Editor
Arthritis Today Magazine
In the Spring and
Summer , 1999 editions of the Arthritis Today magazine you published an article about me
and photos of
some of my work. I was proud that you selected one of my works to be on the
cover of the Summer issue. I sent you an update of my
progress last year and I thought that I would give you an update of my progress a year later. I am currently taking
Enbrel injections twice a week and taking 10mg Methotrexate weekly and Acetaminophen a few
times a day when needed.I no longer take Arava. My
Rheumatologist decided to take me off Prednisone last Spring and I felt so bad that I was
uncomfortable and in pain most of the time. We tried a facet block and it helped for a
while and then the pain came back. After another facet block which didn't help for more
than a week we decided not to try that again. After the events of September 11th we
cancelled our trip to Italy. We had a 3 week cruise on our sailboat to various places
along the Chesapeake Bay. Later in the Fall when we were going to take a trip the Dr
suggested that I take 10mg of Prednisone a day while we were away. I felt so good during
that trip that when we took a couple of other short trips I went back on the Prednisone
for the days we were away. After about 3 or 4 months on Enbrel I really felt much
better . My sedimentation rate is now at its lowest reading that is has been in years and
my Dr has reduced my Methotrexate. We decided to talk to my Dr about the quality of
life vs the long term effects of Prednisone and we feel we want to risk it since I feel so
much better taking it. I am now 65 and I want to be able to do all the things I love to do
like sailing, painting, taking art lessons twice a week, travelling, and enjoying my
grandchildren. I now take 10mg every other day. I still can't walk any distance, but
we purchased a transport chair and my husband pushes me whenever I need to walk or stand
for a long time. This hasn't slowed us down and we are now planning a riverboat cruise in
France from Paris to Normandy this summer. We also are planning a 2 week cruise on our
sailboat this summer to places we didn't see last year. We take the transport chair so I
can keep up with the friends we sail with when we stop at a marina in some of the towns we
visit.
I have sold some more paintings and I have had another magazine cover selected since last
year.
You can see my latest works at;
Life goes on in spite of Rheumatoid Arthritis!
Sincerely,
Barbara B Schaeffer