Right I think I was getting so down as I was letting everything get on top of me and quiet simply I was forgetting to drink water. Stupid me
I had a good chat with a counsellor and she suggested I should make myself more of a priority in my life ... so I went and booked a massage .. lovely.
I feel much improved now.. The rhuematologist has put me on another dose of steroids for 6 weeks to see if it reduces my symptoms there is a chance that the methotrexate has not fully loaded up in my system yet. Only on the steroids 2 days now no improvement with the finger. But mentally I'm much improved .. god I love steroids effects on me .. so much more energy only on 10mg for two weeks then down to 5mg which has little or no effect sigh. If when I come of this dose of steroids the pain has not improved my methortresate dose (15mg) may need to be increased.
I'm curious to see if the energy problem is related to the inflamitory nature of Psoratic arthritis. Would make sense I have food allergies and they are autoimmune ... I hope I can nip this all in the bud soon.
The idea to be on the steroids was so I could sit my piano exam ( it is being rescheduled) I'm not sure I'll be able to do that :( ! ah well
Laters .. so much work to do :D
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
PA Update 08/11/2011
Okay updates .... its now 08/11/2011
I've come off my second tapered dose of steroids .. that was hard. I really did not like the change in me. Going from full of energy to zonked.
My meds have stopped working. My finger is sore again I feel it is because I'm taking alkeseltzers to settle my tummy, but the registrar didn't agree suppose I'll have to wait until friday to find out.
I've also become quiet down .. real down like staring in to a mirror crying for no reason down .. I'm fine when there are people around me but when I'm alone I get anxious and upset. this is not like me at all. I've arranged to see a counsellor to try and lift some of the weight off. Right now I don't feel like I'm carrying any weight .. but ... I've been EXTREMELY tired all week. Full on yawning through out the day .. accidentally drove on the wrong side of the road .. in a car park and underground easy to get confused .. still freaked me out. I've been eating a lot of comfort food and putting on weight.
I hope I'll be coming off the methotrexate and this time I will have a list of questions for the consultant I won't let her throw me out after 5 mins.
1. Can I come off Methotrexate how long will it take to get out of my system
2. Am I allowed to drink at all on Methotrexate??
3. What are the alternatives ??
4. Will physiotherapy help ??
5. With other meds what are the common side effects I should look out for ??
6. Does she know where I could get wrist supports and I dunno a neoprene seath to keep my finger warm.
7. Is there any chance i can go on steroids long term .. ( I'd love that but the side effects are a right bollock !!)
these are the questions at the mo I will work on more.
I've also been attending the living well with arthritis course. I'm not sure if its just that the people running it are just used to dealing with old people but they can on ocassion come across as really condesending. .. I feel like saying the arthritis is in my finger not my brain. Other wise I like the course but a lot of people stopped coming after the first week. I wonder why and what could be done to keep them envolved. It is great to meet people with similar problems as me It puts my issues in to perspective .... I have missed two nights unfortunately.
oh I found a really cool blog:
http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/
Must get back to work
Cheers
I've come off my second tapered dose of steroids .. that was hard. I really did not like the change in me. Going from full of energy to zonked.
My meds have stopped working. My finger is sore again I feel it is because I'm taking alkeseltzers to settle my tummy, but the registrar didn't agree suppose I'll have to wait until friday to find out.
I've also become quiet down .. real down like staring in to a mirror crying for no reason down .. I'm fine when there are people around me but when I'm alone I get anxious and upset. this is not like me at all. I've arranged to see a counsellor to try and lift some of the weight off. Right now I don't feel like I'm carrying any weight .. but ... I've been EXTREMELY tired all week. Full on yawning through out the day .. accidentally drove on the wrong side of the road .. in a car park and underground easy to get confused .. still freaked me out. I've been eating a lot of comfort food and putting on weight.
I hope I'll be coming off the methotrexate and this time I will have a list of questions for the consultant I won't let her throw me out after 5 mins.
1. Can I come off Methotrexate how long will it take to get out of my system
2. Am I allowed to drink at all on Methotrexate??
3. What are the alternatives ??
4. Will physiotherapy help ??
5. With other meds what are the common side effects I should look out for ??
6. Does she know where I could get wrist supports and I dunno a neoprene seath to keep my finger warm.
7. Is there any chance i can go on steroids long term .. ( I'd love that but the side effects are a right bollock !!)
these are the questions at the mo I will work on more.
I've also been attending the living well with arthritis course. I'm not sure if its just that the people running it are just used to dealing with old people but they can on ocassion come across as really condesending. .. I feel like saying the arthritis is in my finger not my brain. Other wise I like the course but a lot of people stopped coming after the first week. I wonder why and what could be done to keep them envolved. It is great to meet people with similar problems as me It puts my issues in to perspective .... I have missed two nights unfortunately.
oh I found a really cool blog:
http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/
Must get back to work
Cheers
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Update 30/08/2011
Okay so I tappered off my old dose of steroids and my finger swelled up and all my energy problems came back I was worn down couldn't eat certain foods and my huge sweet tooth grew back overnight ... humm really hoping the methotrexate works on my finger and tummy :) I'm on 15mg dose once a week and folic acid the day after, with another tappering dose of steroids which will be over two months as the methotrexate builds up in my system. There are an impressive 52 possible side effects from methotrexate !
I tried playing piano last night my finger is stiff and sore now.. I'm going to carry on regardless I'll sit my next practical exam ... although after that if my finger keeps giving trouble with piano playing I might be best to let that hobby go... I really don't want to though so we'll see.
I have signed up for the Living well with arthritis course being run by: http://www.arthritisireland.ie/
It doesn't start until the 6th of October.
I'm looking forward to meeting other people arthritis and seeing how they cope.
I'll be out abseiling at dalkey quarry today to see if my finger can handle it .. if not I will be having a reading holiday instead :)
I'd best get back to work :)
I tried playing piano last night my finger is stiff and sore now.. I'm going to carry on regardless I'll sit my next practical exam ... although after that if my finger keeps giving trouble with piano playing I might be best to let that hobby go... I really don't want to though so we'll see.
I have signed up for the Living well with arthritis course being run by: http://www.arthritisireland.ie/
It doesn't start until the 6th of October.
I'm looking forward to meeting other people arthritis and seeing how they cope.
I'll be out abseiling at dalkey quarry today to see if my finger can handle it .. if not I will be having a reading holiday instead :)
I'd best get back to work :)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Steroids update
Steroids are great - well I have found them to be great !
I didn't get the huge hunger I was warned about. I actually lost my sweet tooth and started to eat better this could be a result of other things but I noticed it around the same time I started the steroids. They helped my finger no end :) the swelling has gone right down and I can use the finger to type, WRITE !! :) and play piano although that seems to annoy it some what. Also I went mountain biking yesterday and my finger was fine.
I've another appointment with the ruhemy tomorrow, I'll be asking her tonnes and tonnes of questions just to have everything straight in my mind before starting methotrexate.
I didn't get the huge hunger I was warned about. I actually lost my sweet tooth and started to eat better this could be a result of other things but I noticed it around the same time I started the steroids. They helped my finger no end :) the swelling has gone right down and I can use the finger to type, WRITE !! :) and play piano although that seems to annoy it some what. Also I went mountain biking yesterday and my finger was fine.
I've another appointment with the ruhemy tomorrow, I'll be asking her tonnes and tonnes of questions just to have everything straight in my mind before starting methotrexate.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Steroids
Second day on steroids and no improvement with the finger. My friends mother had a problem with her hand which was suspected arthritis, but ended up not being arthritis . She now just has to deal with the symptoms .. I'm not sure what I'd prefer, actually having a diagnosis or having to just deal with a bandy finger which isn't getting better but isn't necessarily getting worse either ... just damaged and I'll just have to deal with it. Just use it less and ice and ibuprofen when it flares up.
sigh this could be a very short blog :P
sigh this could be a very short blog :P
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pain is quiet bad today I probably used my hand too much yesterday. I finally got through to my Consultants secetary today , there was some confusion over whether I should have been fasting for my blood tests or not ( I should have been gurr). That might seem obvious to some but I had a lot on my mind mainly arthritus.
The secetary was very helpful and put me at ease. When asked if I should work away and take the steroids he said yeah and if there was any problems he would be on me like a rash !.. I burst out laughing and replied that I couldn't wait... when he hung up I was still laughing which quickly progressed to crying only lasted a minute, it was surprising how relieved I was.
:)
The secetary was very helpful and put me at ease. When asked if I should work away and take the steroids he said yeah and if there was any problems he would be on me like a rash !.. I burst out laughing and replied that I couldn't wait... when he hung up I was still laughing which quickly progressed to crying only lasted a minute, it was surprising how relieved I was.
:)
Okay, I have recently been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis . I was looking for a blog to read about some one my age and how they are dealing with PA. It may exist but so far I have not found it so I'm going to start ranting about PA here and I hope it serves some usefulness for people in similar situations.
I'm 25
I lead a fairly active life
I have a milk protein allergy
I love knitting, playing the piano, cycling, caving, canyoning, crochet all of which has been put on hold since my right index finger seized up last April . ( I am right handed)
My finger is swollen and the top joint is quiet sore part of the joint in my thumb has also swollen and I occasionally get aches in my wrist. Now I have been diagnosed any pain or ache in any joint has me worrying about which will be the next joint to swell up.
I attended a clinic in May 2011 when after lots of rest and icing the swelling in my finger did not improve I was put on Diclac/Diaphene (Diclofenac Sodium 75mg), two a day to reduce the swelling I only take them if really needed. In June it was suggested that I might have arthritis - I was devastated and started to completely write my life off. I needed about 3 or 4 days to take it in and it involved some crying. Then I started to see the positives .. its only in a finger and a half .my legs, eyes, ears etc were all working fine and it so far had not had a huge affect on my life. I type funny, but my left hand is getting a lot more exercise and I can still drive If driving becomes a problem I can walk in to work instead. I also have a full time permanent job .. which is pretty scarce these days.
I had my first appointment with the reumatologist on wednesday last. Some where in the back of my mind I was holding out in hope that I just had extreme tendonitits... I have read up on every type of Arthritus and none of the classic symptoms for any type matched my presentation . I don't have any lower back pain or have any swelling in my eyes (yet). I've been for blood tests ( I'll get the results soon ) and have to start steroids for a month and after that I'll be put on a disease modifying drug Methotrexate ( which in high doses is used for chemotherapy).
That is all for now, next appointment with my ruemy is in a month. The steroids are by all accounts going to make me ravenous not looking forward to that but any ways not much I can do about that but try and eat loads of salad :D !
laters
Katie
I'm 25
I lead a fairly active life
I have a milk protein allergy
I love knitting, playing the piano, cycling, caving, canyoning, crochet all of which has been put on hold since my right index finger seized up last April . ( I am right handed)
My finger is swollen and the top joint is quiet sore part of the joint in my thumb has also swollen and I occasionally get aches in my wrist. Now I have been diagnosed any pain or ache in any joint has me worrying about which will be the next joint to swell up.
I attended a clinic in May 2011 when after lots of rest and icing the swelling in my finger did not improve I was put on Diclac/Diaphene (Diclofenac Sodium 75mg), two a day to reduce the swelling I only take them if really needed. In June it was suggested that I might have arthritis - I was devastated and started to completely write my life off. I needed about 3 or 4 days to take it in and it involved some crying. Then I started to see the positives .. its only in a finger and a half .my legs, eyes, ears etc were all working fine and it so far had not had a huge affect on my life. I type funny, but my left hand is getting a lot more exercise and I can still drive If driving becomes a problem I can walk in to work instead. I also have a full time permanent job .. which is pretty scarce these days.
I had my first appointment with the reumatologist on wednesday last. Some where in the back of my mind I was holding out in hope that I just had extreme tendonitits... I have read up on every type of Arthritus and none of the classic symptoms for any type matched my presentation . I don't have any lower back pain or have any swelling in my eyes (yet). I've been for blood tests ( I'll get the results soon ) and have to start steroids for a month and after that I'll be put on a disease modifying drug Methotrexate ( which in high doses is used for chemotherapy).
That is all for now, next appointment with my ruemy is in a month. The steroids are by all accounts going to make me ravenous not looking forward to that but any ways not much I can do about that but try and eat loads of salad :D !
laters
Katie
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