Everything in excess -- giving up....

**windchime** · 01-30-2014, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by renidrag

Since remission and WG drug free, I had hoped to also be pain free but that is not the reality of my new normal. Not excruciating just there, every day,there. Some times I can put it in the back of my mind but not always. Then of course I have the Tinnitis (sp) at all times. Some times I wonder how I can fall asleep with all the noise in my head. Any way, didn't mean to go on so, just to say I know you will be ok, it is maybe your second new normal. Good to hear from you and best of luck. As an aside, I can't help but think we could all put up an new avatar like Anne's. Would be kinda fun to look at our healthy selves in younger days. Thanks Anne.
Dale

Dale, I have tinnitus also. Most of time I can ignore it, but others it drives me wacky. I use a fan at night when I sleep and that white noise helps a lot.

**Debbie C** · 01-30-2014, 04:59 AM

vdub, I just listened to that webinar and they didn't really have a whole lot of new info that we all don't already now but he did mention about arthritis that a soft massage ( not a deep one ) and acupuncture can help relieve pain. I didn't know if you ever tried that ?

**Alysia** · 01-30-2014, 05:02 AM

Hi vdub,
I am sorry for you

pain is not easy to bear.
I think that you are right, that stopping the fight to change it, may help and make things easier. at least you don't have to suffer the anticipation and frustration, and going to appt. with docs etc.
rest and peace of mind are also kinds of meds.
does your new avatar have a story ? does it mean that your daughter is home ?
lots of hugs to you. I hope the pain will go away.

**marta** · 01-30-2014, 05:03 AM

I'm so picking up what you're putting down vdub. I'm also feeling the same but it has to do with being in doctor's offices, or labs or hospitals. I am supposed to be going for regular blood tests but I just said to heck with it. I don't remember when I had my last labs.

Funny that whole pred love-hate thing. It really is the best for the pain and I think that's a tell tale sign that the pain is inflammation related. If the pred helps your pain, then you're having inflammatory issues... or that's how I understand it. I could be wrong.... it's happened before.

As for tweaking the 'cocktail', I'm with you on that one 100%. My doc refused to do anything with more than one drug at a time and giving it enough time so that we see how changing that 'one drug variable' changes the whole picture. She doesn't want to mess around and tweak with more because then you don't know what it is that's causing the positive or negative changes in status quo. That makes a ton of sense to me from a scientific perspective. So you do what you're doing and then when you decide to tweak, do it one at a time.

Take care buddy and I hope your pain goes away. I hate pain, and I'm pretty sure you do too.

**annekat** · 01-30-2014, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by renidrag

As an aside, I can't help but think we could all put up an new avatar like Anne's. Would be kinda fun to look at our healthy selves in younger days. Thanks Anne.
Dale

You're welcome, Dale. And that's a pretty good idea. I was only 7 in that pic and might be able to come up with one when I was an adult and didn't have Wegs.

**Alysia** · 01-30-2014, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by marta

I am supposed to be going for regular blood tests but I just said to heck with it. I don't remember when I had my last labs.
.

oh, marta, I can't believe that. you ?

**marta** · 01-30-2014, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by annekat

You're welcome, Dale. And that's a pretty good idea. I was only 7 in that pic and might be able to come up with one when I was an adult and didn't have Wegs.

I like that idea too... I think we all see ourselves as the healthy version that we were before Wegs. so it'd be nice for others to see us as we see ourselves on the inside.

**annekat** · 01-30-2014, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by Alysia

oh, marta, I can't believe that. you ?

I can relate to Marta's doing this. If she feels pretty good most of the time, is out skiing and living a full life, and is tuned in enough to her body to know if something starts to turn in a negative direction, at which point I'm sure she'd go in for bloods. My doc has never had me do bloods as often as some here, which has bothered me a little, but on the other hand, my bloods are always OK. The one time I was flaring, I knew it, and bloods were done which proved I was. Not saying people shouldn't get bloods regularly whether they are flaring or not, just saying some of us know our bodies really well and can make our own judgements.