It's Official

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

adstavis@gmail.com - 13 Jul 2007 03:06 GMT

Hi, Everyone;

Wrote this once and tried to send through Google. Don't know if I hit
the wrong icon or what, but it hasn't appeared either on Google or my
email, so I'm trying it again.

Well, it's official. Riverboat ride on de-Nile has docked. I
officially have RA. Annual MRI of hands shows early erosion in one
joint and synovitis in both hands. Will add Methotrexate to the
Plaquenil when I get back from taking care of my Mom (7-24 thru 8-5).
He's only prescribed a single megadose of Folic acid to be taken 12
hours after each Methotrexate. Have any of you tried that instead of
the daily dose? Did it work for you?

Other news here - Doug and Becca earned their black belts in Karate.
So proud of both. And Ian, at almost 10, got to assist in a class for
the first time this week. His next belt (about a year away or so) will
be brown. There are three levels of brown before you can test for
black.

Other news: our oven gave out - again. Learned fixing it would be
about 1/3 the price of a new freestanding gas range. So we bought a
Sears one on sale. Has a high btu burner, a simmer burner, 2 regular
sized burners, and oval burner in the center which can go from low btu
to high depending on how many of the three segments you light. It also
has convection for the oven. We are making oatmeal cookies right now.
Old oven had several cold spots from day one. Used it for 17 years,
even through its various malfunctions This one is working great.
Definitely overdue.

So next time there is a gimp gathering in MA - I'm cooking!!!!!!!

Sending love and prayers for all in need. Wishing my Mom had gotten
the aggressive care Dee Tee is getting. Wishing the Almighty would
give Donna G, Melinda, and SJ a break already. Lots of wishes for a
lot of you.

Oh, the comcast thing - I somehow have messed up my password. Will
figure it out when I have more patience.

Love to all - Adelle

Reply to this Message

hanbell@earthlink.net - 13 Jul 2007 03:41 GMT

Well, I'm sorry to hear the boat chose that dock! I guess the good
news is that you and your dock are jumping on to the next step. I
have heard of the single mega-dose of folic acid, though my RDs all
went with the daily dose instead. As far as I know, both work - it's
more a matter of preference.

Congratulations to Doug & Becca!

Enjoy that new oven - well, it sounds like you're already on the way
to doing so!

Nann, posting through google because she mistakenly deleted instead of
downloading!

Reply to this Message

Kelly - 13 Jul 2007 06:02 GMT

Hi Adelle,
Well good news and bad news I guess. The RA is bad news but the diagnosis
is good. I have heard of the folic acid once a week but my rd prescribes it
every day. I need the leucovarin though even at the small dose of mtx I am
on and it is once a week 12 hours after mtx. Works for me. Hopefully that
will give you some relief - you might talk to him about giving the mtx by
injection right away instead of pills if you have any stomache problems - I
found I have no side effects with the injectable but did with the pills.
The cost is about the same so long as you don't mind injections.

I would be proud of all 3 kids too! Well done. Sports they enjoy are so
important. Congratulation to all of them.

The stove is a good news/bad news. I love my convection oven and the one we
have ordered for the new house sounds very like yours. I have wanted a gas
range forever so am so pleased - ours is dual fuel - electric for the oven,
gas for the top. Unfortunately we have only the 4 burners but we did look
at the 5 burner ones. Bet those cookies taste good!

It is so tough about your mom. Yes early treatment does make a difference.
So glad she got that extra time with you. Have a good couple of weeks with
her - are the kids going too?

Take care of Adelle! These things all add up and unfortunately kick us
right in the backside. Hopefully you can take some time to take care of the
caretaker. This isn't really the time to have to be caretaker but somehow
there isn't a good time is there? I know there must be a grand plan
somewhere but........why does everything happen at once.

Thinking of you and your family. Thanks for sharing the good and bad -
although really there was so much good. Is a diagnosis good? I think so -
it takes care of the worry and the wonder of if you are losing it. In our
minds we do know something isn't right but a name helps.

Take care,
Kelly

> Hi, Everyone;
>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Love to all - Adelle

Reply to this Message

adstavis@gmail.com - 16 Jul 2007 22:51 GMT

> Hi Adelle,
> Well good news and bad news I guess. The RA is bad news but the diagnosis
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> found I have no side effects with the injectable but did with the pills.
> The cost is about the same so long as you don't mind injections.

I do have stomach issues, but want to give pills a try anyway.
Injections are a huge leap for me, psychologically.

> I would be proud of all 3 kids too! Well done. Sports they enjoy are so
> important. Congratulation to all of them.

Well, LOL - Doug is sort of my third child. He's also my husband. It's
great that he's doing this with the kids; and doing something he has
always wanted. And we both love that Becca will get in there and
really spar against him. They say if a girl can be competitive in a
sport when she is playing with/against her dad, she will have more
confidence when competing against men in general in school and
employment situations.

> The stove is a good news/bad news. I love my convection oven and the one we
> have ordered for the new house sounds very like yours. I have wanted a gas
> range forever so am so pleased - ours is dual fuel - electric for the oven,
> gas for the top. Unfortunately we have only the 4 burners but we did look
> at the 5 burner ones. Bet those cookies taste good!

Yes, thank you!

> It is so tough about your mom. Yes early treatment does make a difference.
> So glad she got that extra time with you. Have a good couple of weeks with
> her - are the kids going too?

No, kids are staying home. Couldn't care for her and keep two kids
busy for that long a time. And Becca isn't old enough to drive, yet.

She's in the hospital, having dehydration issues from vomiting from
the combining of chemo and radiation. The radiation is to shrink some
tumors interfering with being ambulatory. The chemo - well, I don't
know. Just don't know whether its worth the poor quality of life for
the time she has left. Now she's on abx, running a fever from an
unspecified infection. Not sure whether she has caught something from
being in the hospital, or whether she aspirated something while
vomiting and has pneumonia. We'll know in a day when things become
clearer.

> Take care of Adelle! These things all add up and unfortunately kick us
> right in the backside. Hopefully you can take some time to take care of the
> caretaker. This isn't really the time to have to be caretaker but somehow
> there isn't a good time is there? I know there must be a grand plan
> somewhere but........why does everything happen at once.

To keep us from wallowing. (No - I'm not a cynic, am I?)

> Thinking of you and your family. Thanks for sharing the good and bad -
> although really there was so much good. Is a diagnosis good? I think so -
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Take care,
> Kelly

Thank You!

You have so much happening in your life. Thank you for taking a little
of your time to help me. It really does help.

Adelle

Reply to this Message

Kelly - 16 Jul 2007 23:24 GMT

Injections were a huge leap for me at the beginning too so I understand.
Now I don't think about it at all. Some people have no problems at all with
the pills - with luck you will be one of them.

Duh - I knew Doug was your husband - where was my head when I wrote that!
They are like a 3rd child sometimes though! Mine has been bonding with the
guys up at the cabin for the weekend with 3 university friends, one of our
sons and his 2 university friends - just like kids! Clearing trees and
doing manly things!

I feel so for your mom. Aging is not suppose to come with issues like this.
Will be keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. she is so lucky to have
family to help her out. Hopefully all will work out - no matter what that
is. I agree with the cynic thing - sometimes I really wonder. And other
times I think all this is for a reason. Whatever the reason is though it
isn't always clear or kind.

have a nice break away from the kids and hubby even if it isn't for a "spa"
weekend. Sometimes a change is good.

Take care,
kelly

Reply to this Message

Squirrely - 17 Jul 2007 12:26 GMT

Adelle,

you and your family and mom are still are in my prayers and thoughts. I
sure hope she comes around quickly and that it is nothing too serious.

Signature

Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one

>
> She's in the hospital, having dehydration issues from vomiting from
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> vomiting and has pneumonia. We'll know in a day when things become
> clearer.

Reply to this Message

RoseB - 13 Jul 2007 06:12 GMT

Hi Adele,

I just wanted to say I am sorry about your RA diagnosis. Like Kelly, I
take leucovorin 12 hours following the mtx dose. I did not do as well
on daily folic aid even though I took 5 mgs per day, which is
significantly higher than what many people are prescribed. There may
be nothing in it but coincidence, but I have noticed that Canadians
tend to be prescribed the higher doses of folic acid.

I had neglected to take my mt for a bit. I don't know why exactly.
With this week's dose I noticed a return of the profound fatigue in
spite of the leucovorin. Maintaining a regular dosing schedule is
important.
Rose @}>->--
Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Reply to this Message

Squirrely - 13 Jul 2007 07:54 GMT

Sorry to hear about the RA but glad you got a diagnosis and now treatment
for it.

Good news about all other things. Take care.

Signature

Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one

> Wrote this once and tried to send through Google. Don't know if I hit
> the wrong icon or what, but it hasn't appeared either on Google or my
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>
> Love to all - Adelle

Reply to this Message

Donna G. - 15 Jul 2007 17:43 GMT

{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Adelle }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Well, so sorry to hear of the RA diagnosis, but at least with knowing
what monster you are fighting, hopefully you can gain better control and
get to feeling somewhat well again. Sometimes knowing what you are
dealing with is half the battle! Will be praying that the mtx does the
trick for you! And, I am with the others, try to do the injectable if
you can --- better absorption, less side effects usually, etc. My RD
even has some who can't do the shots, but squirt the injectable into
some orange juice and drink it.

Congrats to the kids for all of the hard work in getting their black
belts and to Ian for continuing to work for his!

Wow, that new stove sounds wonderful!!! Enjoy it to the max!

Yum.....oatmeal cookies! I'll be right over!!! That is one of my
most favorite homemade cookies!!!

Take good care of you, Adelle, and hope you get to doing better real
soon!!!

Hugs,

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

2. J.K.M.A.

Reply to this Message