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I'll start with my hands
Here's one of my knee but you can't really see the swelling too good from this angle!
Here's my toes, you can see teh 2nd toe curls under
Ankle, what ankle?? Not sure why this picture comes out sooo big??!
And of course I have to throw one in of Harley.  Here he is hanging out in his car seat! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Owww! I only have one or two fingers or my thumbs swell up at a time, but not as severely as yours. It would be so miserable and frustrating to have them ALL swollen and stiff. How do you get by at work? I know you've mentioned it's difficult for you to type; I'm just wondering how you manage working in an office.
And your poor little toes.  I see your second toe seems to be the most affected; that and the third one bother me the most too, but they appear more crooked than swollen. Do you wear sneakers most of the time or sandals?
Michele, I'm sending you big (yet gentle) hugs. I really am hoping that the Enbrel works.
Harley is too cute in his car seat. I like his blue bowties - are those little jewels in the center?
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Managing at work is getting harder. Especially since I work for an optometrist and I have to repair eyeglasses, among other things. There have been days when I've had to hand the patient a screw driver and tell them what to do because my hands just wouldn't work. Most people understand as they can see the swelling. If it continues to get worse though, I won't be able to continue working. Usually by the time I get home, I just wrap them in the heating pad and sit on the couch as I just can't do anything else.
My toes feel more "tight" and just generally sore. My heels have actually just started hurting me as well. I wear custom orthotics in my shoes. I typically wear lace up casual shoes or special sandals that accomodate my weak ankles and orthotics. You can actually see the sandals in the picture of my knee! I have one pair in tan and one in black. Not exactly how fashion but they work!  I even wear my orthotics around the house in my slippers!
Yes, Harley has little diamonds in the middle of his bow!!  Its hard to find "manly" bows!!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Oh Michele
#262735 - 05/10/06 04:10 PM
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Janey
Reged: 10/25/03
Posts: 1716
Loc: Maryland
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you poor thing. Everything looks so swollen. I pray that the Enbrel will work for you and reduce your swelling and pain. How long have they been that swollen? I am so sorry.
My hands are no where near as swollen as yours are. I'm surprised that you can work now at all. Especially since you have to do such fine detail stuff.
Take care sweetie.
Love,
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Janey
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They've been "puffy" since last summer but blew up in January. Thats when the docs finally started listening to me instead of telling me I was "just depressed" because I lost my babies!  I am having increased difficulty at work. Some stuff is going undone right now, like writing out recall cards because I can barely right anything, let alone hundreds of post cards! There have been a few repairs that I could have normally done but haven't been able to do because of the swelling and loss of function. Luckily, its a small office so I'm usually not too busy. However, that also means I work alone most of the time so there isn't anyway to help with the things I can't do. I have Will open my water bottles before I leave home in the morning because I can't break a seal on a bottle. I do the bare minimum cleaning at the office (and home!  ). I know the majority of my patients because they have been coming here for years and if there is something I can't do, I'll tell them. Most people are pretty understanding. If the RA continues to get worse though, I will have to look into disability. But, I'm trying to remain positive about the Enbrel. Third shot down this morning! It really doesn't hurt too much but this one left a pretty good welt! I definitely won't be wearing shorts this summer!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Those drawstring capris at Target would be perfect for summer.
I am very sorry to hear that you are having such a terrible time. Fortunately you work in a small office and know the patients so they can help out with the little things you can't do. The problem with hands is that there aren't many jobs that you can do without them.
Why would you have puffy hands and joint pains because you were depressed? It is frustrating when the doctors don't listen. I'm glad that the docs finally started listening to you and they got you on meds. Is this your GP that wouldn't listen? When was the first time you saw the Rheumy doc? I know you posted on the boards but I can't remember.
Hugs,
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Janey
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Last summer is when things started getting really bad as far as joint pain and swelling. I'd had some issues in my ankles and hips but they called it tendinitis or bursitis, always some sort of "itis!" I was getting frustrated with the fertility treatments and the fact that we still hadn't come up with answer as to why I had lost my babies. You probably don't remember but the cycle I got pregnant on, I ovulated prematurely and we didn't even do iui as the Re thought it was a hopeless cycle. Then, my eyes started acting up, went to a specialist and it was, surprising, iritis! Yet another "itis!" So, as I sat down the following week (a week before I found out I was pregnant) I told then RE i wanted to see a rheumy doc because I had been searching on line and suspected I had something else going on. Of course I had to wait something like 6 weeks to get the appointment. By the time I saw the rheumy, I was already pregnant and he diagnosed probably fibromyalgia and said to follow up with him after the baby(s).
When I lost the twins, I started hurting (physically) more and swelling. So, I called the rheumy and the first appt I had with him after losing the twins, he told me I just had fibro and was depressed.  A month later, he couldn't deny the swelling and loss of joint function I was having and finally did the testing and diagnosed RA. Now, the rheumy doc has been treating me much better, don't know if he was just having a bad day or what!
My Gp, who is in internist, is wonderful. I hadn't seen her in a while because when you're doing fertility treatments, your RE becomes the primary. But I did go back to see her this spring, just for a routine call and some refills. I wish all dr's were as compassionate as my gp! She wouldn't treat the RA though because she admitted it was difficult to treat and she didn't know enough about it to feel that should could give me the best care. I'd rather have a dr who is honest any day! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Not sure, but I think its the other one (descriptive, huh? too early in the morning for me to think straight). I don't know if this diet is for any kind or just one, but you might want to do a google search and see if it looks useful.
-Becca
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At least I've learned a lot about my
body...
IBS-A and still figuring things out
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