Soccerdawg71 Member

Also, I've been on methotrexate for about 15 years and have never had a liver biopsy. I get my blood tests about every two months, and they've all been clear, so no need.

Yeah, my skin was very clear on Stelara, but I kept having arthritis flare-ups on it. I told the doc I'd rather be able to walk and have some patches on my skin. Haven't tried Remicade or Simponi, but I'm going to stick with methotrexate and Humira for the foreseeable future. I nearly lost complete use of my right hand/arm…

After 10 weeks on Otezla, I finally pulled the plug and went back on Humira and methotrexate. I feel like a new person. I can walk, I can turn doorknobs, I don't feel constantly run down and life can begin again. I'm hoping to get back to the gym this weekend after I get some more work done on a paper. (I'm in my last…

I have officially lost 26 pounds (since Thanksgiving)! (Still have a long way to go.) I haven't been able to exercise at all for the last 3 weeks because of an awful arthritis flare up, but I've still managed stay under my calorie goal. Apparently, MFP isn't starting where I am, so it says I've lost 17. Whatever, MFP. I'll…

I take fish oil daily, but I don't know if it helps. Glucosamine did nothing except give me gas. My rheumatologist gave me a steroid shot yesterday, but it doesn't seem to have helped. Ugh. Had to take a percocet again today, but hanging in there. Fingers crossed the steroid will help soon.

I'm still very frustrated. My doctor hasn't called me back and I'm self-medicating with Percocet just to get through the day. I'm getting really tired of it. I'm having to take my pills an hour before I get up just so that I can dress myself in the morning. On top of that, I found out my rheumatologist is not in my…

Good for you!

Well, I spoke too soon. Friday I felt great, but Saturday was back to terrible. Then Sunday was somewhere in between. Doc says I've not been on my new meds long enough to know of it's going to work, but I'm not so sure. Can't be like this forever. Ugh.

This week has been horrid! I've had a mild cold virus that turned into a severe arthritis flare-up. I had to have my boyfriend help me get dressed in the morning. My hands and knees were the worst. Just gripping the blanket to try to pull the covers over me was severely painful. Yesterday, my doc put me on Prednisone, and…

Get a disability lawyer. SSI will continue to turn you down until a lawyer steps in. A friend of mine has MS and was homeless for two years. Finally, he hired a lawyer and got it. Then they payed him back pay, too. It's worth it. Glad you're staying positive, though.

Ha! I feel ya! I was adopted at birth, and my entire adopted family has/had arthritis (but mine is apparently the worst of all). But I recently found my birth family and can't find anyone in the family with serious arthritis (bio-mom has mild osteo in her hands). You know, genetics are weird!

I used to have severe fatigue, but that was when I wasn't on biologics. When my joints swell up, sometimes they get red and warm. I've never had bad blood tests. For many years I was on Methotrexate and I had to get my liver tested regularly with (luckily) no problems.

Hi guys! For the longest, nobody responded to this and suddenly I have all these awesome responses! Let me clarify: I've had psoriatic arthritis since I was 25. The osteo just got added last year (great, thanks, body). You know, whenever I'm having a flare-up and I'm limping, people at work say, "What did you do to…

I have severe psoriatic arthritis. When it's bad, it's really bad. I'm now on a biologic that helps, but when I was still trying out medications, it was rough. I once asked a rheumatologist about exercise. His response was, "If it hurts, don't do it." It's that simple. Water aerobics are great. In the summer, I use the lap…

Also, try to get cardio in about five times a week. Weight training is important, but cardio is, too.

I was having the same problem. MFP told me to stay under 2,000 calories, so I just adjusted my calories down by 200. That helped a bit.

I admit, I had to look up "woo," but I will now use it with abandon. I have little patience for those who believe in garbage they read on the Internet. When a friend posts non-scientific stuff on Facebook, I'm always the first to respond and tell them that it's nonsense. I have more patience for those who believe Dr. Oz…

Wait ... Banting is still a thing? I wrote a 20-page history paper about late 19th and early 20th century diet fads (and how religions got on board -- Christian Scientists, Adventists, etc.), and Banting showed up in that. Pretty much every food-related thing from that era is complete hooey, but Banting's "Letter on…

I'd argue that selling Girl Scout cookies is different. It's a charity fundraiser, and it's only once a year. Generally, people don't pressure you to buy them. If they do, you could complain about that, too. What your co-worker is essentially doing is bringing her second job into her first job, and any HR department would…

Ha! Nice. That can also be an HR complaint.

My weight loss is finally kicking into gear. I've lost 14 lbs. since Thanksgiving, and my new goal is to lose 15 more by graduation, May 12. I'm graduating with my master's degree, then taking a celebratory trip to Germany on May 15. My clothes are finally starting to feel loose. I know the pace I'm losing it is totally…

Hey! That's my goal. Going to Europe in May and just want to sit on the plane semi-comfortably. Congrats on your success!

Name: Lisa Age: 44 Height: 5'9" Dec. 29: 264.4 I can't find my previous posts. Success/struggles: I'm down 3.1 lbs. since Thanksgiving. I'm getting really frustrated and discouraged. I stopped counting calories for a couple of days over xmas. I ate a lot of bad food, but I don't think I overate, and I only gained back a…

Hi there! I'm a latecomer, I would love to join your group. I've been a member of MFP for a long time, but I fell off the wagon due to some issues getting my arthritis medication. Now I'm back going to the gym and watching what I eat, but I struggle with motivation. My first week I lost 5 lbs., but my second week, I gained…

Name: Lisa Age: 44 Height: 5'9" Start Weight (1st December):267.7 lbs Goal Weight (1st January): 255 lbs 1st December: 267 lbs 8th December: 262.4 lbs 15th December: 264.6 22nd December: 29th December: 1st January: Weight lost/gained this week: +2.2 lbs Weight lost/gained this month: -3.2lbs Successes/struggles this week:…

Name:Lisa Age: 44 Height: 5'9" Start Weight (1st December):267.7 lbs Goal Weight (1st January): 255 lbs 1st December: 267 lbs 8th December: 262.4 lbs 15th December: 22nd December: 29th December: 1st January: Weight lost/gained this week: -5.2 lbs Weight lost/gained this month: -5.2lbs Successes/struggles this week: Had to…

OK, I'm in. Name: Lisa Age: 44 Height: 5'9" Start Weight (1st December): 267.7 Goal Weight (1st January): 257.7 1st December: 267.7 8th December: 15th December: 22nd December: 29th December: 1st January: Weight lost/gained this week: Just started. Weight lost/gained this month: Successes/struggles this week: I'm already…

Thanks for the pep talk! I'm just getting back into it after some medical setbacks, so I'm looking for motivation. I think the hardest part is getting in the groove.

68.7. Ugh.

I'm with you. I keep hitting setbacks and falling off track. Just restarted yesterday, and so far, I'm doing well. But I don't have the motivation that I used to have. Back in May, my doctor said I'm pre-diabetic and need to lose weight. That made me very motivated, but then I had trouble getting my arthritis medicine and…