On December 9, 2007 at 10:07 PM Pacific Time, Holly2212 wrote: So here is an update.  I have been to see another orthopedic surgeon, this one in Vancouver (a 2 hour ferry ride from my city)  and he is willing to replace both my knees at the ripe old age of 51! Now I just have about a month to get ready for the first knee and three months for the next one...  so any advice anyone has to offer would be welcome! How exciting and terrifying at the same time Holly HELLO, I WAS 43 WHEN I HAD MY RIGHT KNEE REPLACED AND I NEED THE OTHER ONE DONE BUT I AM GOING TO WAIT UNTIL I CAN'T WALK ON IT FIRST.I THINK THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS STRENTHEN YOUR UPPER BODY SO YOU CAN GET AROUND BETTER I WILL HELP MORE THAT ANYTHING. GOOD LUCK.  I HAD THE LAP BAND DONE 7-30-07 AND IT'S HARDER TO LOSE WEIGHT THAN THE RNY, I HAVE LOST ABOUT 40LBS BUT 5 MONTHS OF THE 9 MONTHS I HAVE HAD IT DONE I DIDN'T LOSE OR GAIN. MY FILL WAS TO MUCH SO FINALLY I WENT TO HAVE SOME TAKEN OUT BECAUSE I GAGED AND STAYED OVER THE TRASH CAN TO TRY TO THROW UP. SO I GOT IN THERE AND MY PORT HAD FLIPPED OVER BACKWARD SO I HAD TO GO IN FOR SURGERY TO HAVE IT TURNED OVER AND SEWED BACK IN BUT I CAN'T HARDLY EXERCISE MY BACK IS EAT UP WITH ARTHRITIS TO I GET SHOTS IN IT EVERY 3 MONTHS. DO YOU OR ANYONE HAVE ANY TIPS FOR ME. I AM GETTING REAL DISCOURAGED. HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE. ANY GOOD EXERCISES THAT I CAN DO I ALSO HAVE FIBROMYALGIA, I HAVE LOTS OF PAIN AND GOTO A PAIN CLINIC BUT I NEED TO EXERCISE HELP....SHARON

Steroids do cause weight gain, that's just a fact...I go on them but only for high dose short courses in order to control a flare.  I am taking MTX and Humira currently....I am feeling very unwell today, I am having a bad reaction to the methrexate.  Ever since I injected I have been experieincing severe lower adbominal cramping..The area around my navel is distenended and so tender, I can't have my sweats rolled down..If I press on the area, it seems to set off intense pain..I called the doc who prescribed an antispasmodic called Bentyl....I am having some relieve....The constant cramping is down to a wave of severe cramping every hour or so, I am still quite nauseated and my whole abdomen feels like I have been doing crunches for hours. I know this is not my appendix or a gynecological problem, I can hear my intestines rumbling....I hate My Rheumatoid condition, but the weight loss had seriously relieved some of my joint pain.  I was using a wheel chair until about six months after my WLS surgery....

hello Kim, Well I live in Chicago so I can understand the weather part... This winter was very harsh on me...  I did notice that in the summer time I had really no problems with the weather... People saythat the problem is with the changes in barometric pressure and how that affects us arthritis sufferers. there is a gret arthritis website where I have made some relly great friends...dailystrength.org  they have a section in there for people with all different types of arthritis.. I am in the arthritis and also the rhumetoid arthritis forums... Thanks, Irene =)

Back in September of 2007, I stopped taking the Lyrica after about three weeks as I saw no improvement.  My doc started me on 75 mg once daily for a week and then 75 mg/twice day.  I did it for three weeks and noticed no difference in the pain.  I went for several months suffering terrible pain.  I have been taking so much ibuprofen (at least 6 - 8 per day) as well as Tramadol (6/day) and still the pain was barely manageable.  For some reason the Tramadol was not really doing anything for me.   I am scared about taking so much ibuprofen for so long but the pain was unbearable.  I finally did my own research and decided my rheumatologist was not giving me enough Lyrica, so I called him and told him I wanted to try 300 mg/day.  However, I am starting back slowly, taking 75mg three times a day, and for the most part I am getting relief.  At this point, I am down to 2 ibuprofen a day and not necessarily using the Tramadol unless it is a bad day.    I am noticing a bit more hunger but my band is revolting and making me throw up what I can't keep down.  Kind of like "God doing for me what I can't do for myself!!!"  I had the flu a couple of weeks ago and lost 5 pounds and I am sure I probably put it back on since then with this Lyrica, so be careful out there!   I have spent so much $$$ at doctor's offices trying to find out what was wrong with me and initally I thought it was Fibromyalgia but they had to run every test under the sun to eliminate everything else, so after almost a year of pain I am now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I wonder if my doctor can give me a presciption for a hot tub.  I know that would help me so much.  Seriously, I got a prescription from my chiropracter for one of those air beds, and I didn't have to pay tax.  Every bit helps.  Now I just have to talk my wonderful husband into it.  I also wouldn't mind a handicapped sticker to use on those days when I can barely walk!!

I live in a terribly cold climate with humidity and cold in the negatives many times a winter. This winter has been terrible and my arthritis is so bad this year.  Do you think there is a correlation between weather and arthritis or is that an old wives tale?. I went to Florida for a few days and didn't need my meds nearly as much.  Was it coincidence or could it be truth.  I would love your input.  I would move in a minute if we can get new jobs,  Thanks, Kim M.