It has been a long time since my last post (hmm…a year or so?) Life has been crazy here! Had a son graduate high school, got him off to college and also I have been having major health issues with my RA going wild and crazy mad on me! Then in June of this year I guess my estrogen level went in the negative numbers – that has been causing the worst female issues eva! I have not been able to exercise for three months due to ridiculous female issues. It is always something isn't it?!
Anyways, I hope everyone's auto-immune stuff is under control and getting better each day! I thought I would post about some stuff I have been trying to get my RA under control. I guess my immune system is in the tank since I have been on Enbrel for like 9 years.So I have had to stop injecting the stuff for a month and man did I ever pay the price. Horrible RA flare – but I developed a yeast infection the day after I took Enbrel – this happened two times, so I know it was not coincidence. I guess when your estrogen is low, infections are a little more common – but throw that in with an immune system that does not exist do to our wonderful meds that we take, and yikes! I have to tell ya I hate menopause! So, I am back on Enbrel as of last week and what a difference – but I am only going to inject once a week instead of twice so I can try to keep my immune system from tanking. Who knows about biologicals long term effects? I mean maybe I will drop dead after using this stuff for 20 years – just not enough long term studies as far as I am concerned. But, and this is a BIG BUT, I cannot function or move my hands and knees and elbows, etc without it. So it is quality of life verses quantity I guess. What a choice!
As you all know I tried the raw, vegan diet for 6 months but there was no change with my RA. I still eat lots of raw veggies, fruits, do alot of green juice and smoothies. But I do have limited dairy and grains now and then. And my Paleo diet friend swears I need meat in my system, so I have had some chicken here and there. Meat still kind of grosses me out and stops me up too. So the jury is out on this one. (On a side note that Paleo diet thing has sure taken off hasn't it?) Anyways, I decided to look into some other things for my joint pain and stumbled on to this stuff called Blue Emu. I don't want to offend any vegans as I know this stuff contains animal oil in it (this particular product comes from emu's that have already been used for their meat so they don't kill emus just for the oil) – but I was given a jar of it to try. I know their are ethical questions related to the use of emu oil. I have questions myself. Although, most vegetarians I know own leather couches, leather shoes and purses, etc. So this complex issue exists already. It is a conundrum and I will have to research this a little more before I would purchase this ointment myself. This Blue Emu also has aloe, MSM, glucosamine and other stuff in it as well. It does not smell and is not greasy.
Have a great week!
5 comments:
Well...glad to see you back and posting again. But I am truly sorry about all your issues over the past year. I started blogging just about four months ago. I can relate to the ups and downs, ins and outs and all abouts with this disease. It can be so tough. I used Enbrel for years also but stopped it after I had surgery on my thyroid and they found two cancers in it. I opted to not do the tnfs. I take only pregnisone and ultram. Neither really do the trick but what are we to do. Damned if we do and dammed if we don't. Hang in there and let's keep our eyes crossed that the Enbrel remains your magic bullet.
I was just wondering about you the other day. So glad you posted.
I have read stuff about gluten-free and dairy-free helping RA but I am sure it is different for different people.
I haven't heard anything before about the Emu but I have tried a lot of natural stuff and salves and they don't cut the pain when it is too bad.
Glad to see you back. I've been wondering how you have been doing. Menopause ugh!! Drove me right out of remission and back into full blown RA mode.
Hi Deb, so do you think the cancers coul dhave been caused by Enbrel? Wow, I hope you start to feel better! And I agree - damned if we do damned if we dont!
Hi Bitt, how are you?!!!
Mary, Hi, menopause is the worst! Low estrogen causes dry issues and its unbearable. I hope your RA is better and you are getting control of it!
yes it is good to follow a diet but also understand the calls and needs of the body to make it useful to you.Will rub in this cream when in pain thanks for the help.Medical Billing Software
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