Thanks for your posts. JFG: I'm sorry you're experiencing such problems at such a young age. It must impact you and your children greatly. Read the literature and talk with your doctor. Glucosamine...
what do you think? I walk my dogs sometimes, but have been kinda afraid to exercise, maybe it's just a convenient excuse. What with the pain, could exercise worsen the RA or does it help it feel...
thanks! You're all so nice and welcoming. Golitho, I have omega3 fish oil, but don't take it regularly. I should start. It's amazing how many benefits it has. I'm getting monthly blood tests now and...
Hi Wissie. After I spoke with the nurse on the phone when she called in the rx, I looked on the NIH website about mtx. It was scary, especially about death as a side effect! I take it 10 mg once/wk...
Thank you, Joy! I go to the new rheumy on Wednesday and will discuss it. I wonder if that can take the place of the methotrexate? hmmm. I prefer not to take pharmaceuticals if I can help it, but will...
Hi. My nickname is Traci and I live in Western NY. I've been on HW for a while, but not in this forum. I was dx'd w/RA after being sent to a rhuemy by my GI for knee pain. He told me he thought it...
I'm sorry that you're going through all this trouble. I saw my GP yesterday and she told me that she doesn't know much about natural meds, she wasn't trained about them, but she was supportive of my...
Thanks, BadDay. I also have Ulcerative Colitis (for about 6 yrs) and go on that forum sometimes. There are a lot of posts over there about alternative treatments. I thought there would be some over...
Hi. I'm newly dx'd w/RA and thisi s the first post I've read on the forum. I've had symptoms since 9/10 and just started methotrexate a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, I've been taking curcumin (active...
Wow! What a lot of info! Thank you! I just began looking into Turmeric for joint pain which my GI is convinced is ancillary to the UC, which is almost in remission! Anyway, what I found out is that...
Thanks, everyone, for your input. Ima, thanks for the laugh! I went to get the blood work done and got the kit, but couldn't get the blood work done b/c I hadn't fasted. No one told me to fast so I...
Hi, I've been flaring since the end of Sept. with fatigue, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, knee pain, nausea, cramps and headaches. So, I went to the doc who put me on Asacol HD 2 pills BID, Rowasa enemas...
Interesting info, janicebuf. I'm not sure what it means pragmatically, though. I called and got an appt w/my GI on Monday!!! She keeps appts open for new pts and that slot didn't fill, so I don't...
Since you've been having bouts of depression your whole life, that must mean that you've had bouts of wellness your whole life, too. You know, those periods in between the depressions? That means...
hmm. she's just a prude and needs to get over herself. We need to do these little things to still feel feminine and "normal", especially with this sickness. Keep doing what you're doing, MMMNAVY!...
Sorry, just a thought, have you been checked physically to make sure there's nothing medically causing the depression? It sounds like you have some situational stuff, but vitamin D and the B's also...
ugh. Things seem hopeless for you and hopelessness is the cousin of depression. However, the brain is the only organ that you can change by thinking! It's called neuroplasticity. When you think...
I believe that stress from my job caused my relapse. You're right, life is too short. I'm trying to figure out what to do about work, either disability or Family Medical Leave Act (so I can call in...
wow. UC is really a problem. Today, I had an intern help me move some things in my office and farted LOUD in front of him. I pretended it didn't happen! lol. Lonie, I have a similar experience: I...
Thanks for your responses. Quincy, my sig should show now, but I'm on Asacol 1600 mg tid. I try to do the Canasa supps in am and Rowasa enemas in pm, but the enemas knock me for a loop in the...
Deltaforce: Sorry it took me a while to respond. Life is busy. I was sick for a good 3 years, some of which I was undx'd. I had 2 GI's, the last of which wanted to make me pred dependent, before I...
Hi, I refused enemas for a long time and then got desperate enough to try them. I lay on my side and inject the meds. My doc told me that it's ok if you expel it, just try to keep it in as long as...
Hi, I'm just wondering for those of us who work, how do you manage? I work full-time and have been calling in sick and wonder if I need to go on disability until I get better. The symptoms and side...
This article makes sense to me. When I got sick initially, I tried supplements of phosphatidylcholine. There were threads about it 3 years ago. However, there was some question about whether it would...
If the insurance company asks, then I'd suggest you tell the truth. They might not ask. When I switched from 1 insurance to another due to a job change, pre-existing conditions were covered because...
Hi. I hope that you can be patient with yourself to find the solutions to your health and personal concerns. This can be figured out and you can get what you want from life if you are patient with...
Hi there! This is my first time over here at CFS. I have the auto-immune disease Ulcerative Colitis. It seems to me that when my disease is active, I'm exhausted! I can sleep 10 hrs at night and take...
Well, his goal may have already been met! I don't mean to burst your bubble, but is this colonoscopy after some treatment? Could it be that the rest has healed and the rectum is the last to heal...
Quincy is right. One size does not fit all. For me, I avoid certain foods but am not sure if they really cause the problem or if the problem is there anyway. I can be just as sick if I eat oatmeal or...
Thanks for your posts. The enemas are "Mesalamine Rectal Suspension, USP Enema 4 grams", generic for Rowasa. I'm self-medicating with old meds from last flare until I can get in to see my GI. I'm...
Hi. For the longest time, I refused enemas. Now, I'm ok with them and want to do everything in my power to heal! So, I've been taking them. ugh. I get dizzy with them and need about 1-2 hrs in the am...
What an interesting topic! I've relapsed and am experiencing knee pain and fatigue in addition to the blood and D and cramps and SE's of the meds. Anyway, I want to speak with a nutritionist about...
How frustrating for you! When I finally found my 3rd GI, who is brilliant and finally helped me into remission, she was convinced I have UC, but with inflammation in my ilium, ulcers in my stomach...
I'm a mental health counselor. I was in remission for 3 years and now I'm sick again. My job stress is the culprit, I suspect....
Thanks Brandon. I took Lialda for about 9 months and it didn't help. I was flaring the entire time. Also, I took Colazal for quite a while and it didn't help, either. The Asacol is what's working for...
I had been extremely fatigued for quite some time and thought maybe it was the Asacol, so I started a slow taper. I reduced by 1 pill for 2 weeks, and I had some problems on Thanksgiving, but have...
Just do your best. I've had some preps where I was pooping gatorade. The last one, it was still a little brownish/yellow. The scope pictures weren't as clear, but they got what they needed. As long...
I am thankful for: My kids are smart and healthy My husband is loving and supportive My home is warm and comfortable I have a car and plenty of food on the table I have lived through so much and am...
That's all the more reason to think about counseling. You don't have to be "crazy" to go to a counselor. Many, many people go during stressful times and transitions like you're going through. It can...
Lialda didn't work for me; Asacol does. Maybe you'll have the opposite effect? Good luck!...
Whatever it is, I hope it keeps up for you! Good luck, Katie! I wish you all the best!...
Katie, you're post could have been written by me last year! I was so frustrated with meds that didn't seem to work! I'm on Asacol now and have tapered down this week from 12/day to 11/day, because I...
Congrats on remission! Just be aware that you may experience cyclical flares around your period. I'm in remission and still get a couple days a month that give me trouble. I suggest staying on your...
Thanks for your responses. I'm not flaring right now. So, I'm thinking that maybe it is the Asacol. I'm gonna follow quincy's advice and do a slow taper, 1/wk. If I start flairing, I'll go back up. I...
Oh, sorry. I hope that you feel better soon, lil-momma! I'm sorry you're going through this pain....
You should call your doctor and/or go to the emergency room....
My GI told me that it takes about 3 months for Asacol to start working. That was my experience. I've been on the max dose (4pills/ 3times/day) since June and am pretty much back to pre-UC form....
Great ideas, Nor_TX! Thank you!...
Hi, I read in another post someone say something about Asacol and fatigue. I'm exhausted most of the time. Could it be the Asacol? I'm kinda in remission, but every time I think about dropping my...
Joylu, I'm on the max dose of asacol (4- 3 times/day). My doc told me that it takes about 3 months to get the full effect from the meds. This seems to be the case for me. Some of us have allergies to...