Good appointment today

tjt6768

Hi folks.
Well, when we finally got in to see the Doc (they were running about an hour late :roll: ) I saw one of Dr M*****'s undelings.. A really smashing fella who's name I probably could not pronounce..
Anyway, he gave me a thorough checking over, read all the notes, checked the pain map etc.
Answered all the questions too.
He thinks that I might have some psoriasis but isn't too sure about it.. (I have a nasty raw patch on my hand that has flared up aong with the rest of the stuff with this latest flare, plus a couple more patches on elbows, calfs etc)
He wanted to wait until I have seen the gastro lot in December before starting me on any treatment, that way I suppose that if it turns out there is inflamation in the bowel (IBD) and not just IBS it would influence the meds?
After a quick word with his gaffer though he said they wanted me on Sulfasalazine straight away..
SO, at last they are doing something... I also had another steroid injection in mi bum.
They are going to be seeing me much more regularly than they were until things are sorted.
I go back in ten weeks.

Although it seems strange to be happy to be taking MORE meds, I am happy that at last something is happening, and I hope that these tablets help.
Starting off at one per day for a week, then two for a week, three, then four.


Thanks everyone for coming along with me today... You were all very well behaved indeed...


What can I expect from the Sulfa? Any ideas??

barbara12

Hi Tony
I can feel your relief, its make such a difference when you know you are getting the right treatment at last, and Im so glad they are seeing you more often, so at least if you have any worries..you know it wont be long between appointments
Sending you loads of good vibes for the sulfa....

tjt6768

Thanks Barbara hun.. Hope you are ok too?

suzygirl

Hi Tony, glad you had a good appt and that they aretaking things seriously. I was on sulfa for a while. It gave me headaches to start with and luminous wee, but not any other side effects. They say it can give you an upset tummy as well.

Main things are if you have severe mouth ulcers or a rash to stop it as they are allergic reactions. I hope it helps you.

tjt6768

suzygirl wrote:

Hi Tony, glad you had a good appt and that they aretaking things seriously. I was on sulfa for a while. It gave me headaches to start with and luminous wee, but not any other side effects. They say it can give you an upset tummy as well.

Main things are if you have severe mouth ulcers or a rash to stop it as they are allergic reactions. I hope it helps you.

Thanks Suzy.. I will be on the lookout for such things
Hopefully I will tolerate it quite well... I am used to the diahorrea so that ain't no biggie, lol..

CJHunter

Hey T, with all that support in your pocket the consultant just had to do summat.

Very vivid wee, quite amazing esp when you get to higher dose. Shows kidneys are working i suppose ; )

Glad you got extra support as needed, now you can help me to get same, lol
well done you.
C xx

mig

glad it went well tone,hope the new meds work for you. Mig

dreamdaisy

What can you expect from Sulph? In the early days (possibly) headaches, nausea, bruising, later maybe mouth ulcers, and after a good few years tinnitus. I had the bruising (foul for the first six weeks) and I now have the tinnitus (briefly a problem at night but I am getting better at 'tuning' it out). Lucozade wee is the norm and not a problem (but so explain to nurses if they need a sample that the sulp causes the colour). If it is psoriasis then the sulph should help to control that.

I am glad it was a better appointment Tony, it's about time you had some better treatment. DD

tjt6768

thanks ladies.
It's a good job I'm a bloke n I don't cry cos I reckon yellow tears would freak people out, lol..
Thanks for the info.. I'll keep an eye out for any of the symptoms.
I'm gonna see if there is any kind of app for the phone to tell people what meds I'm on just in case.. Like a medi bracelet type idea..
If not I'll figure out a way of doing it. Been meaning to look for similar for Janet's phone.

Right, exhaustion setting in. be back later, thank you all once again,i really do appreciate it

tjt6768

I've found a brilliant free app for my phone, it's an ICE one (In Case of Emergencies) available on android phones, I assume for the others too. I've put in my emergency contact info, doctors, allergies, all my varying ailments, blood type etc.. I've saved it into my home screen. That way, if anything should happen the emergency services have all the info they need. Excellent...

valval

tony so glad you getting sorted at last should make a lot of difference to you good luck val

Poppyg1rl

Hi Tony,
Oh I'm so pleased for you that you have had a good appointment and finally they are sorting out some decent meds for you.
Sulfa is ok, I did get headaches in the beginning but, they went when I started drinking lots of water.
Wishing you all the best Tony Xxx

cloud9

Really pleased to hear that they're starting to help you and that you're happy with their suggestions.

magenta

Hi Tony,

Really pleased for you. It sounds like you got a good dr today Can't help with sulpha I'm afraid but there are plenty of people on here who will able to advise you.

Hope Janet feeling better too,

Magenta x

tjt6768

thanks ladies.
I'm hoping that I'm good with the sulfa. The hydroxy just made me lose my appetite and two stone :shock: Now that bit I didn't mind but everyone was having a go telling me it wasn't healthy, lol..

I'm taking one per day this week, then slowly increasing it. Should be ok.
I know I shouldn't but I'm feeling positive that this will help.

Magenta, Janet is lots better hun, thank you..
We are both looking forward to going away next monday.
So we both need to be fighting fit. There are hoards of killer tomatoes in them there woods. They almost had us last year at one point :eek:

magenta

Hi again,

It does give you a kind of boost when, even though the dr's told you you have a health condition, you feel good about it!

Enjoy your time away,

Magenta x

joanlawson

Hi Tony

I'm so pleased for you that your appointment went well, and I hope that the Sulfa will help you to feel better. It's good that they are going to keep an eye on you more closely too.

I hope that you and Janet will have a lovely holiday next week. You both deserve a good break.

Joanx

tjt6768

I know what you mean. The last doctor I saw had me doubting everything. I left the room after seeing him with more questions than answers. He told me that he dint even think I had RA..
At least now I know that it is what I have and I can start getting the right treatment. Since I stopped the hydroxy at the back end of last year, I've been on no kind of treatments.. Just the depo injections.
I know that today I've been told that it's possible that I also have psorisis which would mean PA, and I may have IBD and not IBS.. But they are both just maybes, and I honestly wouldn't care at this point as long as I know they can help.
He said that he would be highly surprised if the gastro team don't find inflammation in the bowel meaning Inflammatory Bowel Disease.. Either way the Sulfa should help all of the above. So I know I'm starting on the right treatment regardless.

Oh, I can't wait to be up there in ther log cabin.. Only thing, I may not have signal :shock: :shock: I don't know if I can survive five days :eek:

Hi Joan. Thank you hun. Sounds silly saying it's good news but that's how I'm looking at it. Especially after the last appointment..
Xx

cacyhi

Hi Tony,
Really pleased your appointment went well. Diagnosis isnt everything but it kind of helps to know what your fighting, doesnt it? I so hope the meds suit you and you dont get too many side effects- its always a trade off, isnt it? that's what really gets to me at times.

Great that you are going away next week as you must have got a bit worked up about the appointment and now you can relax.

Love the haloween outfit on your link!
Take care

tjt6768

Thanks hun.. Yep, there is usually some price to pay for relief from this rubbish..

I've got my fingers painfully crossed, lol.

My outfit? Lol
I hope to scare our friends with it when we go. Haha
I might go for a late night walk in the woods..... Woooooo-oooooooo spooky.

cacyhi wrote:

Hi Tony,
Really pleased your appointment went well. Diagnosis isnt everything but it kind of helps to know what your fighting, doesnt it? I so hope the meds suit you and you dont get too many side effects- its always a trade off, isnt it? that's what really gets to me at times.

Great that you are going away next week as you must have got a bit worked up about the appointment and now you can relax.

Love the haloween outfit on your link!
Take care

julie47

Tony, I am over the moon for you that atlast they are doing something to help you .
Probably a good thing to leave the heavy stuff out until you see the peeps in december, but, atleast you know they are now looking out for you.

I hope you soon start to feel the benefit of the steroid and sulpher.

Take care
Keep dancing
Love Juliepf x

nanasue

Morning Tony,
I've only just seen this as broadband is a bit poorly at the moment the doc(engineer) is coming today so hopefully all will be well. I'm glad you had a really good appt: it's great when something like that happens, makes you feel so much more positive.
I know you will be on sulpha, I hope it works for you as it does for the majority of people, it didn't for me though, the side effects were unbearable, but don't worry, I can't take hydroxy or leflunomide either and I have troble with a lot of painkillers so I think it's just me, I can't tolerate things very well.
Hope it all goes well for you and you start to feel an improvement soon.

Sue x

bubbadog

Hi Tony, Glad you got some answers yesterday! And I know you've have had to add a few new meds to what your taking and I know it means taking more tablets 'but whats a few more tablets between friends!!' Sounds like it was a good visit! Hope you are still ticking over! Bubba sends his love and a few purrs! I hope Janet and yourself are doing alright in this crazy weather fuss to Ra as well. Take care me old friend chat soon. Amanda.

tjt6768

thanks ladies.
I'm still pleased about the appointment.. I think the fact they left me with no meds for the last ten months to a year is probably to blame for the crappy year I've had but never mind. Cannot change that fact..
Julie, hope you are doing ok hun.
Sue, I know all about broadband issues hun, lol.. Thank you. :P
Amanda, bless ya. We are both ok. Ra said to tell Bubba to get ready for an assignment. Something to do with burying some fool in a desert..
News is saying it's been done but that's a cover. Must be as I know Ra hasn't left the house today as he's been laid on my bed next to me :shock:

Mat48

Sorry Tony I've only just spotted this as using my smart phone because broadband connection terrible here just now - so been chatting about self and your sulfa on someone else's thread all this time! But just to say I'm delighted that you are at last getting some proper medical care at least. And everything lies in recognition and not being left in limbo land untreated, feeling abandoned so completely understand why you are high now. Have fun on holiday - you deserve it!

tjt6768

Thanks Mat
Can't wait to get away. Although I know that at the minute I'm much more limited than I was last year at this time. Still determined to enjoy it though.
I will be strapping the knees up and taking the sticks and crutches, walking as much as I can get away with. Taking some oromorph so I can have a swig before setting out on a twenty four mile hike around Keilder Water itself, lol.. Yeah right..
There is a heated indoor pool and a sauna, will certainly make good use of those.