Well....here we gooooo

Hi all! Good to see many familiar names on here. I've been a bit slack for a while. It's been almost 2 years now, on Rinvoq. Only side effect has been a little acne of the face. I've had skin cancers removed but that was nothing new or any increase. I enjoyed those long days on the beach in my 'yute'. LOL SO..within the past 6 months I've had shingles...yup, had the Shingrex shots. Wasn't too bad from what I've heard, but it wasn't fun. Then, about two months ago, I got a pinched nerve in my neck. Been jumping through hoops trying to get it fixed...doctor visit, shots in neck muscles, back to doc...xray this time..arthritis...gave me pain pills and muscle relaxers. Shoulders, neck and place they join has been killing me from the start. Went to a chiropractor. Helped my neck, but not the rest. Back to doc. Ordered an MRI two weeks ago...long wait time here..referred me to a spine doc. Saw him, he diagnosed me with spondylolisthesis...wobbly discs. sending me to physical rehab after telling me...it MAY work..may not..only real fix is surgical stabilization. SO...back to UC. Before shingles, my gut doc had ordered a colonoscopy. My new gut doc and he wanted to see for himself, how Rinvoq was doing the ole colon. sheesh Well, first time, he had to cancel due to family emergency. rescheduled and I had to cancel due to shingles. NOW...today, I shall make the hour long drive to the hospital to have the dreaded exam. It's with GREAT trepidation that I'm doing this..neck messed up, pain pills and muscles relaxers barely touch it, went through the prep ok ugh. So IF I make it up there without pooping my britches, I hope all is well. I've felt GREAT...hate to 'rock the dang boat', but gotta do what the good doctors say...or they won't fill the prescriptions. Sad thing is, a lot of the wasted time is due to insurance DEMANDS. Anyway, I'll post the results when I get them. Rinvoq has really been working super good for me. Haven't had any gut issues since I began..and hope it can continue. Thank all of you for posting your issues. It does help to vent on here...a LOT. Stay well and safe all.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes!

Shingles is the pits. I haven't taken the vaccine yet but am considering it... Lol...

I'm sorry to hear about some of your struggles...but it sounds like the GI portion is under control.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Clo

Rinvoq IS working great!!! Doctor did find two very small polyps and still a trace of UC waaaay up in the colon. A huge improvement over my past checks. Haven't been for the follow up visit to get all the details, but he told my wife yesterday that the colon is now about 95% better than my last colonoscopy, before Rinvoq. Now on to the dang neck issue. LOL Today, I'm one very happy ole geezer. I knew I'd felt better since beginning Rinvoq, but my new doctor wanted to see for himself. Best of luck everyone and thanks for the well wishes. You guys are what keeps this forum so good. YOUR sharing lets others know they aren't alone...and THAT'S important, it sure helped me through some dark times in the past. Family and friends are always great, but even they don't really understand fully, what it's like to be afraid to spend time with them.

Midge....It has certainly worked for me and I was at the 'desperate' stage. I was to the point that I was afraid to leave the house...afraid to get more than a few feet from the ole thunder mug. I even asked my former gastro doctor to just remove my colon. That's when he suggested Rinvoq. I know how hard it is to make a decision to change ANYTHING with this crappy disease; nobody can make up your mind for you. Everything we try is a gamble. I just wish you the best of luck and hope you can get some relief. I hate it so much for everyone who has UC. We live in a world that can put people in outer space and bring them back...most of the time....why can't 'we' find medical cures?!!! Between insurance, drug companies, and profiteers, we are just at their mercy. Sorry for rambling but this is just a miserable adventure for us all. Best of luck to you in yours.