Hello all
Ronnie I hope you read this and are improving, hows the arava going now, it doesnt bother my tummy at all tou should try some meditation if you keep focused and try to think positively and try not to let it affect you then chances and it wont. Im more than likely going to have to go into hospital over the coming days my bowel is bleeding the wreckon its vasculitis too since ive been diagnosed with the small cell vasculitis, Im on 60mg of deltracortil once a day and Ive started on a high protein diet to help with healing the ulcers and keepin myself built up.
Does anyone else with PSA suffer from other autoimmune diseases?? I am very interested in hearing if ye do or if ye have found any treatments particularly good as Im very annoyed although since Im off the MTX(methotrexate) and on the Arava Ive less swelling and morning stiffness.

Hope to hear from ye soon
Chell

Hi everyone

Hi Chell, yes better now leflunomide settling. Joints seem to be easing, thanks for your comments. Does anyone have hair loss on arava (leflunomide)? Does anyone with Psoriatic Arthritis have problems with swelling knuckles and being able to pick things up and grip things? Has anyone been on steroids and leflunomide have you put on weight? I have got swollen and put on one stone, if the steroids wear off will I lose the weight?

Chell, hope you get on ok at hospital, you deserve a break, you have had a lot of problems. Good luck.

Ronnie:wave:

Im on both steroids and arava but since I started the arava and when I was on low dose of steroids 10mgs of deltracortil I had very small appetite and im now on big dose of steroids(60mgs of deltracortil a day) and I'm not really eating although some of that is to do with the pain I'm in as my tummy and bowel are bleeding, Ive been booked in for another colonoscopy and gastroscopy (OGD) for asap and if the bleeding gets much worse ill just have to go to A&E,
I did put on weight when I was on steroids without any DMARDs and also when i was on methotrexate and the steroids now the higher doses make my face moon shaped but thats all im eating less than ever, but the advice i got when I was on steroids and when i felt hungry on them to eat plenty of protein and not binge on junk food and it definately helped to keep at the same weight.

My knuckles are constantly hot and swollen I think its just something arthritis sufferers have to put up with, I did get a special bottle and jar opener from the OT dept and it helps with most things if I dont have someone at home to help.Do you just go on steroids some of the time or have you been on them constantly, Ive been on them constantly since may and I cant seem to get off them and since I was diagnosed with small vessel vasculitis I have to stay on them and anti inflammatory's

Hope to hear from fellow sufferers and you too Ronnie soon
Take care
Chell:)