I think I've found a cure for migraines: RA!
OK, I'm sure that's not the case – and I don't want to be taken for a crackpot – but I've only had one migraine since getting RA back at the end of November. That is totally unusual for me. The norm would be 3-4 a month.
So what's the deal? Must be the drugs I'm on. First I thought it was the Tylenol Extra-Strength (I was taking 1000 mg daily), but I stopped that about three weeks ago. So I can only presume that the other anti-inflammatory (Voltaren, aka diclofenac) I'm on or the Enbrel or Methotrexate are having some kind of effect on my migraines. Especially since spring and fall are horrible times of year for me, with falling barometric pressure being the worst trigger.
Must discuss with my neurologist next time I see him!
P.S. March 20: It's occurred to me that since there's been no sign of migraines, I can try cutting back on my prophylactic medication, so I started doing that today. I cut my morning dose of Topamax by 25 mg. We'll see how that goes, but I'm happy to be taking as little medication as possible, given how many drugs I'm on overall. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for what drugs can do for me – I shudder to think about what life would be like without them – but if I can live life equally well without them, I'm all for that!
Showing posts with label Voltaren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voltaren. Show all posts
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Ginger & Nausea
In the last few weeks, I've been suffering from nausea on and off, ie., most days, periodically throughout the day. And while it usually doesn't get that bad, it is annoying to say the least. I have no doubt it's a side effect of the Methotrexate injections I'm on once a week or the Voltaren (diclofenac). I hate the idea of taking yet another medication like Gravol to quell the nausea, so I've been resorting to ginger tea for the most part to help out.
Ginger has long been known to be a remedy for upset stomachs and the like (ever have your mum give you some ginger ale – the real stuff – when your tummy ached?). It turns out it actually does work. This study, originally presented by the National Cancer Institute in May 2009, followed 644 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy and found that ginger supplements helped reduce nausea symptoms.
Now, as the study author points out, many teas are likely made with ginger flavouring, not real ginger, but the one I drink is made with real ginger root – I made sure to check. (FYI: It's Stash Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea.) Plus, when I'm at home, I add some grated ginger root. Not only does the tea make me feel better, it's yummy!
And when the nausea gets really bad, there is another option: the makers of Gravol offer Gravol Ginger, a natural product that contains the equivalent of 500 mg of dried ginger root.
My lovely friend Becky was over last night and brought me a fresh supply of Stash. Not only does she keep me supplied with ginger tea, she brought candied ginger, too. It's an amazing treat and something you should try if you never have, but be forewarned! It's sweet, but has an incredible bite and sharpness to it – I don't know how else to describe it. I find it incredibly irresistible!
P.S. Becky also makes the best salads ever!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Medications + Supplements
Before the rheumatoid arthritis hit, I thought I already popped plenty of pills. Ha! That was a misconception!
I've been on prednisone just a short time now, but it's doing the trick that anti-inflammatories alone weren't doing. I'm starting to feel like I can move somewhat normally, although my hands and feet don't want to play along most days.
My rheumatologist wants me off the prednisone asap, though (me, too!), so as soon as I can get all the vaccines/TB tests/chest x-rays I need and get the insurance company go-ahead, major drug use is in the forecast.
Medications, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Prednisone (20mg 1x/once daily)
Voltaren (75mg/2x daily)
Prevacid (30mg/1x daily)
Tylenol Extra Strength (400mg/4x daily)
Medications, Migraines
Topamax (75mg a.m. daily/50mg p.m. daily)
Verapamil (40 mg/2x daily)
Loestrin
Imitrex (20mg nasal spray; as needed)
Supplements
Vitamin D3 (1000UI/2x daily)
Calcium (500mg/1x daily)
Vitamin C (500mg/1x daily)
Omega 3 Fish Oil (1000 mg/3x daily)
Glucosamine (500mg/1x daily)
Ginseng (55 mg/2x daily)
Biotin (1000 mcg/1x daily)
Multivitamin (1x daily)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Oh Lordy! Part 3
Dec. 25
My feet swell up Christmas night.* I can feel it as it happens, they swell that quickly. Merry Christmas to me!
*A quick call to the pharmacist (whom I now know by her first name – I even have her cell phone number if you can believe it!) the next morning reveals that since I've had five doses of Voltaren, it's unlikely the swelling is caused by an allergy to the drug, but rather the busyness of the season. That despite the fact that I pretty much gave up on everything but the bare essentials well before our Christmas Eve celebrations. Nonetheless, she advises more rest. My sisters kindly allow me to sit about, as they have already through all of our celebrations, with my feet up – literally and figuratively!
My feet swell up Christmas night.* I can feel it as it happens, they swell that quickly. Merry Christmas to me!
*A quick call to the pharmacist (whom I now know by her first name – I even have her cell phone number if you can believe it!) the next morning reveals that since I've had five doses of Voltaren, it's unlikely the swelling is caused by an allergy to the drug, but rather the busyness of the season. That despite the fact that I pretty much gave up on everything but the bare essentials well before our Christmas Eve celebrations. Nonetheless, she advises more rest. My sisters kindly allow me to sit about, as they have already through all of our celebrations, with my feet up – literally and figuratively!
Oh Lordy! Part 2
Dr. Brown's office calls on Friday – they've gotten me an appointment with a rheumatologist the following Wed. Dec. 23. Hallelujah! I'm thrilled! I thought it would take weeks to get in with a specialist.
A friend offers to take me, but I thought I'd drive (we're without an editor at the magazine, so I've got the parking spot at the moment, and it's a godsend at times because my feet feel like they've been beaten with a cane) and there's parking at the rheumatologist's, so at first I say, no.
The day before the appointment, though, I feel so crappy I call to tell her I'll take her up on her offer. It's a good thing I do. The rheumatologist is very nice, exams my joints, takes my history, reviews my bloodwork from Dr. Brown and tells me she thinks I have rheumatoid arthritis. I promptly burst into tears. Not surprising. That's the way I react when I'm in shock. Despite hours and hours now of searching the internet, and hoping that it's something else, everything I've been reading leads me to think the same thing.
Full of hope that's it's not a chronic thing, I ask if it could be a viral form of arthritis. She says possibly and that we'll do all kinds of bloodwork, including checking for that. She's also going to send me for x-rays to see if there's any indication of damage. Before I go she gives me a corticosteroid injection to help me out over the holidays; I choose that over Prednisone pills, since I don't want to get started on those if I don't have to. I'm also prescribed Voltaren (diclofenac) instead of the Apo-Naproxen EC I've been taking.
I leave and my friend kindly eats up her entire afternoon taking me first to the blood clinic, then the hospital for 21 – count 'em: 21!! – x-rays. She couldn't be nicer and more supportive and keeps me laughing the whole time. My crazy French friend!!
A friend offers to take me, but I thought I'd drive (we're without an editor at the magazine, so I've got the parking spot at the moment, and it's a godsend at times because my feet feel like they've been beaten with a cane) and there's parking at the rheumatologist's, so at first I say, no.
The day before the appointment, though, I feel so crappy I call to tell her I'll take her up on her offer. It's a good thing I do. The rheumatologist is very nice, exams my joints, takes my history, reviews my bloodwork from Dr. Brown and tells me she thinks I have rheumatoid arthritis. I promptly burst into tears. Not surprising. That's the way I react when I'm in shock. Despite hours and hours now of searching the internet, and hoping that it's something else, everything I've been reading leads me to think the same thing.
Full of hope that's it's not a chronic thing, I ask if it could be a viral form of arthritis. She says possibly and that we'll do all kinds of bloodwork, including checking for that. She's also going to send me for x-rays to see if there's any indication of damage. Before I go she gives me a corticosteroid injection to help me out over the holidays; I choose that over Prednisone pills, since I don't want to get started on those if I don't have to. I'm also prescribed Voltaren (diclofenac) instead of the Apo-Naproxen EC I've been taking.
I leave and my friend kindly eats up her entire afternoon taking me first to the blood clinic, then the hospital for 21 – count 'em: 21!! – x-rays. She couldn't be nicer and more supportive and keeps me laughing the whole time. My crazy French friend!!
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