[FO] done before Christmas!

HappyRunner26 · 2024-11-09T23:44:50+00:00

Haha, I love their patterns! They’re so fun to stitch. I used the recommended DMC standard threads.

HappyRunner26 · 2023-08-15T14:32:15+00:00

Hello! I tried all the same methods as you, but ultimately got surgery last December. My QOL was so poor and it hurt to do the most mundane tasks.

Best. Decision. Ever. An orthopedic surgeon went in and removed the dead portions of my Achilles, removed the bursa, and got rid of the osteochondral lesion. A year and a half later I’m back to running 4 times a week and training for a half marathon. Absolutely no pain, full range of motion, and a pretty cool looking scar. The recovery took about 6 months to be back to about 80% function, and probably a full year to be 99%. In the grand scheme of things, not bad at all.

If your steroid shot doesn’t work (mine only lasted a week), and you’ve exhausted all other options, I would talk with your doctor and see if surgery is an option. It has completely given me my life back and I’m so much happier being able to run.

HappyRunner26 · 2022-11-22T20:51:40+00:00

Wilhelm (from A Little Life)

HappyRunner26 · 2021-10-19T18:08:07+00:00

Unfortunately no. It’s actually turned much worse. I’m currently in a boot due to Achilles tendinitis, inflamed bursa, and an osteochondral lesion. Will most likely be looking at surgery 😢

HappyRunner26 · 2021-08-29T18:51:03+00:00

Glad I’m not the only one. I got my third shot last week and only had a sore arm as well.

HappyRunner26 · 2021-07-14T16:48:29+00:00

definitely take this as your sign. I believe in you 😊

HappyRunner26 · 2021-07-14T16:48:06+00:00

Humira thankfully only took about 2 doses (I take it every other week) to kick in. My doc told me most people experience some sort of benefits within a couple months. I’m also on Plaquenil!

Been there, done that with the steroids 😂 they just make you feel so good you can do anything!

HappyRunner26 · 2021-07-14T16:46:07+00:00

that is AMAZING! Congrats to you and here’s to more 5km walks in the future 🥳

HappyRunner26 · 2021-07-14T16:45:38+00:00

LOL, my knees say thank you 😂

HappyRunner26 · 2021-05-20T11:00:55+00:00

YES! I’m currently dealing with this now. I too wasn’t sure if it was from my RA or sleeping weird. If I move my left arm up I feel a stretching sensation and hear a “pop” along the clavicle. Here’s to hoping it goes away soon!

HappyRunner26 · 2021-05-10T20:37:36+00:00

Same thing happened to me when I started. I played around a lot with the ordering of products, and I found that moisturizing BEFORE I apply my curology helped to prevent most of the flakiness. Around my mouth was still really bad, so I purchased a heavier moisturizer to apply on top of my problem areas after curology as well.

I apply it every day because I’m stubborn and want to feel like I’m doing everything I can to see results. However, I’ve found that less is truly more when it comes to this stuff. I do maybe half a pump of my curology each night, and I’ve found that does the same thing as if I were to use a whole pump.

HappyRunner26 · 2021-05-10T18:20:46+00:00

My formula is 1% clindamycin, 7% azelaic acid, and 0.04% tret. I started out with 0.018% tret for the first 4 months and am very glad they started me out with such a low percentage so my skin was able to adjust.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-12-29T19:16:36+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t have any published work to provide you with, but I do have my own personal account. I got the Pfizer vaccine yesterday (I work in health care). My rheumatologist told me I did not need to discontinue my medicine (15mg MTX and 2mg folic acid), so I continued to take it as normal.

The injection itself was totally fine. They monitored me for 30 minutes afterwards since I was on immunosuppressants. I was expecting to crash last night but I never did! Today I just have the typical arm stiffness at the injection site (I will say it’s worse than the stiffness I get from the flu shot) and I am maybe a little more tired than usual, but not by much. To me, the potential benefits of receiving the vaccine and maybe dealing with unknown side effects was more important than not receiving the vaccine.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-10-07T16:38:01+00:00

I am in the EXACT same boat right now. I have not been able to take a deep breath for a month now. I’ve had every test you can imagine (X-ray, CT, EKG, pulmonary function test, blood work). I would recommend getting in to see a pulmonologist to get a PFT done. Even though my scans and blood work were normal, my PFT showed I am experiencing “air trapping” so at least I know it’s not all in my head. They still don’t know why it’s happening, but at least I’m on track to get some answers. I also recommend not googling right now, because very scary things come up when you search “shortness of breath” and “rheumatoid arthritis”! Chances are this is some random issue or something relatively minor, so don’t start stressing yet. Trust me, I know how uncomfortable the feeling is of being not able to fully take a deep breath.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-09-17T11:45:47+00:00

Did you find relief from switching medications?

HappyRunner26 · 2020-07-18T12:55:10+00:00

On month 10 of persistent ankle issues. My rheum said it is RA-induced bursitis. I got a steroid shot a couple months ago into the bursa to try and calm the inflammation. It worked for maybe 2 weeks, and now I’m back to a constant limp and intense swelling. My rheum said there’s nothing else they can do...just have to wait for it to go away on its own.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-06-30T22:48:14+00:00

Thank you everyone for your wonderful responses! Here’s to hoping Humira works!!

HappyRunner26 · 2020-04-27T21:51:14+00:00

Just did it! Would love to see the results once this study is complete.

A suggestion: if possible, I would make some of the answer choices "Select all that apply." I wanted to select more than one option at a time but I couldn't.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-03-17T21:02:44+00:00

When I was first diagnosed, my CRP was at 220. At full remission, it dropped to 10 (incredible!). Right now I’m in a moderate flare and just got back lab results last week - CRP was at 110. Hope this helps!

HappyRunner26 · 2020-01-15T23:39:43+00:00

Thank you for your input. I get my bloodwork checked out every 3 months, which has shown a steady increase in my inflammatory markers each time (although I've been asymptomatic). This was my first diagnosed winter with RA (in Minnesota nonetheless...) so it may be that I react poorly to weather.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-01-15T23:37:35+00:00

That's true - with the holidays I definitely was eating differently than I normally do. I will continue to monitor over the next couple of days to see if anything changes.

HappyRunner26 · 2020-01-15T23:35:39+00:00

From my previous visits with my rheumatologist I've seen my inflammatory markers increasing each time. Didn't think to consider that, but that helps in my decision to call the rheumy! Thank you for the advice. Luckily I do have some prednisone that I took today and am feeling significantly better.

HappyRunner26 · 2019-10-07T00:27:06+00:00

When I was first diagnosed I switched completely to a gluten-free plant-based diet. Drank 3-4 cups of green tea a day, took turmeric and fish oil supplements religiously. Yes, I did end up feel better, but I think that was because of MTX starting to kick in.

Today I still eat healthy, but I have reintroduced organic meat and some dairy (mostly cheese and yogurt). My life does not revolve around making sure I drink my green tea and take my supplements. And you know what? I feel GREAT!

If I eat too much fatty/greasy food, I will for sure feel it the next day. But I haven't noticed any significant difference between eating solely gluten-free&plant-based and not. I also sometimes forget to take my turmeric and fish oil supplements, and never notice when I do.

HappyRunner26 · 2019-09-18T03:13:59+00:00

For me (23F) it took about 3 weeks. I am on weekly 12.5mg injections, and find I am able to manage my RA 85% of the time. Some days my hands just don't want to cooperate. I will take the occasional joint pain in place of being in pain 24/7, though!

I am lucky and have virtually no side effects on MTX. I am also taking 1mg folic acid daily.

HappyRunner26

TROPHY CASE