rheumatoid-arthritis-blog - KarensCubby.com

Published on: August 30, 2019

Shingles....Absolutely Terrible!

The month of August 2019 was another level of pain aside from Rheumatoid that I never want to experience again. And I am so very grateful it is over. I started having a different kind of back pain on August 3rd. It seemed to get worse everyday, and the pain started to move its way up into the middle part of my back on the right side. On the 8th, I got up 3 times during the night because my ribs on my right side hurt so bad, and it continued thru the day. By Friday, the 9th, I had my husband bring me to the ER when he got home from work. The ER Dr. said he thought it could be Shingles, but found it odd that I did not have a rash. I was discharged in just as much pain as when I arrived. By Monday, the 12th, the HORRIBLE rash appeared, and it stayed with me ALL Month...the pain too.

Published on: February 17, 2017

Increased Humira Dose

I went to see Dr. VanDellen last Monday to tell her about my Pleurisy issues over the last month. She called my insurance to see if they will approve increasing my shot to once every 10 days rather than every 2 weeks.
Two days ago, my insurance company called to tell me they have approved the new dose, and that my prescription will be good from Feb 14 2017 to Feb 14 2018. So grateful this was approved. Hopefully this extra dose will stop my body from having the pleurisy attacks. I gave myself a shot on Feb. 7th, so it's already been 10 days.

Published on: February 14, 2017

Dr. Frascone

Had my appointment today at 2:00 with Dr. Frascone. He scraped off the callous on the bottom of my right foot, and gave me two shots in the top of my right foot. My foot is feeling much better, and can almost walk without pain, and my big toe almost touching the ground. My left foot is almost looking normal again too.

Published on: January 17, 2017

Think I had/have Pleurisy again

Saturday, January 14, 2017, I woke up at 6:00, and was having a good day. I sat down at 10:30 to have breakfast, toast with PB and J. When I was finished, I put washed my dish and sat back down in the recliner. I had a sharp pain in my left shoulder blade, and the pain got worse quick. It spread throughout my chest area, and by 11:30 I could not breath without sharp pains. The pain was bad enough that the thought of going to the ER came to mind, but I remember the last time this happened, I was in the ER waiting room for hours in horrible pain, and by the time I was brought back, they gave me a shot and sent me on my way in the same amount of pain I was in when I got there. So I stayed home. My husband put a lidocane patch on my left shoulder blade, and I took a percocet. By 12:30, I was able to finally lay down and sleep. I slept on and off the rest of the day. I felt a little better by Sunday, but it still hurt, and I was exhausted. Each day seems to be getting better, but the pain is just under the surface. I don't know what caused this to come out of no where. The last time this happened was the night before Christmas Eve, when I was awakened in the middle of the night with the same pain. This pain is horrible, and I feel like I am going to die because every breath hurts. I wish I knew what caused it because if I did, I would stop doing what brings it on. Today is better. At least I don't have to lay down all day. I tried to get into my chiropractor, but he is fully booked all day. First chance I get to get in for an adjustment, I'm hoping the better I will feel.

Published on: December 1, 2016

Dr. VanDellen

I had Ron take this picture of my hands side by side. They feel so much better than before, but some people have said they look worse. Yep, they look disgusting, but at least they still work enough to let me do some of the things I enjoy doing.
I went to see Dr. VanDellen for my 4 month checkup. Appt. at 8:30. Arrived at 8:10, and was out by 8:50. Everything seems good for the moment. She didn't have my blood results, went out to check on them. I told her the only thing I had saw that was high was my Hemocrit Level. I will try and post my recent blood tests soon.

Published on: November 25, 2016

Dr. Frascone

It probably wasn't a smart thing to have this appointment the day after Thanksgiving, but I did, and it's over. Ron drove me down there. My appointment was at 8. Had two injections in the top of my right foot. Owww! The needle stick is not what hurts, it's the medicine that is shot it. And this time, my joints are black and blue, and it's painful to walk. Super sore all day, but hopefully by tomorrow the burning won't be so bad.