minkydog
DIS Cast Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2004
As compared to everything else going on in my life, this is probably small potatoes. But here it is:
In the course of only one week I have found out that my psoriatic arthritis is out of control and suddenly my thyroid is under-active. I knew my energy was flagging and I felt sort of depressed, but I thought it was due to DHs illness and, of course, winter. I have extremely dry skin, my hair is thinning, my joints are stiff and achy, I'm very sensitive to cold now, and I've gained about 20-lbs since October, all of which I attributed to being a fat lazy slob and, of course, winter. The last time I had lab work done was in June and the thyroid has always been normal. Now my TSH is 9.6! Going for more testing soon.
Then I saw my rheumatologist. I needed another cortisone shot to my left knee--I need a knee replacement but I cannot do it this year; we're just trying to keep things patched up until I can take the time off. While I was waiting, I started doodling on a piece of paper, drawing pictures of all the places that I hurt. My doctor took a look at it and did his exam. He especially took notice of my hands, which are increasingly deformed by Psoriatic Arthritis. So we did a bunch of x-rays and Wow! What mess! My pelvis was lit up with inflammation, there are bone spurs on several vertebra, every finger has at least one deformity, two of my finger joints are so eroded they are almost dislocated, and of course, my knee is bone on bone. Yikes! No wonder I've been hurting so much. So all of a sudden, he wants me on Remicade infusions. I can't take ibuprofen and the like due to a previous anaphylactic reaction, so he has put me on Prednisone for the next 4 weeks, while wait to see if Cigna is going to pay for the Remicade. Good times.
Of course, the Prednisone makes me want to eat everything in sight and it keeps me awake at night. I can't take anything for pain but Tylenol, so I've been flipping over and over all night long. Last night I finally gave in and took one of DHs Flexaril (muscle relaxant). Best night sleep in a week.
I think it's going to be a long month.
In the course of only one week I have found out that my psoriatic arthritis is out of control and suddenly my thyroid is under-active. I knew my energy was flagging and I felt sort of depressed, but I thought it was due to DHs illness and, of course, winter. I have extremely dry skin, my hair is thinning, my joints are stiff and achy, I'm very sensitive to cold now, and I've gained about 20-lbs since October, all of which I attributed to being a fat lazy slob and, of course, winter. The last time I had lab work done was in June and the thyroid has always been normal. Now my TSH is 9.6! Going for more testing soon.
Then I saw my rheumatologist. I needed another cortisone shot to my left knee--I need a knee replacement but I cannot do it this year; we're just trying to keep things patched up until I can take the time off. While I was waiting, I started doodling on a piece of paper, drawing pictures of all the places that I hurt. My doctor took a look at it and did his exam. He especially took notice of my hands, which are increasingly deformed by Psoriatic Arthritis. So we did a bunch of x-rays and Wow! What mess! My pelvis was lit up with inflammation, there are bone spurs on several vertebra, every finger has at least one deformity, two of my finger joints are so eroded they are almost dislocated, and of course, my knee is bone on bone. Yikes! No wonder I've been hurting so much. So all of a sudden, he wants me on Remicade infusions. I can't take ibuprofen and the like due to a previous anaphylactic reaction, so he has put me on Prednisone for the next 4 weeks, while wait to see if Cigna is going to pay for the Remicade. Good times.
Of course, the Prednisone makes me want to eat everything in sight and it keeps me awake at night. I can't take anything for pain but Tylenol, so I've been flipping over and over all night long. Last night I finally gave in and took one of DHs Flexaril (muscle relaxant). Best night sleep in a week.
I think it's going to be a long month.