accidents!

[harrigan]

Hi - I'm new to all this,  my GP has sent off a referral to a rheumatologist as my blood tests show I have symptoms of RA or sjogrens.  I was wondering ... would either of these make recovery from an acccident more difficult?  I have bad whiplash following an accident at school where I was KOd.  As well as all the pain in the neck, sholders and pins and needles, I also feel very shaken up still after 2 weeks.  Still very weepy & sleepy.  I feel like its all happening at once and I don't know what's csausing what.  Just wondered how anyone else has got on with recovering from similar injuries.  I've got prescription strength cocodamol and dicloflex.  Interested to hear what people have to say. 

[Pooh]

Harrigan, I think perhaps your medications are making you sleepy and weepy.  I have the same reaction to one of my pain meds that I have to take when my pain gets out of control.  Talk to your doctor and let him/her know that you are still having a hard time with your recovery.  Explain about the weeping and sleepiness. 

Pooh

[Cheryl]

Harrigan,
   From my experience with a whiplash injury, I can tell you that it may take months to heal.   You may have lingering effects from now on.   As to whether RA or Sjogrens is affecting your healing, I don't know.   I know that 2 weeks seems a long time, and I'm sorry you have to deal with this.   Hang in there!
Cheryl

[irish]

Harrigan, I had a whiplash many years ago and they are miserable. Take a long time to get over. However, it is probably going to take time to know what is whiplash and what is autoimmune issues. There is no real way to sort out things as a stress such as an accident can be enough stress to kick up the autoimmune disease.

You need to know that Pooh is right about pain medications. I tend to stay away from them as much as possible as they do such a job on me. Sometimes ibuprofen or Aleve can help with pain as much as codiene etc. Check with your doc. Also if on muscle relaxants and pain pills together they tend to increase the action of each other and one can get really drowsy and depressed/crying/unmotivated,etc.

It will be interesting to see what you blood work shows. Many people who have RA will have sjogrens syndrome as a secondary autoimmune disease. Sjogrens likes to hang out with a lot of other autoimmune diseases and it is sometimes hard to know which came first as so many diseases can have overlapping symptoms. People with autoimmune issues can drive doctors crazy as they try to figure us out. Good luck. Irish

[Chana M]

Hi Harrigan

It sounds to me as though you're still in shock after the accident.  To be knocked out so suddenly, and at work, must have been awful. Were you taken straight to Casualty?  Just the trauma of the accident would be enough to leave you weepy and low for weeks.  Add in that you're in pain still and it looks even harder.  The pins and needles are probably worrying you too because, although they can be explained by the whiplash, you're bound to be worrying that they are connected with Sjs/RA.

I agree with the others about the pain meds. Cocodamol is a funny drug which some people react to well, and others just don't.  Maybe you're one of the latter?  It might be worth asking your GP about changing it: full dose of paracetemol might be enough cover, especially if combined with an anti inflammatory.

Have you seen a physiotherapist?  Or maybe an osteopath?  Both will help with the pain levels as well as the physical trauma.  And regular massages would be a real treat too!

Take care and try to get the most out of this enforced rest.  Daytime TV isn't that great here in the UK but there's always the radio or old films.  Maybe you'd like to join us for a chat on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. UK time?  Lots of the 'usual suspects' hang out there for an hour or so.

[harrigan]

Thanks everyone for the replies, advice, encouragement etc - really appreciate it.  I am starting to feel a bit less shaky about the accident and hoping to be back at work next week in time to break up for half term.  I need to keep doing my homework from the physio and get back to driving too.  Not today though, lots of lovely snow!!  I didn't realise that codeine can have that sort of side effect, but I'm really trying to cut down now anyway.  I think some of it was the shock of it all too.

I've got a confession to make - I have never been on a chat thingy before and haven't a clue what to do!  Can someone let me know and don't be afraid to be too basic!  Assume I know nothing!!  Look forward to Wednesday... Ailsa

[Chana M]

Hi Ailsa

Good to hear that you're feeling a little bit better today.  The snow is lovely isn't it?  Last night we had a slightly worrying drive home from visiting our daughter in Cambridge.  For some reason it was the roads near home in Brighton that were the worst.  So today I'm just enjoying the snow from the warmth of home!

I hadn't been in a chat room before I ventured into the SjS world one, either.  Other people, particularly Scottie who is one of the moderators on Wednesday evening, will be better at explaining the technicalities than I am.  I ended up with a different name in the chat room because it didn't 'recognise' my user name.  It still tells me I'm unrecognised but it lets me in.  It makes sense to sign up beforehand so you don't use the time that evening to get through the process.  You need to load Java first and that's just a step by step process.  Once that's done the SjS site navigates most of it for you.  Sorry I can't be more specific but other people will be better at this stuff, I'm sure.

Once you've signed up it's pretty straightforward and you just type in comments, answers to other people's questions etc.  Sometimes there are two or three conversations going on at once which can get confusing but it's very light hearted.  We don't just chat about health issues but we get to know more about each other's daily lives, families, and definitely what we all find funny.

Hope you're having a better day.

[harrigan]

Thankyou - I will have a go.  If I don't appear, hello everyone in advance and I will try to sort myself out with the necessary stuff before next week!  Been to the hospital for more blood tests this afternoon - the nurse said she thinks they are selling my blood abroad somewhere!  Anyway, like you, I discovered the snow looks much nicer from inside.  I had the coldest extremities ever when I got home.  Stay warm everyone X Ailsa

[harrigan]

Chana - just been on another thread and seen that you are on CellCept.  My daughter (16) has been on it for 4 years.  We don't know of anyone else who takes it so was pleased to read that you do - though obviously wish you didn't need to.  I have replied to a POLL thread about AI diseases in the family but don't think anyone has reasponded yet.  She has mucous membrane pemphigoid which is reasonably well controlled with CellCept and prednisolone when needed.  At one point we were travelling to Alder Hey (nearest children's hospital) on Monday and Wed every week but are down to 2 month visits now, which is great!
Hope you are coping ok with all the side effects and that it is working for you.  Ailsa

[Chana M]

Hi Ailsa

It must have been really tough on your daughter to be so ill through her early teens.  You must all be glad that the hospital visits are reduced - was she going in twice a week for treatment or tests?  Do you live near Liverpool?  My husband grew up in Southport so I know the area a little.  He's been 'down south' for over 35 years but still has a northern accent!

How has your daughter coped on CellCept for 4 years?  Has her immune system taken a battering?  I've only been on it for 4 months so far, but I think I'll be on it long-term too.  Originally I was supposed to be on cyclophosphamide, but the neurologist and rheumatologist decided to be 'kind' and use CellCept (and Prednisolone and Plaquenil) instead.  I haven't found the side effects too bad - nausea, cold sweats, thinning hair.  My face is cold all the time - does your daughter experience that?  I'm also finding it hard to shake off infections but I think that's pretty standard.

There are another couple of people here who are also on CellCept, including one person who is awaiting a kidney transplant and has been put on it to prepare for it.  I think CellCept is usually given to aid organ transplant, so in her case they're getting in before it's needed.

How long did it take before your daughter began to respond to CellCept?  I have mostly neuro symptoms and I haven't seen any improvement yet; I've been told it takes 3-6 months so I'm trying to be patient.  Easier some days than others!

Hope you're having a better day today.

[harrigan]

Hi Chana - yes, it took about 6 months for Katharine to feel any benefit and in that time she had kidney and chest infections, was cold and flu-y and generally fed up as it was so hard to explain why the treatment was worse than the symptoms.  However, many side effect wore off and she is now fairly ok with it.  Her main problems are very erratic sleep patterns, aches and tiredness (and juggling all the stresses of Y11!).

How are you doing on it now?  I supppose it is still early days in terms of seeing any benefit yet.  It's really good to know of others on the same meds as I have felt very alone in it all at times and Kath has no-one who really knows what it's like for her.  I suppose, when I eventually see the rheumatologist, I will be fairly well prepared for whatever he prescribes!!

We live in Warrington by the way - not too far from A Hey but it was tough juggling blood test and consultant appts on Mon and Wed with work and 4 other kids!Glad to hear you husband has still got the northern accent!!  Great to 'speak' to you and everyone else who helps make life feel more normal - thanks, Ailsa