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Home > Archive > Lupus Support > June 2006 > Lupus Question
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| Hello.
I was diagnosed with RA/SLE back in 1989. Something I've always noticed is
that when I'm sick, whether it's a cold, sinus infection, etc., or when I
have an injury (surgery, cut, burn, etc.) the joint & muscle pain is very
mild. After the healing of the wound/infection is over, pain returns to
the usual level. I'm guessing it's because my immune system is focused on
the injury and not the rest of my body (?).
I've been dealing with sinus infections about 4 times a year since around
the same time I was dx'd with RA/SLE. It's nice to have a break from the
everyday aches & pains when I've got the sinus infection. I don't know
what makes me more miserable... the joint/muscle pain or the sinus
infections?
I just had foot surgery 6 weeks ago... reconstruction of my metatarsals...
where the Dr. cuts off the heads of the metatarsals so that my toes with
drop back down to the normal position... and it was a WONDERFUL break from
the aches/pains of RA/SLE -- even though I was dealing with the pain from
the surgery.
Does this happen with most/many Lupus patients?
--
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
"Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
| |
| Sherry 2006-06-07, 9:25 pm |
| Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus
infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on it.
You know like kicking something and hurting your foot so your head will stop
the excruciating pain and the feelings of your head is going to explode of
your migrane headache...but the headache is still there but you are now
concentrating on the toes you just broke.
Glad to hear that the surgery and the results of it are wonderful!
Sherry
| |
|
| Sherry wrote:
> Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus
> infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on
> it. You know like kicking something and hurting your foot so your
> head will stop the excruciating pain and the feelings of your head is
> going to explode of your migrane headache...but the headache is still
> there but you are now concentrating on the toes you just broke.
>
> Glad to hear that the surgery and the results of it are wonderful!
>
> Sherry
Nope! Ain't it... The symptoms of RA/SLE (pain, stiffness and inflamation)
are much better whenever I either have in injury or a serious chronic sinus
infection. I'm certain.
Last week (5 weeks after the surgery -- when things were pretty well healed)
I started getting the severe pain & stiffness in my joints and muscles
again. Then I came down with a wicked bad cold and got a nasty sinus
infection this past weekend and now I'm almost pain-free. Maybe it's the
antibiotics? I usually have to take them for 21-42 days to completely get
rid of the infection. And like I said before... I'm taking the antibiotics
4-5 times a year. I've heard that antibiotics help some others with
arthritis (?). You'd think that know a lot about SLE (having it for what,
16 years now), but I don't.
I take Enbrel shots twice a week whenever I can. I miss the doses more
often than I take 'em because of the sinus infections. My Rheumy and I
think maybe it's the Enbrel that's (not causing, but) aggrevating the sinus
allergies/infections. She'll take me off the Enbrel until I call her back
and beg her to prescribe it again because I'm in so much pain. Two shots
later, the pain is at a tolerable level, but then my sinuses start to bother
me again. I had the same problem with Methotrexate years ago. It's a
constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and
controlling the sinus infections.
--
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
"Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
| |
| Shelagh 2006-06-08, 4:27 pm |
| I had a friend, who has just died a few months ago, who had RA all her =
childbearing years and older to 85 when she died and she was maintained =
all those years on penacillamine.... don't know just what the =
relationship to the other antibiotics is but I do know that lupus =
patients should avoid it due to 'sensitivities'.... that is about the =
extent of my knowledge on it... but as well this friend of mine never =
had to take another med for pain her entire lifetime! It worked for her =
and worked well and I still don't understand why..... I read about it =
and found out that it is an oldstanding and 'old fashioned' med for =
treating RA.... worked like a hot dam for her!!! HTH!
hugs,
Shelagh
"K3" <k3(86_the_Spam)@maine.rr.com> wrote in message =
news:67Khg.10223$3B.10009@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> Sherry wrote:
>=20
> Nope! Ain't it... The symptoms of RA/SLE (pain, stiffness and =
inflamation)=20
> are much better whenever I either have in injury or a serious chronic =
sinus=20
> infection. I'm certain.
>=20
> Last week (5 weeks after the surgery -- when things were pretty well =
healed)=20
> I started getting the severe pain & stiffness in my joints and muscles =
> again. Then I came down with a wicked bad cold and got a nasty sinus =
> infection this past weekend and now I'm almost pain-free. Maybe it's =
the=20
> antibiotics? I usually have to take them for 21-42 days to =
completely get=20
> rid of the infection. And like I said before... I'm taking the =
antibiotics=20
> 4-5 times a year. I've heard that antibiotics help some others with=20
> arthritis (?). You'd think that know a lot about SLE (having it for =
what,=20
> 16 years now), but I don't.
>=20
> I take Enbrel shots twice a week whenever I can. I miss the doses =
more=20
> often than I take 'em because of the sinus infections. My Rheumy and =
I=20
> think maybe it's the Enbrel that's (not causing, but) aggrevating the =
sinus=20
> allergies/infections. She'll take me off the Enbrel until I call her =
back=20
> and beg her to prescribe it again because I'm in so much pain. Two =
shots=20
> later, the pain is at a tolerable level, but then my sinuses start to =
bother=20
> me again. I had the same problem with Methotrexate years ago. It's =
a=20
> constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and=20
> controlling the sinus infections.
>=20
> --=20
> Kendall F. Stratton III
> Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
> k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
> http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
>=20
> "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
>=20
>
| |
| Beverley 2006-06-08, 4:27 pm |
| Sometimes I think my wild, over active, immune system is just so happy to
have something valid to concentrate on that it leaves the rest of me alone.
I would look for allergen sources within your home. Starting with things
like furnace filters and heat/air ducts. Next check the drip pan under the
frig.
Bev
"K3" <k3(86_the_Spam)@maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:67Khg.10223$3B.10009@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> Sherry wrote:
>
> Nope! Ain't it... The symptoms of RA/SLE (pain, stiffness and
inflamation)
> are much better whenever I either have in injury or a serious chronic
sinus
> infection. I'm certain.
>
> Last week (5 weeks after the surgery -- when things were pretty well
healed)
> I started getting the severe pain & stiffness in my joints and muscles
> again. Then I came down with a wicked bad cold and got a nasty sinus
> infection this past weekend and now I'm almost pain-free. Maybe it's the
> antibiotics? I usually have to take them for 21-42 days to completely
get
> rid of the infection. And like I said before... I'm taking the
antibiotics
> 4-5 times a year. I've heard that antibiotics help some others with
> arthritis (?). You'd think that know a lot about SLE (having it for
what,
> 16 years now), but I don't.
>
> I take Enbrel shots twice a week whenever I can. I miss the doses more
> often than I take 'em because of the sinus infections. My Rheumy and I
> think maybe it's the Enbrel that's (not causing, but) aggrevating the
sinus
> allergies/infections. She'll take me off the Enbrel until I call her
back
> and beg her to prescribe it again because I'm in so much pain. Two shots
> later, the pain is at a tolerable level, but then my sinuses start to
bother
> me again. I had the same problem with Methotrexate years ago. It's a
> constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and
> controlling the sinus infections.
>
> --
> Kendall F. Stratton III
> Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
> k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
> http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
>
> "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
>
>
| |
|
| Shelagh wrote:
> I had a friend, who has just died a few months ago, who had RA all
> her childbearing years and older to 85 when she died and she was
> maintained all those years on penacillamine.... don't know just what
> the relationship to the other antibiotics is but I do know that lupus
> patients should avoid it due to 'sensitivities'.... that is about the
> extent of my knowledge on it... but as well this friend of mine never
> had to take another med for pain her entire lifetime! It worked for
> her and worked well and I still don't understand why..... I read
> about it and found out that it is an oldstanding and 'old fashioned'
> med for treating RA.... worked like a hot dam for her!!! HTH!
> hugs,
> Shelagh
Hello Shelah,
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. :-(
I found some info on Penicillamine
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/...pdi/202445.html) and am going
to discuss this with my Rheumy and ENT to see if many it will help control
both the RA/SLE and the Chronic Sinusitis/Rhinitis.
The DMARDS that are out there today (Enbrel, MTX, etc.) work wonderful in
controlling the pain/stiffness, but seem to aggrevate the Sinusitis.
Thanks for the info. :-)
--
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
"Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
| |
|
| Beverley wrote:
> Sometimes I think my wild, over active, immune system is just so
> happy to have something valid to concentrate on that it leaves the
> rest of me alone.
>
> I would look for allergen sources within your home. Starting with
> things like furnace filters and heat/air ducts. Next check the drip
> pan under the frig.
> Bev
>
So then, you experience the same as I do... relief from pain & stiffness
when sick/injured?
We've got 4 well-know allergens in this house: Ginger, Angel, Maggie and
Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). They are our 4
cats. I'm almost certain that I'm allergic to them, but there's no way that
we can get rid of them. I do take Claratin and Sudafed on a daily basis.
I also run 4 HEPA air-cleaners whenever the windows are closed (winter
season) and vacuum the house thoroughly every day. The rest of the year the
windows are wide open. It's definitely the indoor allergens that bother me
the most. I irrigate my sinuses twice a day with homemade saline solution
(1/2 tsp of Kosher Salt and 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda mixed with 2 cups of warm
water).
--
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
"Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
| |
|
|
| William R Thompson 2006-06-09, 2:29 am |
| "K3" wrote:
> We've got 4 well-know allergens in this house: Ginger, Angel, Maggie and
> Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). They are our 4
> cats. I'm almost certain that I'm allergic to them, but there's no way
> that we can get rid of them.
Cats definitely hate to lose a good
housekeeper/cook/groomer/entertainer/lap-provider.
Have you tried grooming them with a spray-on moisturizer? Your
local pet shop should have one for cats. They can help with the
dander and dried saliva.
--Bill Thompson
| |
| Beverley 2006-06-09, 9:25 pm |
| Drooling is not very becoming on a grown man. You can get by with it when
you are under two years of age.
Bev
"Andy" <andy@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1cySwtWlkIiEFw8J@kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk...
> In article <vj%hg.14165$W97.2320@twister.nyroc.rr.com>, K3
> <k3@maine.rr.com> wrote
>
> Drool...
> --
> Andy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group]
> See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more!
| |
| Beverley 2006-06-10, 2:27 am |
| For starters what is the basket weave you have at the window? (I wouldn't
dare take a photo of my bedroom - it's too messy and dusty!) The cats are
adorable!
Maybe if there is something legitimate going on the lupus seems to be less
active in other areas - it just concentrates on the injury!
That nasal wash is good if you are jammed up but like any decongestant it
should only be used for a few days otherwise it stimulates the nasal
passages to make more mucus.
Get some Lysol or other antibacterial spray and shoot it through the ducts.
The intake ducts are a great place to start while the unit is running. Then
turn it off and do the other ducts. Refrigerator drip pans can usually be
removed and washed in the kitchen sink. Usually you have to pop the bottom
grill off the frig to get to it. Those things can make a BIG difference!
Bev
"K3" <k3(86_the_Spam)@maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:vj%hg.14165$W97.2320@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> Beverley wrote:
>
>
>
> So then, you experience the same as I do... relief from pain & stiffness
> when sick/injured?
>
> We've got 4 well-know allergens in this house: Ginger, Angel, Maggie and
> Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). They are our 4
> cats. I'm almost certain that I'm allergic to them, but there's no way
that
> we can get rid of them. I do take Claratin and Sudafed on a daily basis.
> I also run 4 HEPA air-cleaners whenever the windows are closed (winter
> season) and vacuum the house thoroughly every day. The rest of the year
the
> windows are wide open. It's definitely the indoor allergens that bother
me
> the most. I irrigate my sinuses twice a day with homemade saline solution
> (1/2 tsp of Kosher Salt and 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda mixed with 2 cups of
warm
> water).
>
> --
> Kendall F. Stratton III
> Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
> k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
> http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
>
> "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
>
>
| |
|
| Beverley wrote:
> For starters what is the basket weave you have at the window? (I
> wouldn't dare take a photo of my bedroom - it's too messy and dusty!)
> The cats are adorable!
That basket weave "thingy" is a light. Thank you -- yes they are adorable.
> Maybe if there is something legitimate going on the lupus seems to be
> less active in other areas - it just concentrates on the injury!
>
That's what I'm wondering. Is is like this for (m)any Lupus patients?
> That nasal wash is good if you are jammed up but like any
> decongestant it should only be used for a few days otherwise it
> stimulates the nasal passages to make more mucus.
>
If I don't irrigate at least once a day, I'm misserable and things are worse
tomarrow.
> Get some Lysol or other antibacterial spray and shoot it through the
> ducts. The intake ducts are a great place to start while the unit is
> running. Then turn it off and do the other ducts.
We should own Lysol stocks... we use so much of that stuff. We spray
everything with it. No air ducts in this house -- Wood as Primary,
Baseboard hot-water heat as Secondary
> Refrigerator drip pans can usually be removed and washed in the
> kitchen sink. Usually you have to pop the bottom grill off the frig to
> get to it. Those things can make a BIG difference!
>
I will check the fridge drip pan today!
Thanks!
--
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3
"Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!"
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