It's good to know you are home Donna, but I sure hope the syncope thing
will go away.  That must be so frightening for you.  I'm alone too and I
can appreciate what you are going through.  I will sure keep up the
prayers for a while longer until you are feeling back to normal.

Ann

{{{{{{{{{{Donna}}}}}}}}}}}

DeeTee

Hi Gang!

Just a quick note to thank you all so very much for the prayers and well
wishes you have been sending my way.

Got home from the hosptial late last week, but had quite a tough time
over the weekend and almost landed back in.

Was in 7 days as it was and 3 of those days spent in ICU.

This flare was a particularly rough one and is taking a while to regain
control of it all.

This flare also triggered my neuro-cardiogenic syncope stuff big time
and I have passed out 3 times since I have come home. Not fun,
especially when you live alone. One of the times I passed out, I was
carrying a 32 oz cup of coke that I had just filled. Needless to say,
when I passed out, coke went everywhere! What a mess!!! Cleaned up
the best I could after I came to, but also sat in the middle of the mess
and had a good cry! I think I got the majority of it cleaned up
pretty well, but will have a carpet cleaner come in and do my carpet and
sofa just to be sure.

Am still battling with the low blood pressures and trying to stay
upright. Also still battling with the lung flare. This nasty weather
and all the storms we have been having, as well as the humidity, is not
helping my cause any though!!! I'm sure many of you can relate!

Being in ICU was really difficult for me mentally, as it brought back
all the memories of my brothers death 5 months ago. I really had a
rough time dealing with all of that while in ICU. Thankfully the
nurses there were so understanding and compassionte with me!

One of the nurses in the ICU came in and talked to me about my RA and
the meds I am on. Her daughter was just diagnosed with RA and a
possible lupus overlay. Her daughter is only in her early 20's.
I gave her the name of my RD as well as the addys for ASA, rheumorweb,
AI, Drdocs site, etc. and told her her daughter would find much
information as well as many open arms to welcome her into the groups.
So, got my plugs in even in the ICU.....lol, too funny!

Saw my lung doctor yesterday. He isn't real happy with my progress
thus far, so we tweaked a few of my meds and he will see me again in 3
weeks. He's keeping a pretty close tabs on things and that is fine
with me for now. Hopefully the tweaks in meds will help get things
better under control.

He told me I scare the hell out of all the doctors because when I come
in I am so bad but so calm about things and they don't really know how
to read me. LOL, I told him that on the inside I am not really all
that calm, but I try to remain calm on the outside because I need the
doctors to be calm and focussed. When the doctors are flipping out,
they aren't helping me as well as they can be. I also don't do well
when they are in my face threatening to put me on the vent. I'm sure I
am far from being their sickest, most complicated, or toughest patient
to deal with, so why I scare the hell out of them so much is beyond me!
Oh well, guess you can't win no matter what!!! LOL!!!

One of my blessings on this particular hospital stay was to find out
that my own lung doctor was the one who was attending and rounding in
the ICU that month. What a relief that was! He was in to see me
and check on me 5 different times the first day I was there----what a
huge blessing that was.

In any case, I am home, doing some better and very appreciative and
touched by all of your prayers and well wishes!!!

You all are an amazing family to come home to!!!

BTW, with all the IV steroids, my RA is feeling pretty good for a
change....rofl!!!

Many hugs, blessings, and wishes for pain free days to you all!!!
.
.

Donna G.
.
.
.
ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call
them FRIENDS......

Donna, how nice to see that you are able to post, but I think you really
should take it very easy for a while.  Glad the RA is behaving better since
you have so much else going on.  Welcome home!
Gwen

Hi Gang!

Just a quick note to thank you all so very much for the prayers and well
wishes you have been sending my way.

Got home from the hosptial late last week, but had quite a tough time
over the weekend and almost landed back in.

Was in 7 days as it was and 3 of those days spent in ICU.

This flare was a particularly rough one and is taking a while to regain
control of it all.

This flare also triggered my neuro-cardiogenic syncope stuff big time
and I have passed out 3 times since I have come home. Not fun,
especially when you live alone. One of the times I passed out, I was
carrying a 32 oz cup of coke that I had just filled. Needless to say,
when I passed out, coke went everywhere! What a mess!!! Cleaned up
the best I could after I came to, but also sat in the middle of the mess
and had a good cry! I think I got the majority of it cleaned up
pretty well, but will have a carpet cleaner come in and do my carpet and
sofa just to be sure.

Am still battling with the low blood pressures and trying to stay
upright. Also still battling with the lung flare. This nasty weather
and all the storms we have been having, as well as the humidity, is not
helping my cause any though!!! I'm sure many of you can relate!

Being in ICU was really difficult for me mentally, as it brought back
all the memories of my brothers death 5 months ago. I really had a
rough time dealing with all of that while in ICU. Thankfully the
nurses there were so understanding and compassionte with me!

One of the nurses in the ICU came in and talked to me about my RA and
the meds I am on. Her daughter was just diagnosed with RA and a
possible lupus overlay. Her daughter is only in her early 20's.
I gave her the name of my RD as well as the addys for ASA, rheumorweb,
AI, Drdocs site, etc. and told her her daughter would find much
information as well as many open arms to welcome her into the groups.
So, got my plugs in even in the ICU.....lol, too funny!

Saw my lung doctor yesterday. He isn't real happy with my progress
thus far, so we tweaked a few of my meds and he will see me again in 3
weeks. He's keeping a pretty close tabs on things and that is fine
with me for now. Hopefully the tweaks in meds will help get things
better under control.

He told me I scare the hell out of all the doctors because when I come
in I am so bad but so calm about things and they don't really know how
to read me. LOL, I told him that on the inside I am not really all
that calm, but I try to remain calm on the outside because I need the
doctors to be calm and focussed. When the doctors are flipping out,
they aren't helping me as well as they can be. I also don't do well
when they are in my face threatening to put me on the vent. I'm sure I
am far from being their sickest, most complicated, or toughest patient
to deal with, so why I scare the hell out of them so much is beyond me!
Oh well, guess you can't win no matter what!!! LOL!!!

One of my blessings on this particular hospital stay was to find out
that my own lung doctor was the one who was attending and rounding in
the ICU that month. What a relief that was! He was in to see me
and check on me 5 different times the first day I was there----what a
huge blessing that was.

In any case, I am home, doing some better and very appreciative and
touched by all of your prayers and well wishes!!!

You all are an amazing family to come home to!!!

BTW, with all the IV steroids, my RA is feeling pretty good for a
change....rofl!!!

Many hugs, blessings, and wishes for pain free days to you all!!!
.
.

Donna G.
.
.
.
ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call
them FRIENDS......

welcome home, donna. i wish you were feeling better, tho. you're going
through so much.

thinking of you,

diane

(((((((((((((Donna)))))))))))))))  WAY too much going on with you!  I'm glad
you are such a tough fighter, we want to keep neat people like you around!  
Now rest up.

{{{{{{{Donna}}}}}}   Look who is back -- and I am talking about me!!
You stay out of that hospital girlfriend.
Duckie

Thank you for the update and to have you on the board again.   There are
some people in this world that find some good in the world around them and
it does not matter where in the world they are or what is taking place.   It
is good to read that your inflam.arth. is doing well and is not adding to
the stress of your day.  It is great that you have such a good relationship
with your doctor.   THAT does smooth out the road.
Be well, do well
Harv

You all are an amazing family to come home to!!!

BTW, with all the IV steroids, my RA is feeling pretty good for a
change....rofl!!!

Many hugs, blessings, and wishes for pain free days to you all!!!
.
.

Donna G.
.
.
.
ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call
them FRIENDS......

Donna,

You are still in Denise and my prayers and thoughts. I told her about you.
We talk on the phone all the time.
Hopefully she will be back to the group again soon.

I hope you heal quickly and no more problems.