Over a week ago my Dr. called and told me to start weaning myself off the prednisone. I am alternating daily between 5mg and 2.5mg. During the last week I am having constant muscle aches varying in severity and I am very tired. After doing some research it seems this could be steriod withdrawls but my dose is so low. Can anyone help shed some light on the subject? Thank you very much for all your help:):)

Where to start! The last two weeks have been crazy. Today marks the end to my first week of nursing school and I couldnt be happier. There were times over the last few months I did not think I would be well enough to attend nursing school. But, thanks to a great Rheumy here I am!  It seemed like so long ago that I was anxiously waiting to hear where I was at on the Nursing school start list and when I would be able to begin my studies. Then the RA diagnosis........Things were changing so fast I had almost completely forgotten about nursing school. My hopes of starting  were buried under a pile of pain and confusion.

Today, I am feeling great! 95%. The Enbrel has made a considerable difference. I am still not a fan of the injections, or the site reactions. However, that is a very small price to pay for the way I am feeling today. Pain is not totally gone. I have problems in my thumbs, a nodule of my foot still,  pain in my muscle's some days, and just a few minor side effects from the meds. My Doctor called this week and said all my blood work up looked good ( except low D3) and I am starting to wean off the prednisone. My health is headed in the right direction!

Now, if someone could just tell me how to get past this finger pain so I don't fumble so much during school procedures and give me some motivation to start working out that would be very helpful:):):)

***I am working on some cool additions to the page and will be adding much new material next weekend***

Sorry for the delay in adding new material, there are just not enough hours in the day. Have a pain free weekend!!!

This has been a very exciting week for me! I had my orientation for the nursing program that I have worked so hard to get into. After many months of being sick and almost completely forgetting about my goal of becoming a nurse, the day has finally arrived. The night before I was to be at school, I put out my clothes, because I  had to be sure and wear the right things so the kids would like me:) I woke up early, had a healthy breakfast, took my meds and went skipping out the door. As I walked into orientation I was so excited I could not keep the grin off my face. I was given my crisp white uniform, pile upon pile of paperwork, schedules, expectations, books, responsibilities, and warnings. Then reality set in a bit. This is going to be a tough couple of years. What if I get sick? What if I have a flare up? Cant think straight? Forget things? Try to microwave an empty plate of food again? Yes, I actually did that. People aren't going to understand what I mean when I say RA. As soon as the word arthritis leaves my mouth reactions go from being sympathetic to saying "my grandma has that" or "I know the feeling, my hands hurt when it rains." Then it dawned on me, this has all happened and I survived. I was around people who didn't get it, working two jobs, doubles all the time, juggling medications, learning how my new body worked and even tough my hands were swollen, my feet covered in nodules, fatigued, irritable, happy, sad, no matter what state I was in, I got through it. This is how things are going to be from no on. And no matter what, I will get through it.

I have a growing pile of beautiful shoes that I can no longer wear. Flats, pumps, sandals, and flip flops. My boyfriend keeps telling me to just give them away, but he doesn't understand that it isn't just the shoe I am giving away. It feels like I am giving away a part of myself. Wearing a cute pair of pumps on a Friday night made me feel beautiful. Now I have to choose between ugly gym shoes or kind of ugly gym shoes. I am not trying to be shallow, I absolutely realized I could have things way worse. However, being a young women who is still in college, I want to look fashionable and cute.  One of the hardest things for me now that I have RA is dealing with shoes. Why are the shoes that I should be wearing  the ugliest things in the whole world! New Balance makes very comfortable shoes that look like giant silver rocket ships on my feet! I wish I could go work for a shoe company for a day and just design a few pairs of cute shoes for myself. I know certain shoes just aren't gonna happen for me anymore, but that doesn't mean I have to be forced into a life time of Velcro grandma shoes! Actually, my grandma has cuter shoes than me! Not fair:( I am now on a mission to find shoes that are both comfortable and cute. If you know of any, please share:))))))