and I had to get rid of it! No body else could smell it- but I knew it was there!

My husband took the steam cleaner from my hands and guided me off to bed. I took my usual meds, plus some anti-nauseate pills and nodded off to sleep fairly early.

This morning was worse than the morning before with a pounding head and joints a flaming. I was “Monster Mommy”, stumbling around and moaning like Frankenstein’s monster- I also noticed a similar green tinge to my skin as well! Putting lunches together, while trying not to barf, was my skilled talent for the day and I quickly bolted for the bathroom as soon as I could.

Three hours later, after crying “Why me?” to ‘Ralph’ on the gigantic porcelain phone I emerged and dragged myself to bed with a cold cloth and bowl to hug. After a few hours of sleep with nightmares of having my stomach given as an offering to the giant toilet god, I feel pretty good! Fever has broken and so far some water and cereal has been kept in place. My joints are very, very sore still and usually they stay painful for a few days until the virus is completely gone. But, hey!! I’m no longer staring down a toilet and that’s always a good thing.

I hope everyone else is germ free and enjoying their food!

Arthritis Food Triggers : Paying the Pain Price for Peppers

Aud — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:51:37 +0000

Wow, say that 5 times fast! Paying the pain price for peppers. On Saturday evening, our family went for dinner to our friends’ home and had a great time! Played board games, ‘rock band’, laughed and ate. I was having so much fun that I didn’t notice that the nachos had huge amounts of red peppers, an hour later my knuckles and elbows felt like each joint had been stung by bees, some of them even looked like it. Red bell peppers are one of the worst things I can eat regarding my Rheumatoid Arthritis, they trigger a flare up within minutes.

I know that I have talked about food triggers on past posts, but since it’s been a bother the past 48 hours I thought I’d chat about it again. I’m always amazed and sometimes bewildered by the human body and how one part will cause another part to react. What I’m talking about is the digestive system and inflammation of joints.

When I was first diagnosed with RA, a Nurse Practitioner advised me to stay away from night shade vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, egg plant, paprika and red peppers. When I asked why, I was just told that they’re known to cause inflammation, but I wasn’t given any further explanation. I did notice that red peppers, shell fish and red meat made me feel a lot worse but it wasn’t until this past February that I found out the reason why. I was really sick this past winter, and decided to go to a Naturopath to give it a shot. She got out this chart and went through this whole lesson on how our body reacts to certain foods, and it made sense!

The point was our digestive system is crucial to our body’s good health, if we’re ingesting something we may have an allergic reaction to, our body’s going to react. I had always thought that an allergic reaction was a rash, a drippy nose or swelling of the eyelids, throat or lips, but there’s also fatigue, nausea, inflammation of joints, muscle pain and headaches as well, maybe even more symptoms.

Having an immune disease that attacks the body’s connective tissue, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, is going to cause it’s symptoms to escalate when the body encounters something it’s allergic to. To find out my food triggers, I went on a cleansing diet. Ugh! I NEVER want to have to do that again. I had to cut out sugar, caffeine, deliciousness, salt, anything worth while eating, wheat, eggs, corn, fun, dairy, taste, starch and happiness. It was the longest 4 weeks of my life, but I did it and then I was able to slowly re-introduce things back in, one by one to test which ones gave me trouble. I was so nervous with the sugar and caffeine and cried tears of joy when I didn’t react to them! Hallelujah! But, there was a black day when it came to red meat, no more tasty, marbled, prefectly grilled rib-eyes for this gal! But I can drown my sorrows in chocolate. The additions to my ‘bye bye’ list are red wine, shell fish and pork. Oh, and liver! (well, I didn’t really test it out, but I hate it so I’m putting it on there!)

Now I’ve been feeling a lot better since I’ve been avoiding my ‘bye bye’ foods as much as possible, unless they’re cleverly disguised in delicious nachos!

Have there been foods causing you grief? I’m interested to hear what they are, how you’ve discovered them and how you deal with it.

Septic Arthritis. Now That Sounds Nasty

Aud — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:20:51 +0000

I came across the term septic arthritis when I was doing some research and it sparked my interest. A few years I had strep throat go septic, and boy, was I sick! I was fortunate to have it caught just in time before my kidneys were about to shut down . Since I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I thought this would be something worth looking into.

Septic arthritis which can also be called infectious arthritis, is the invasion of the joint with bacterial infection; in rare cases fungal or viral infection is the cause. The source of the bacteria is usually carried to the joint by the bloodstream from an infectious source elsewhere in the body. It may also be caused by a lesion or skin ulcer that penetrates the joint, bone or connective tissue.

People who have had joint replacement or joint surgery, have had recent trauma or injury to a joint or those who have a blood infection are most likely to develop septic arthritis. Additional risks are people over 80, diabetics, those with a weakened immune system, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Septic arthritis typically causes severe joint pain in one particular area, but some cases have reported more than one affected joint. This condition can destroy joints quickly in just a short period of time, so quick diagnosis and treatment is extremely important.

Diagnosis can be done by x ray, but may show specific range of infection; it is more commonly done through laboratory testing. Blood cultures are taken to evaluate white and red blood cell count, and to determine the microorganism causing the infection. Aspiration of the joint may also be done to acquire a synovial fluid analysis to not only identify microorganisms, but also to check for crystals in the joint fluid, that may indicate a different or co-existing cause for joint pain.

Treatment is usually done through intravenous antibiotics also fluid is usually aspired from the joint to relieve the pressure and in some cases surgery is needed to drain fluid and repair joint. Sometimes multiple drugs need to be taken over an extended period of time when dealing with stubborn bacteria called mycobacterium.

I’m glad I’ve done my research and have become more familiarized with this condition. It certainly sounds nasty, and it’s something I want to keep my eyes peeled for. Staying informed and aware is a great way to keep up a happy, healthy, long life.

Have a great weekend everyone and stay out of trouble!

Staying Young When Arthritis Causes Me to Feel Old

Aud — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:54:33 +0000

I’m sure I’ve said it before in a previous post that I’m feeling better in my 30’s than I did in my 20’s, but I’m wanting to make that point again. For about 10 years I was quite a bit miserable, in a out of hospital for so many reasons from stomach and back issues, to having strokes and surgeries. By the time I turned 30 my medical chart was over 2 inches thick and I felt old. There was a 30 year old face in the mirror, but I felt 90. The biggest reason was the Rheumatoid Arthritis that caused me to feel creaky and rusty like the tin man in Oz before the oil can relief!

So why am I feeling so “awesome” now? I’m learning to live with a different mind set, instead of putting others needs first, taking care of myself has become priority. Let me explain before I get called a selfish wench! How can I help properly when I’m barely able to get around myself? I might as well do nothing because I’m not going to do a lick of quality good for anyone. When I’m healthy and happy I’m in a better position to participate and people actually enjoy my presence because I’m not cranky!

The first step was to inform myself about arthritis and what arthritis causes. I then used my medical history along with professional health care advice to map out the supplements and medications I would be able to take to reduce pain and damage. The next process was getting physically active, starting out slow and doing things I truly enjoyed.

I found my hobbies to be a great source of therapy. They not only gave me physical activity but my mind was taken off the disease for the time being. Playing the guitar and piano, painting and other creative outlets provide amazing exercise for my hands. Gardening, walking and muscle building has improved my knees, back and feet.

I’m not saying that everyday is a bowl of sickly sweet sunshine, I do have the occasional heavy storm clouds rolling in, but they’re not as severe or frequent as they were, even a year ago. It’s a fantastic feeling to look back upon my day and see all I’ve accomplished despite the fact that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Everyone has interests or hobbies that keep them active - can you share your story?

Arthritis in the Workplace : Am I Crazy Going Back to Work?!

Aud — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:30:10 +0000

Tha last time I officially worked outside my house, was in 1997. For the fist time in over 10 years, I went to work at the office yesterday, by 9:30 last night I was thinking I was nuts! I’m the mother of 2 busy girls, coordinator & cook of a bustling household, living with rheumatoid arthritis and now going to work.

I’ve been working from home off and on for the past few years and have found it to be a little hard to get a lot accomplished while in my house. The phone was ringing, laundry was calling me from the hamper, the dog wanted a walk, all the finicky, time consuming things seemed to be getting in the way and I was frustrated. I made the decision in August that I would move into my husband’s downtown office once the girls were back in school.

The office is a pretty relaxed atmosphere, casual and maybe a little too much fun; some of our johncow.com commercials are a little out there! We’re having a good time.

I’m hoping that it will be a good decision, my husband’s office is separate and we’re not on each other’s nerves, and I’m able to have 5 hours where I can focus on work and not have the phone ringing, doors knocking, cat and dog clamoring for attention and housework making me feel guilty! Being the procrastinator that I am, I’ll deal with it later!

The blessing of it is that when arthritis comes creeping I’m able to take the time that I need to rest and recuperate. Not a lot of arthritis people in the workplace can do that, either they need to grin and deal with it, or they need to find another job.

At the moment my RA isn’t in the way of my job, but how is it with you? Is your arthritis getting in the way of your career? How have you adapted? I’m all ears!

What do you do for Smokin’ Joints : Chondroiton Therapy

Aud — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:48:22 +0000

A frustrating aspect of arthritis is the fact that what might work and relieve pain for one sufferer may not do the same for another. There is no one remedy for this condition, especially the auto immune disease Rheumatoid Arthritis. But many with osteo-arthritis have found chondroitin to be helpful.

Chrondroitin, along with glucosamine, plays a part in normal, healthy cartilage. Also known as chondroitin sulfate (chondroitin with mineral salt), chondroitin sulfuric acid or chonsurical; it can be made from natural sources such as shark cartilage, pig or cow cartilage or it can synthetically be made in a laboratory.

Taken together with glucosamine can help restore the cartilage in the damaged joint, therefore possibly relieving pain for the sufferer. With fewer side effects than ibuprofen, this may be a good avenue to take for many arthritis patients.

Like glucosamine, chondroitin comes in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder and sometimes may be already combined as one form instead of taking them separately.

In the research that I have done on chondroitin there have been 2 sides, some sing it’s praises and some say it’s no better than a placebo.

Since I need to be on high amounts of blood thinners, I’ve been strongly advised not to take chondroitin because of possible interactions, but I would love to hear from someone who has experience with this supplement.

I’m very interested if anyone who has rheumatoid or osteo arthritis and has taken chondroitin and/or glucosamine and what they thought of it. Drop me a line!

What do you do for Smokin’ Joints : Glucosamine Therapy

Aud — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:32:23 +0000

When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, the main item on the table is the joints the disease affects. This auto immune disease attacks the body’s own tissues primarily in the lining of the joints and causes a lot of painful damage. Repairing the joint and maintaining healthy movement can be done through taking supplements of glucosamine.

Glucosamine, also called chitosamine, is a natural substance that is found in the covering of shellfish. It is simply a molecule containing glucose and can be in two forms, glucosamine sulphate (mineral salt) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG). The body uses these glucose molecules to form larger molecules that aide in connective tissue and cartilage maintenance and repair.

The primary use for glucosamine is for arthritis; both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. To treat the affected joints, reducing pain and inflammation and improving mobility. The secondary use is for preventative measures against arthritis or age related joint conditions. It is also helpful in quickening the recovery of a sprained or strained joint such as a finger, ankle or wrist.

Taking glucosamine for arthritis can be simply done by taking 1500mg daily and splitting it into three doses. Take it with food or it may upset your stomach and be prepared to take it for a long period of time. It may take 3 to 8 weeks before it starts to show signs of working. Generally, this supplement is safe to take with other supplements but always consult a qualified heath-care practitioner.

There have been no reported side effects aside from nausea if taken on empty stomach; but if you react negatively to shellfish you may not be able to take glucosamine because it is harvested from shellfish. This supplement comes in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder form and can be found at most pharmacies. Once again, before starting any new treatment for arthritis, be sure to consult your health care provider.

Next post I’ll chat about chondroitin, but for now I want to know what opinion is on glucosamine. Do you take it? Has it worked for you?