Another whine - feel free to skip it if you want.  I am so tired - just
plain tired, tired of the neuro crap, tired of the paperwork, tired of the
RA flare and tired tired tired.  We are awaiting decision on whether the
provincial government will help pay for Rituxamab.  I did a joint count last
week and assessment.  They asked in the past week out of 5 where 0 is the
best you have been for pain and 5 the worst where are you.  I honestly said
5.  Function - said 4.  My actual function test was a joke it was so bad.  I
have a huge bakers cyst behind my neuro leg (yeah I needed that like a hole
in the head), shoes don't fit due to swelling and when I do get them on the
circulation goes on me after a short bit.  8 swollen joints was considered a
flare - I had 21 joints not ligaments, or soft tissue that were swollen to
the touch.  Out of tender joints all but 2 tested were tender.  That shows
the level of soft tissue swelling.  As always I do not have an elevated CRP
or sed rate - that is always the case.  I am so tired I can't function well
and my morning stiffness is almost day stiffness.

Anyhow nothing to do - I am on too high a dose of prednisone already and am
splinting, icing and resting.  I just needed to whine to someone who
understood. I am still doing things.  Too stubborn to cave in.  Not writing
alot on the group - the fingers are sore and starting to pull inwards a bit.
Lots of swannecking occuring so have been trying to wear the ring splints
all the time in the day but hard with the swelling.  The house is still on
the market but we have a couple who have been here 4 times (the woman said
so many times it feels just like home) and they want it but have to finalize
getting their place on the market first - their realtor's parent died just
before it was due to go on.  Meanwhile I have found a house that we think
suits our purpose better so that is good.

Off to bed - just needed to whine.  For any newbies - you do not want to
wait 10 months to go on a dmard.  Truly - you do not want inflammatory
arthritis without a dmard - the pain and fatique is just too much.  Running
out of suitable meds is one thing - why would anyone purposely put themself
in this spot.  Believe me when I say the pain is worse than the meds side
effects (and after the neurological damage that is saying a lot.  The good
thing is the pain from the RA is making the neuro pain a 5 out of 10 instead
of an 8 or 9 out of 10.  Isn't it amazing how things change - NOT~!)

Thanks for listening and being there everyone.  Glad you are back Rose but
sounds like your summer is nothing but work.  Did you get your shoes??

Kelly