InstantForum.NET v4.1.4Arthritis Foundation Forumhttp://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/sitehelp@arthritis.orgSat, 19 May 2012 21:29:18 GMT20http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4498622-8340-1.aspxThis may be a topic covered previously, but I've searched and couldn't find the topic ?I was diagnosed with RA just two months ago, so I'm learning as I go. It's not like I'm a big drinker, but I'm wondering why I have suddenly become so sick any time I have even one small glass of wine ? Infact, I noticed this happening long before I was diagnosed with the RA . Is it the RA ? Is it now the the Prednisone ? Only been on Methotrexate one week, haven't even tried to have any Holiday Cheer (adult beverages) since being on methotrexate and folic acid, along with the Prednisone. Does anyone else have this problem ? Is alcohol, even in small doses out forever now that I have RA ? Again, it's not like I can't live without it, but I'm just curious if I'll ever be able to enjoy a glass of bubbly ever again ??????Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:17:33 GMTPaula Morelhttp://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4483317-8340-1.aspx [font=Comic Sans MS][size=4]So I am on Chantix. Hubby (Joe) quits cold turkey. With Chantix, you smoke for one week while taking the med. We finished up the smoking last night as agreed. Of course anytime you stop smoking.....something happens that makes you say, "I sure picked the wrong day to stop smoking!"...and it has been that way all day....but we have not smoked. I am determined that we will make it. Not smoking today....one day at a time![/size][/font]Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:04:50 GMTWanda1http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4483349-8340-1.aspx[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Quitting smoke is tough, but you can do it -- we'll be here to cheer you on, support and encourage you.And think of the money you'll be saving!! :) [/size][/font]Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:15:17 GMTJoy125http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4495480-8340-1.aspx[quote][size=3][b]Great American Smokeout[/b]The American Cancer Society is marking the 36th Great American Smokeout on November 17 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet more than 46 million Americans still smoke. However, more than half of these smokers have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year.Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide the resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. You can also find free tips and tools below.See:[url]http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GreatAmericanSmokeout/[/url][/size][/quote]Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:53:24 GMTJoy125http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4495479-8340-1.aspx[quote][size=3]About Smokefree.govSmokefree.gov is intended to help you or someone you care about quit smoking.Different people need different resources as they try to quit. The information and professional assistance available on this Web site can help to support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a nonsmoker.Smokefree.gov allows you to choose the help that best fits your needs. You can get immediate assistance in the form of:-- A step-by-step quit smoking guide-- Information about a wide range of topics related to smoking and quitting-- An interactive U.S. map highlighting smoking information in your state-- LiveHelp, National Cancer Institute's instant messaging service-- National Cancer Institute's telephone quitline, 1-877-44U-QUIT-- Local and state telephone quitlines, 1-800-QUIT-NOW-- Publications to download, print, or order[url]http://www.smokefree.gov/[/url][/size][/quote]Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:50:46 GMTJoy125http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4494241-8340-1.aspx[size=3]Here's some research that may help motivate smokers to cutback or stop:[/size][quote][size=2][b]Smoking and Rheumatism[/b][u]Smokers require more medication[/u]..........smoking RA patients require more anti-rheumatic drugs than non-smokers.Precisely speaking, this means that the chance that the number of inflamed, tender, and swollen joints can be reduced by treatment to alleviate pain is only about half as good for smokers as non-smokers. This according to Dr. Edmund Edelmann, president of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Rheumatologen (BDRh, Association of German Rheumatolgists) on the web site Rheumatologen im Netz (LinkOut to the news release [German] accessed 30th April, 2010).Smokers also require significantly more of the classical basic medications (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, DMARDs) and the genetically engineered biologicals used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Cigarette consumption appears to weaken the effects of these drugs. It is also possible that tobacco smoke increases the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis, causing the afflicted to require more medications.As the quantity of medication used increases, so does the risk of side effects for the treatment. [b]According to more recent studies, the quantity of drugs needed for adequate treatment decreases when RA patients stop smoking.[/b][/size][/quote][url]http://autoimmunityblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/orgentec-autoimmunity-acpa-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra-smoking-and-rheumatism/[/url]Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:56:49 GMTJoy125http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4486892-8340-1.aspx[size=2]Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing[/size]!Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:29:54 GMTChessiegirlhttp://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4484223-8340-1.aspx[size=4][font=Comic Sans MS]I hope you did......let us know. YOU CAN DO IT? PLEASE QUIT WITH ME. THANKS, WANDA [/font][/size]Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:17:06 GMTWanda1http://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4484117-8340-1.aspx[font=Verdana][size=3]I quit smoking in 1984, after a trip to Denver for my oldest child's wedding. I was wheezing, coughing, and finally couldn't swallow and could barely breathe. Went to the ER, and had a young woman doctor check me out. She asked if I smoked, and I said yes, but was all the way down to 15 cigarettes a day. Rather bluntly she said she couldn't help me. And in a smart-alekey tone informed me that I wouldn't live to see my first grandchild if I thought 15 cigarettes a day was a safe number. I was in tears, and she did give me some mouthwash and and told me gargle with it every few hours and to STOP smoking.The only drug available at the time was Nicorette gum, and it was awful. But a good friend made a pact with me and we both stopped smoking cold turkey. It took me 6 months to finally kick it. It was really hard, but we were there for each other every day.It's been 27 years, and my doctor says my cancer risk is about the same as that for a non smoker now.[/size][/font]Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:04:52 GMTGramma Elliehttp://arthritisfoundation.portspaces.com/forums/Topic4483616-8340-1.aspx[size=3]I smoked from age 17 to age 74 but quit as soon as I got RA. I figured that was enough insult to my body without adding nicotine. I was the only smoker in the house so that made it a lot easier on me. I did chew a lot of sugarless gum to give me a new habit to help getting over the old one. God bless.[/size]Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:16:15 GMTGrandpavan