Hi to all you lounge friends

[AllegroRondo]

And more apologies for not being around much.
The wife has been out of it for the last couple months, and we finally got a diagnosis. Its myocitis. Not the worst thing in the world to have, but a pain to deal with.
So while I do miss all my old DU friends, I probably wont be posting as much as I used to. I do check in occasionally. Keep up the good fight, and dont take yourselves too seriously.

(a little more about myocitis)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=317x2977

[Dr. Strange]

1. Best wishes to your wife.

I was wondering what happened to the AllegroRondonator.
Glad to hear you're okay.

:hi:

[AllegroRondo]

3. Thanks, we're hanging in there.

and getting a lot of support from her family.

[lizziegrace]

2. I'm so sorry for you both

:hug:

Is this a progressive disease or one of those you must adapt to and learn to live with?

You've been missed. We were going to play some concertos, remember?

:grouphug:

Please keep us posted.

[AllegroRondo]

4. I could use some concertos!

some doctors seem to think this can be reversed, some thing that you just have to adapt and live with it. We've heard from a couple other people who have it, for as long as 15 years, and the consensus there is that you never fully get over it, you just have to treat what you can and adapt where you cant. We're trying a long list of medicines right now to see what can help.

Keep up the bassoon playing! I'm going to come out there and play some duets some day.

[lizziegrace]

5. I don't have my own bassoon

always played school instruments because they were too expensive to buy. :(

[AllegroRondo]

10. we'll just have to rent you one!

or check the pawn shops. they always have old school instruments.

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Aw, sweetie. I'm sorry.

Best wishes to you and your wife.

And, mycocitis isn't the worst thing, just annoying. :hug:

[AllegroRondo]

7. it could certainly be much worse

we're glad for that.
have you dealt with it?
any suggestions or ideas for what works?

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Well, it's a cousin to what I have, lupus.

Steroids generally do a very good job in reducing the inflammation, however, no one wants to be on steroids forever, so I save them for when I'm beyond miserable.

Additionally, prednisone et al, can raise your blood sugar, which will also make a person feel like crap, so it's kind of a lose, lose.

Naproxen has been very helpful to me, especially at the Rx dosages. It's hard on the stomach, though, so you have to watch out for that.

Myositis is one of those PITA diseases. No cure, only symptomatic relief.

[AllegroRondo]

9. yup, shes on huge doses of prednisone

among other things. they tried Enbrel for a while but that didnt do much.
the prednisone is bad enough on her stomach, id hate to try something harsher.