
Reply: Question about RA and taste and smell issues??
That is a good question. I have seen where RA can cause swelling of lymph nodes but I...
Posted by singingbear
That is a good question. I have seen where RA can cause swelling of lymph nodes but I have not seen anything yet about nodules. I will have to do some futher research on that.View Thread
Posted bysingingbear
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Reply: Question about RA and taste and smell issues??
Thanks Mike201 for your response. Sadly the Pred connection doesn't work for me. Taste...
Posted by singingbear
Thanks Mike201 for your response. Sadly the Pred connection doesn't work for me. Taste problems started before I was ever put on Pred and have now been off it since August. Wish that was the answer. I guess you could say I am learning to live with it since I don't notice it as much anymore. I just avoid the foods that really taste bad to me and the others I have learned to tolerate. Doesn't make it any less frustrating though.View Thread
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Reply: Question about RA and taste and smell issues??
I am now wondering if my issues with taste are from the RA in a round about way. I have...
Posted by singingbear
I am now wondering if my issues with taste are from the RA in a round about way. I have also started getting tonsil stones in the last year since my RA symptoms started. I wonder if the RA could be causing swelling of the tonsils which in turn causes the tonsil stones and results in a distorted sense of taste. Hmmm something to ask the doc about.View Thread
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Reply: Hair Loss
When I was having a lot of hair loss my rheumy put me on 2 mg of folic acid a day and...
Posted by singingbear
When I was having a lot of hair loss my rheumy put me on 2 mg of folic acid a day and added 5 mg of leucovorin once a week. It seems to have helped.View Thread
Posted bysingingbear
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Reply: Question about RA and taste and smell issues??
No, I have not gotten my sense of taste back completely. There are still a hand full of...
Posted by singingbear
No, I have not gotten my sense of taste back completely. There are still a hand full of foods that have an off taste (oranges, banana, cheese, chicken among a few). I have started eating some of the foods I was staying away from and it is either not as bad or I have become use to the different taste. Cottage cheese is still a big NO!
My problems with crusty nose and sinus headaches seems to have passed for now. I have mentioned it to various doctors and they never seem concerned about it. I plan to see a new PCP soon. Maybe he can tell me something.
I was running a very slight fever most of last winter before I had an actual RA diagnosis but have not been since starting medications. I did try saline nasal mist but noticed little difference.View Thread
Posted bysingingbear
My problems with crusty nose and sinus headaches seems to have passed for now. I have mentioned it to various doctors and they never seem concerned about it. I plan to see a new PCP soon. Maybe he can tell me something.
I was running a very slight fever most of last winter before I had an actual RA diagnosis but have not been since starting medications. I did try saline nasal mist but noticed little difference.View Thread
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Reply: New to RA
I was having a lot of trouble with being wiped out the day after my MTX dose and hair...
Posted by singingbear
I was having a lot of trouble with being wiped out the day after my MTX dose and hair loss. My doc already had me taking 1 mg of Folic acid daily to help with possible side effects. Now I am on 2 mg daily of Folic Acid as well as Leucovor once a week. It has taken a few weeks but the hair loss is finally reduced and not as much exhaustion.View Thread
Posted bysingingbear
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Includes Expert Content
RA and food allergies
Is it possible to develope food allergiesue, tomato) in relation to RA or the meds used...
Posted by singingbear
Is it possible to develope food allergiesue, tomato) in relation to RA or the meds used to treat it?View Thread
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Reply: meds concern
From my experience most docs do not like to use prednisone long term do to side...
Posted by singingbear
From my experience most docs do not like to use prednisone long term do to side effects. I have seen some of these side effects such as thinning skin, and liver damage in my brother and dad (both were on and off prednisone for around 20 yrs for Crohn's disease). After taking it myself for about 8 mo. my doc gradually stepped down my dosage until I was off it completely. Prednisone is usually used as a temporary first step to reduce swelling until the actual RA drugs start to take effect. My doc is still looking for the right combo of drugs for me. I am currently on 17.5 mg of methotrexate weekly but my CRP is still elevated. I don't know yet what he has in mind for the next step but will find out next month. I am a bit leary of prednisone but I have not seen any problems short term. I would cerainly not want to take it longer then I had to.View Thread
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Reply: Scared
I am glad that everything went ok. I just try to tell myself when I am reading these...
Posted by singingbear
I am glad that everything went ok. I just try to tell myself when I am reading these discussions that most ppl are more willing to write about the horror stories then the positive experiences. Most of us that are lucky enough to have no side effects or very limited side effects or those that find quick remission don't usually take the time to post. Every one of us is different and no two experiences will be exactly the same. Good luck!View Thread
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Need Job / Insurance Advise
I am considering searching for a new job in the near future. I struggle with the...
Posted by singingbear
I am considering searching for a new job in the near future. I struggle with the decision because I am afraid of starting fresh with a new insurance and finding a place that will pay what I make now. I have worked at my current job for just under 11 years. The problem is that I have been stuck on an overnight shift 5 days / 40 hrs a week for the last seven years and there is no place I can go on day shift and not lose money. On top of that I have a co worker that is getting harder and harder to tollerate, causing much stress and drama. I was also diagnosed with RA this last January and have been taking Methatrexate since Feb but still have an elevated CRP. The RA fatigue has gotten somewhat better over the last few weeks but I am still left with the overnight shift fatigue. I never get enough rest and I know that I feel so much worse when I am not well rested or stressed. After my last blood test the doc noted that I may need biologics. I will not see him until Oct. to discuss that notation. I do not know now how I would pay for biologics let alone if I were to start a new job with new insurance. I am single and have moved my mother in with me to help her out. She gets SS and can help some with bills but I am the primary means of support for both of us. Does anyone have any advise or experience they can share with me to help make my decision easier? I just don't know what to do. Oh and they have cut my hours for the next 4 weeks on top of everything else. Any one have seeds for a money tree?View Thread
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