Illinois ladies facing bc

Thanks all.  The spot is about as big as an pencil eraser.  I will get drops.

Dr. Google here, Zap. I think too similarly named eye disorders are being confused.  A drooping eyelid is  called ptosis or blepharoptosis. I think some people are born with this, not sure how else it might develop. Anyhow, not the same thing as dry eye: blepharitis.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blepharitis/DS00633 

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1212082-overview 

Ironic that I'd see this AOL article, this morning:

Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and other body parts.

But RA can be tough to diagnose. Symptoms can mimic other illnesses, or they may flare, then fade, only to flare again somewhere else. Lab tests aren't perfect-you can test negative for RA factors and still have it. And X-rays don't show signs until later on.

Here are some tricky rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and hints that they're due to RA and not some other condition.

Hard to heal injuries
It's possible to think you have an injury-such as a sprained ankle that doesn't seem to heal-when the symptoms are actually due to RA.

This is more common in younger people, says Lisa A. Mandl, MD, MPH, assistant attending rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

One day a patient is playing soccer and the next day her knee is swollen, she says. "I have seen people who have had two arthroscopic surgeries and extensive physical therapy in their knee and they have rheumatoid arthritis."

Numbness or tingling in the hands
One symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is marked by tingling in the wrist and hands. Dr. Mandl says the sensation is similar to the feeling you get when you hit your funny bone.

What happens is that the swelling in the arm compresses the nerves going into the hands. The sensation is often worse at night.

If you go to a doctor with these symptoms and don't have (or tell him or her about) other RA symptoms, you may be diagnosed only with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Foot trouble
One area in which people often have RA-related pain or inflammation is the forefoot.

Women often stop wearing heels and head to a podiatrist due to the pain.

Some people with RA may also develop pain in the heel because of plantar fasciitis, a common foot disorder caused by swelling of the tissue at the bottom of the foot, near the heel.

Eye problems
People with RA are also at risk for Sjogrens syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can cause dryness of the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, or skin due to inflammation that stops glands from releasing moisture, says Dr. Mandl.

This can happen even in the early stages of RA, but it's unlikely to be the only symptom.

Most people with dry eyes head to an eye doctor to find out the cause, but Dr. Mandl recommends telling your doctor-even an eye doctor or other specialist-about additional symptoms you're having in any part of the body.

Pairs of achy joints
One of the most predominant symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is aching in the joints. People often think their pain is due to overexertion or osteoarthritis, the type of arthritis common in old age.

This achiness can also be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (fatigue is another symptom of RA).

RA joint pain is not fleeting; it usually lasts longer than a week. It can also be symmetrical, meaning both hands, feet, knees, or ankles will be affected at the same time.

Morning stiffness
Another characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis is stiffness in the joints in the morning.

Again, this is also a common problem in osteoarthritis, which can cause pain after long periods of inactivity, like sleeping.

The difference between the two is that osteoarthritis pain usually subsides in about a half hour. Stiffness from rheumatoid arthritis will last much longer, possibly for a good chunk of the day.

The right kind of exercise can help alleviate stiffness for people with RA and osteoarthritis pain.

Locked joints
People with RA can sometimes experience locked joints, particularly in the knees and elbows. This happens because there's so much swelling of the tendons around the joint, the joint cannot bend. It can lead to cysts behind the knee that can puff out and inhibit motion.

The symptom can be mistaken for a meniscus tear, a knee joint injury that's common in sports, and which can also lead to cysts.

Nodules
These are firm lumps that grow under the skin near the affected joints. They often appear at the back of the elbows, and sometimes people get them in the eyes.

They're more common in people who have advanced rheumatoid arthritis, but occasionally show up earlier, says Dr. Mandl.

The nodules can at times mimic gout, another form of arthritis.

BJ, your break is before mine!  Too bad. I think Paul and I are staying put for break, but maybe some road trips for some antiquing.  I am doing that trip to New Mexico in May.  I teach until April 16 and then I am a free woman. I ma getting excited for warmer weather, but to be honest, this whole winter has gone by too fast. Life just  moves too quickly.

Thanks for the clarification on the eye, English, which by the way is fine now.  It is reassuring to know I don't need plastic surgery

 Rita, I really want to see King's Speech.  Maybe this weekend. Water for Elephant is coming out as a film and I am so excited to see that.

I keep up with WendyTY's blog and I wish I could give her a pain-free, worry-free day. She and her husband are dealing with so much and I feel helpless.

Have a good week.

Hi Mandy --  were all hoping you get it too and have been voting up a storm.  We all need some sun....it helps us bloom.  Spring which brings such inspiration and hope is just around the next corner.  Meet you there.

Hugs, Jackie

Morning ladies!

I realized this morning that yesterday was my 4 year cancerversary.  I forgot all about it!  Kind of glad I didn't have to think about it yesterday!  Looking forward to 5 and 10 and so on!  Thank you all for all of your support and kindness over the past 4 years!

Mandy - I am voting for you and I hope you win! 

Zap - I too follow along with WendyTY.  She is a trooper and I feel for her so much!

Glad you are feeling good lago!

BJ - you will really be boating in a month?  We usually don't head out until May and even then it is often too cold.  Fun, fun!

Enjoy the nice temps today! 

Morning all....49 and sunny on my deck!  Doing the happy dance!

Marina....almost done!  You are the trooper!

Connie.....Happy #4!  I did get a reminder for you but I forgot the reminder!  Can I still claim chemobrain or is it old age????  I too follow Wendy TY's blog.....gives me insight into these struggles/treatments and I am truly amazed at what they go thru and still live life to the fullest with a smile on their beautiful faces.  Makes me so grateful for each abd every day....that each day is a gift and we shouldn't waste it.

BJ.....yes, count me in as one who is amazed that you can post back to everyone!  Your school district is off the 3rd week of March?  Boy, that is early!  DH is off the last week of March.  We are staying put....waited too long for any decent airfares.

Lago......the bloody nose from Herceptin finally stopped for me some months after chemo was done...but it continued to drip for a while after that.  The last  couple of months I was fine.

Quiet around here today....just finishing another load of laundry and also downloading an udate for the iphone....5 HOURS????  Hopefully it won't take that long to load onto the phone!  I think a walk this afternoon is in my future...don't want to waste the sunshine!  Have a great Tuesday all!

Ohhh - I love Hawaii!!!!

Good morning all...Just about to head off to work ...just dropping to say HI

Wendy...I am fighting the extra pounds also....I had lost 20 during treatment and put some back on now trying to get that last 12 pounds off...amazing to me how seamingly just a "few" pounds makes some of my clothes too tight to wear:(

I started an aqua zumba class last thursday....tomorrow night will be #2...it is fun even though I'm sure I dont' quite do all the moves correctly..but I figure just keep moving.

Have a good day everyone!

Quack, quack, Wendrew! lol

dh used the last 2 scoops of coffee last night. I awoke to an EMPTY coffee canister! LOL Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....needless to say, dh just left for the store (he is SUCH a trooper)! LOL  Even though we drink decaf, I NEED my once daily cup of JAVA! LOL

Hope you all have a nice day...don't forget your galoshes!

Your so right.....If I could pick another life for me......I'm almost certain it would be an Indian life.  They were so much more IN TUNE with the spirituality of life.  They were able to gain much wisdom from their life because in their time.......life was so much simpler and so they had reference for all that lived and to them everything had life.    We have lost so much of that.  They did not kill more than they could eat, or have more than what they used.  So much fewer complications --- how many times I have thought --- if you want something to go well, go back to how it was done earlier.....but we have become so technological ( not always bad ) that you can't get back that far. 

Thanks a million.....it's a keeper.

Hugs, Jackie

Lago, I was posting while you were and must say.....that what you said....is exactly what I found out in my first class at the Rec Center yesterday....wt. training, wt. training wt. training.