Saw the Rheumatologist today

[northcoast]

Yeah, I'm watching it.  It's more annoying than anything, and it doesn't require me taking any over-the-counter meds for it.  I'll keep that statement in mind, where you mention that it is more worrisome if you get something and nothing is going around.

And in other news... don't know how it is across the pond, but it looks like we're going to get slapped around pretty good with a very active flu season here in the U.S. this winter.  Lovely.

[D Foster]

Hi Dave , from one Dave to another it's good to see that you are progressing well though the stubborn patches can be annoying , I used Enstillar on mine and they have shifted it , more or less in the same places that you have them.
All the best but keep an eye on the chesty thing , I hope you miss the flu , have you had a flu jab yet ?

Take care Dave

[northcoast]

Hi Dave , from one Dave to another it's good to see that you are progressing well though the stubborn patches can be annoying , I used Enstillar on mine and they have shifted it , more or less in the same places that you have them.
All the best but keep an eye on the chesty thing , I hope you miss the flu , have you had a flu jab yet ?

Take care Dave

Yes, I avoided the flu, and finally kicked the junk out after a couple of weeks.  I got my flu shot in October.

Anyone else gain weight on Humira?  I'm up about 7 pounds and can't seem to do anything about it.  I thought it was something I was doing, but I don't think so anymore.  I reduced my caloric intake and cut some of the bad stuff out for a couple weeks and went up a pound.

[northcoast]

I'm not sure if I have posted this before, but I got results of some blood work taken a couple months ago.

The C-reactive protein, which is the inflammation marker, was usually in the 15 to 17 range for me.  Normal is 0 to 3.9 or 4.9, can't remember which one (and I have no idea what the units are).  Regardless, I was always on the high end.

Latest test: 0.4.  I'm going to consider myself lucky that this is working so well.  I hope others not having the same success don't look at this as gloating or anything like that, but I did want to share this remarkable result. 

On another note...

Flu is really bad on this side of the pond this winter, so I'm doing a lot of hand washing and sanitizing these days...

[Fred]

I hope others not having the same success don't look at this as gloating or anything like that, but I did want to share this remarkable result. 

Not at all, it's great to hear good results and you have every right to feel good about it.

Long may it continue.

Here in France they say the Proteine C Reactive should be below 5

[jiml]

Great results northcoast thanks for sharing .... it’s not gloating to share good news I’m pleased to hear. Long may the success last.

[Bill]

Fantastic to hear. At least now you can relax with the knowledge that you have almost no chance of inflammatory damage.

[northcoast]

Well, we're going to try to not get paranoid here.  Got a couple of things to discuss.

First of all, I went to the dentist a couple weeks ago for a check up.  Curiously, just about a week before I went, I had some sensitivity issues (upper right side) that were really making things kind of uncomfortable for me.  I've always had sensitivity, and for the most part, the toothpastes designed for that had helped it, but this time, it jumped up a notch.  So I brought this up to the dentist, and she said everything looked good.  A little recession, but nothing that looked concerning (the recession has been there for many many years).  Anyways, clean bill of health, and the x-rays were perfect.

Within the next week, the opposite side follows the same path, so it seems fairly symmetrical.

Also... I have some weird soreness with two upper molars, one on each side, with chewing which appeared a few days after the dental visit.  No pain, per se, and no discomfort at all without chewing -- I would be more prone to feel it if I was chewing say, a slightly stale gummy bear or a tough piece of meat or something like that. 

Again, I was just at the dentist, and everything looked great.  I don't have a history of dental issues.

And then earlier today when I woke up... my first knuckle on my right middle finger is sore and a bit swollen.  My hands typically have not been a problem with PsA, but I had about 3 knuckles that gave me issues.  This particular knuckle that feels a bit sore today was not one that hurt in the past before Humira. 

I suppose it's possible I did something to the finger, but I don't know.


So of course I googled Humira and dental issues, and really, nothing conclusive comes up at all.  The knuckle... again, who knows.  I'm at around the 15 month mark on Humira and was cruising.

Trying not to go to the dark side and assume the worst here.

[Bill]

Clenching your teeth perhaps?

[northcoast]

Clenching your teeth perhaps?

Not consciously while I'm awake, and truly don't think so while I'm sleeping (no grinding either).  I'm somewhat of an open - mouth non - snoring sleeper