Connie, there's no virtue in suffering silently -- pain is bad for you.

(And Kathy, NSAIDs include things like aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve... I dearly hope you don't find out the hard way that you're allergic to something, but if you've taken the OTC stuff without incident, you may not be as sensitive to the whole class of drugs as you fear. Still, best to tell the docs all rather than withhold any potential risk.)

I had to share this article from today's monitor [link]

Should be appreciated by more than a few here.

I usually take aspirin when I need pain relief, and I know Mom takes Tylenol but steers clear of Motrin and Aleve due to the whole NSAID thing.

Still, best to tell the docs all rather than withhold any potential risk.

Definitely. Mom got Stevens Johnson Syndrome and was in the hospital for two months. I remember the time I went to see her in Chicago when she was at her worst (106 temp for five days, lying on a bed filled with ice, lost most of her hair and a good portion of her skin [whitefonted for ick factor]). It wasn't until a few years later when I was in high school that I realized they had me see her then because they didn't think she'd live past that week. My dad and older sibs shielded me from just how bad it was.

She was actually lucky--eleven other people had come down with SJS after taking Clinoril before she did and they had all died. Her case was the reason SJS was added as a potential side effect.

I have lived on ibuprofen for years, and I've found that if I keep a steady dose of two to four OTC pills a day, it keeps me from having to knock back handfuls when the arthritis kicks into full gear. The anti-inflammatory effect can actually prevent damage, particularly if you've done something like a sprain. I operate under one simple rule: Pain is bad.

My mom's been on prophylactic anti-inflams for decades now. Doesn't prevent the random flare-up, but keeps her mobile, which in turn helps keep her in shape, which helps alleviate further pain.

I just had a delightful dinner with my parents, after taking my dad to the Tenement Museum, while my mom worked. Good afternoon and evening! Too bad I won't see them tomorrow, but I have to work.

I just introduced mac to Peanut Butter Jelly Time.

Are you nuts?

I've found that if I keep a steady dose of two to four OTC pills a day

That would probably help my knees and shoulder, too. More pills to add to the pill caddy. I'm certainly taking more expensive drugs.

I still haven't recovered from the Wiggles and their prime in my life was 3 years ago....wait, T will start that soon.