Physical Check-In

i’ve lost 35 pounds now and i feel terrific physically. I need to increase my activity level and increase green foods but all in all i’m pleased. I still have a ways to go on this journey but i’m in it for the long haul.

Thank you!

I am sorry to hear you had another rough day. I thought that might be the case given all you suffered through yesterday. I am still hopeful the medicine will work and this is some sort of fluke flare up. I know you desperately need the relief.

Does this type of arthritis have triggers such as certain foods or weather or seasons, etc? I admit I only know a bit about it after what you and Christina have shared.

I did feel much better after a brief rest this afternoon. We were able to enjoy the outing. Children do have an amazing capacity to assist us in healing. I agree completely!

How thoughtful of you to think of me when you have a raging headache.


I am having a rough day. It takes time to recover from such an exacerbation, as in days or longer. It all depends upon many factors.


I am foggy, very tired and restless at the same time. Having trouble with concentrating, comprehension, etc. In a bit less pain; yet, am paying for it in med side-effects.


I am a bit bummed because I had thought, and the numbers have indicated, that the new med (Enbrel) was working for me. I don't know how this exacerbation plays into the overall evaluation of drug/treatment efficacy. I guess I'll find out. The drug company is currently helping me with my monthly copay (over $650.00/month). I have been participating in their program which collects info, in general, and also evaluates my overall response to their drug therapy. I may be cut off from the program. If so, it means experts in PsA feel my response to this specific drug is not efficacious in my case. (If this happens, I will be moved to yet another drug in this same class. I do not know the particulars of the financial ramifications of this option yet; I will cross that bridge if/when I need to do so.)


I am sorry you are suffering a headache. Sounds like a doozy!

I hope it goes away and allows you to thoroughly enJOY your time with your family activities tonight! It's wonderful your son has shared his talents with you, in hopes of helping you to feel better! Their love is so pure. I am sure children, especially our own, hold significant "powers" when it comes to assisting in healing.


Thank you for being such a good friend.

I hope you feel much better very soon!

I missed several of my workouts last week due to schedule craziness. I've gotten one in every day so far this week and in general I feel so much better. I've been really busy, but I've been making the time anyway.


I have a raging headache at the moment and it was pounding during my workout a few moments ago. Usually it helps to get up and get moving, so hopefully it will go away soon. I intend to take a hot shower and lay down to rest for a while this afternoon. We have a busy evening of Halloween festivities with the kids later, so I am hoping I will rally by then.


Hugs to everyone who needs or wants one and wishes for wellness to all!

Hid, I'm new here. Intermittent severe pain (spinal problems pinching nerves to both legs) on top of a nasty mixed episode. Gained 6 pounds in the past week probably because I've been giving in to cravings for sugar, plus I've been hitting the chocolate pretty hard trying to conquer the depression. My psychiatrist just added fluoxetine (Prozac) which just adds to my weight gain worries.


Ah, well, time to get back to a low-carb, low-fat diet, stick to protein, veggies, and fruit.

I’ve lost 35 pounds now and I feel terrific physically. I need to increase my activity level and increase green foods but all in all I’m pleased. I still have a ways to go on this journey but I’m in it for the long haul.

This type of arthritis is sensitive to weather and to seasons.

It may or may not be reactive to food. This may or may not be an individualized thing. Much is being learned.yet. Interestingly enough, people with PsA are much more likely to suffer "Gout," which is usually food related; however, many of the Gout cases in PsA are deemed "idiopathic."


I find October is the month when big flares start up for the winter. My rheumatologist says all of her PsA patients start calling her within the same week.


i have found the immune reaction is often triggered by stress.


There is a correlation with asthma. Both ~Christina and I also have asthma. Poor ~Christina has much more severe breathing issues than do I at this time.

I do have to take an occasional ride to the ER by ambulance due to exacerbated asthma.(Especially if I ever catch the flu.)


This condition can be excruciatingly painful. I am on morphine every day, all day long. I also , often, have to add prn dilaudid. This, in addition to NSAIDs and the immune-modulating drugs.


When I was diagnosed, it was incredibly difficult to find out anything about PsA. Over the past 10 years, this has changed after much more research has been done. Doctors now recognize the severity and the potential complications, like asthma, heart disease, etc.


I can start to ramble about this when asked. I might also ramble when not asked.


I am so glad you are feeling better!


Thanks for caring!

I hate that your pain got ramped up so much !!

As far as relief with Enbrel ..Yes your blood work is going to show if it is dropping the pain level by showing overall inflammation levels dropping So as far as that goes you will know if it’s helping and a rough idea of how much. Then you and rheumatologist can decide if it’s helping enough and stopping more joint degeneration which I feel is the most important part, although I will gladly take any decrease in Pain possible

I’m guessing your Doctor would probably go to Humira next.. it also has a patient assist program. It is more expensive than Enbrel , crazy what these shots cost.

Flares of Fibro and PsA are sadly going to happen I got slapped silly last week when that front that blew through. Fibro and PsA are both filthy words !!!

When will get his results back ??!!

It can take up to 7 days. He may also need a 24 hour study depending on the results of this 1 hour test.

I've had persistent low-grade (99.5-100.3) fevers for over a month now. I've also been getting headaches on a regular basis and increased neck pain. I say neck pain because this is such a mystery to me and I've considered the possibility of meningitis (which includes neck pain) but I think I would have much higher fevers. And I already have cervical spine issues, so that pain may be due to that long-standing issue. I'm just looking for answers.

I'm only just going to see my doctor today. Despite the fact that I work in medicine, I'm bad about seeing doctors and I had thought that this would resolve on its own. The fevers are slowly getting higher and I'm feeling increasingly more run down.

I also need an EKG. When I had a car accident a couple of months ago, I came in with chest pain which turned out to be broken ribs, but they did an EKG just in case. It was normal in the context of possible damage from the accident, but it was abnormal in that the ST wave was flat. The doctor said I needed to follow-up with my PCP and of course I haven't yet, but will bring it up today. My psychiatrist actually said it was due to the Abilify and just needs to be monitored.

The thing is, these persistent fevers and headaches and feeling run down are starting to make me feel mildly depressed and I'm afraid that, if I don't get answers and/or relief, I will get more and more depressed.

I've had persistent low-grade (99.5-100.3) fevers for over a month now. I've also been getting headaches on a regular basis and increased neck pain. I say neck pain because this is such a mystery to me and I've considered the possibility of meningitis (which includes neck pain) but I think I would have much higher fevers. And I already have cervical spine issues, so that pain may be due to that long-standing issue. I'm just looking for answers.


I'm only just going to see my doctor today. Despite the fact that I work in medicine, I'm bad about seeing doctors and I had thought that this would resolve on its own. The fevers are slowly getting higher and I'm feeling increasingly more run down.


I also need an EKG. When I had a car accident a couple of months ago, I came in with chest pain which turned out to be broken ribs, but they did an EKG just in case. It was normal in the context of possible damage from the accident, but it was abnormal in that the ST wave was flat. The doctor said I needed to follow-up with my PCP and of course I haven't yet, but will bring it up today. My psychiatrist actually said it was due to the Abilify and just needs to be monitored.


The thing is, these persistent fevers and headaches and feeling run down are starting to make me feel mildly depressed and I'm afraid that, if I don't get answers and/or relief, I will get more and more depressed.

I've had persistent low-grade (99.5-100.3) fevers for over a month now. I've also been getting headaches on a regular basis and increased neck pain. I say neck pain because this is such a mystery to me and I've considered the possibility of meningitis (which includes neck pain) but I think I would have much higher fevers. And I already have cervical spine issues, so that pain may be due to that long-standing issue. I'm just looking for answers.

I'm only just going to see my doctor today. Despite the fact that I work in medicine, I'm bad about seeing doctors and I had thought that this would resolve on its own. The fevers are slowly getting higher and I'm feeling increasingly more run down.

I also need an EKG. When I had a car accident a couple of months ago, I came in with chest pain which turned out to be broken ribs, but they did an EKG just in case. It was normal in the context of possible damage from the accident, but it was abnormal in that the ST wave was flat. The doctor said I needed to follow-up with my PCP and of course I haven't yet, but will bring it up today. My psychiatrist actually said it was due to the Abilify and just needs to be monitored.

The thing is, these persistent fevers and headaches and feeling run down are starting to make me feel mildly depressed and I'm afraid that, if I don't get answers and/or relief, I will get more and more depressed.

I am exhausted on every level today. I am hoping to recharge and am trying to discern exaclty what it is going to take in order to adequately "recharge."


Lots going on.

I remain hopeful.

Thanks for all of the support I've received!

My doctor doesn't know what's going on. Tomorrow I'm going to run around different labs and places getting blood tests, stool sample (I hope not TMI, but I've also had loose stool for a couple of months), and an EKG. I could have sworn the doctor at the hospital when I had my accident had said "flat ST wave" (or maybe she got it wrong) but my doctor read the report and it's inverted P wave which means possible enlarged Atrium. Ugh. That would likely have nothing to do with my other symptoms, or at least I don't think so?, but it needs to be looked into; my doctor said that if it's continued the same, I'll need an echo to see what's going on and why.

I so hope that the blood test and stool sample will explain the fevers and why I've felt so run down, however, as much as I would like answers, I of course don't want it to be anything serious. I just hope it can be named and then resolved.

We'll see what happens and I'll keep you guys posted.

Yesterday was such a rough day. I won't even go into it all. Anyway, today I decided to just be home and only do things that make me feel good. And/or do nothing. I am baking a special Christmas cookie that if very good, I'll submit to a recipe contest. The deadline is November 1st, so I had to make them now. They are a sandwich type cookie. The cookie part is a buttery, chocolaty, nut wafer with also a touch of lemon zest and cinnamon. In between will be a thin layer of raspberry preserves and a layer of hazelnut rum filling. Then once sandwiched and firmed a bit, I will dip the sandwich cookies' tops in chocolate and put either a half of a walnut or a half blanched/skinned almond on top of that. They are called Ischel Torte Cookies and are based on the favorite cookie of the emperor Franz Joseph I from the Austro-Hungarian empire.