Todays Rheumy appointment

tjt6768

hi folks.
I had my rheumy appointment this morning.
The specialist was on holiday so I saw a lovely young wummun who was covering for him.
She was going to start me on the meth but wanted to try increasing the sulfa first as I've tolerated that quite well, and it is doing something, just not enough.. So I'm going from four tablets to six. Also going to add amitriptoline to the mix. All the muscles in my neck and shoulders are tensed up. I've got OA in my neck, which I had already guessed due to the pain and the creaking. So some physio for that. I've to stop the pred tablets I'm on, but I knew they were short term and had another kenalog injection.
If the increase in sulfa doesn't do much then they will start me on meth..
Guess I'll have to see how it goes..
Thanks peeps.

dreamdaisy

Right, so that is a small step forward inasmuch as the sulph has been doing summat. I guess you'll increase to three in the morning then two at night for a week, then three both times? Hopefully the amytryp will help to ease those aching muscles, the physio too and then we'll review the situation, yes? DD

mig

Well at least they are trying something before starting the meth,hope it works for you.Mig

Numptydumpty

It sounds like a fairly positive appointment. Let's hope the extra sulph helps enough that you don't need the meth.
All the best,
Numpty

barbara12

Tony I am glad you had a good appointment, it goes a long way when you are treated properly.
I take amytriptaline at night , and it is very good for getting a good nights sleep, I hope it works well for you. x

fowls48

Hi Tony

Hope all goes well for you , and helps with the aches and pains .Crikey its about time your body gave you a break .


karen xx

tjt6768

Hi folks.. Yes, it's better to try the increased sulfa before giving the meth a whirl.. And DD, spot on with the increase hun..

I had a temazepam last night, slept great.... I vaguely rememeber being on the amiprtiptoline many years ago but can't remember how I was on them..
I guess I now wait for them to get through to the GP's to change things around..
Blasted neck is horrid this evening, mind you, so are the other joints, as usual after the necesary prodding and poking etc lol

Thank you all again

7worlds

Glad your appointment went well for you Tony. Hope the extra Sulpha makes a big difference for you.

7worlds

dibdab

Glad the appointment went well, hope the incrreases sulpha works for you.
Deb x

LignumVitae

I really hope the increase works for you and the ami sorts stuff out too. Progress of a kind, here's hoping the physio can work some wonders for you.
Big hugs, love, LV xx

joanlawson

I'm glad to hear that things went well for you Tony, and I hope that the meds will help to ease your pain.

julie47

Hi tony

Lets hope the increase in sulpha helps you and that the amitriptoline is as beneficial to you as it has been for me (my really bad headaches caused by my neck have been so much better since taking the amitrip )

Take care
Juliepf x

tjt6768

thanks once more
I'm waiting a few days then will make an appointment with the GP. Give the rheumy chance to get in touch with them. I'm really hoping that the ami's DO help. The neck is becoming more and more painful.. Especially at night.
Driving hurts too and I've done quite a few extra miles since Dad first became ill around the 8th of July.
Think the physios are going to ring me to make an appointment. We have numerous council appointments coming up for repairs etc, at least Mum is here to be in.
They're having to take the bedroom window out and put a lintel in.. There isn't one at present :shock:
We have damp getting through into the spare room so can't decorate that yet, half the place needs pointing and the disabled railings need painting.. We desperately want new flooring in the wet room, it's a terrible surface for keeping clean as it has grooves in it. Neither of us can scrub it and I'm pretty sure it's not hygienic.. We have to get our neighbour round every now and then and he gets on his hands and knees bless him. The council won't replace it though, it's not damaged.. Grrrrrr..... It's awful. We are clean people and I hate it. It looks horrid sometimes and is embarrassing when people call.
Sorry, I'm waffling..
Must try to sleep soon
I hope everyone is ok?

stickywicket

It sounds like the rheumatology appt went well, Tony, and you have a plan. (Plans are good ) I hope the council repairs go smoothly and quickly. If there is damp it'll be good to get it sorted before the winter.

tjt6768

thanks SW.
A fella from the council came yesterday around noon, just to say.. Oooh, that painting is gonna be an all day job. I'll come back another day :? I wouldn't mind but the surveyor measured it all etc. he could have spent the afternoon doing one side yesterday. Utter nimrods.

I've made an appointment with the GP this morning, with the hope of getting the new meds etc. I had no sleep at all last night. Neck was very painful so would like to start the new regime sooner rather than later.
And I remembered at around six last night that I had my blood test appointment yesterday morning
:oops:

dreamdaisy

'Utter nimrods' - I like it! Never mind about the bloods, they can be done another time - you've had too much to think about recently to remember that. The good thing about the repairs is that you don't have to do 'em, OK? They will get done in time so don't stress about it, there's no need. When does the sulph increase begin, or has it? I dunno what to suggest about the neck - my Ma uses a rolled-up hand towel to support hers when in bed - she says it helps. DD

tjt6768

I started the extra sulfa this morning, so that's three per morning and two at night for a couple of weeks then increase to three at night. I got my amytriptaline this morning from the GP. So I'll start them this evening around seven should be good. Just 25mg. I do hope it helps.
For a while now I've used three separate, half moon shaped memory foam travel pillows at night. One usually fully supporting the neck and the other two between mi noggin and usually the spare moves around as needed, sometimes under an elbow or wrist...
I've now had to start using two dossette steps for each day as the tablets won't all fit into one, and they're the larger kind too lol..
Morning dose: two paracetamol, one peppermint oil, one alverine, one loratadine, one cirtalapram, one lanzoprazole and three sulfa.
Lunch dose: two paracetamol, one alverine and one peppermint oil.
Evening dose: as above
Night time dose: two paracetamol, one atorvastatin, two sulfa and a magnesium tablet.
Plus the fentanyl patches lol...
I try not to take the full dose of paracetamol each day though..

Woohoo, I'm a junkie

tjt6768

ooooh, just remembered... Night time dose: one amitryptaline :?

tjt6768

oooooh, oooooh, oooooooh... I forgot the naproxen.. One with the morning dose and one with the night time dose :?
I really do rattle when I walk :shock:

julie47

Gosh Tony with a menu like that there's no room for food

Really.....I hope the extra doses help you feel (dare I say it) more human

Take care
Love Juliepf x

tjt6768

bless ya darling. Think it would take more than a few tablets to make me feel human lol
It is a ridiculous amount of tablets eh?

joanlawson

Gosh Tony, I don't know how you remember when to take all those pills. :shock: I guess that they must all be doing you some good though, so let's hope that the new regime works even better.

tjt6768

Well folks. I took the amitriptolene two nights running... And was asleep for three days :shock: lol
They're the 25mg ones so I'm not having any more, will see the GP monday and get some 10mg ones instead. Sleep was wonderful though.. Haha
I do however wish to function a little as well. I was taking them at seven pm. I really could not wake up at all the following day. It's been quite a while since any tablet had knocked me out like that.

I'm sorry I've not been online but it just wasn't possible. I could barely stay awake long enough to even eat.

Hope everyone is ok.
I'll try catch up later.

mig

Sleep they say is a great healer let's hope its done you some good but watch those pills mate ,they sound like sneaky little blighters.Mig

tjt6768

Cheers Mig.
I ain't taking any more if them. Not that strength anyways. Will try the ten mg ones next week.

barbara12

Tony they started me on 10mg of amytriptylines..not a clue how you spell it..and now up to 25....so you would be better with the 10s....has for my neck the only thing I have found to help..is my wheat cushion the one you microwave....it helps in the short term anyhow...
Hope you get some relief very soon ((((())))