Re: Newbie - Need Marsha/ to respond

[Guest guest]

Remember that the disease is a parasite. Make no mistake. Its also extremely smart. While controlling your diet and finding the triggers that cause a flare, the biologic was made to be taken as directed by your doctor to be effective. You can experience flares at any time even with a biologic. You can try an infusible biologic like Rituxan or Remicade to be taken once every 6 weeks or 6 months. My disease is much too aggressive for me to forego prednisone. I have tapered down as much as I could. Remember that hormones and weather can also cause a flare. Use Ice for a flare that causes hot spongy areas. Heat for muscle guarding associated with a flare. I hope that helps. Deborah

On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 12:30 PM, shanthi_jayk <shanthi_jayk@...> wrote:

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with RA 9 months after my son was born. I was in my

30s then. There is no family history of RA. The doctor who treated me

for Autoimmune disorder before I got RA suggested that the pregnancy

could have caused it. Luckily Enbrel came out on the same year that I

was diagnosed and he got me on it. I was on Enbrel for a year after

that I suggested the doc that since I am a Nutrition major and did not

believe that I want to be on drugs rest of my life suggested I do PRN.

After a couple of years I tapered down the drug more, exercised and

ate non-allergens(the ones my body did agree with). I noticed that my

aches and pains got worse with sugar, dairy, shellfish and wheat(in

this order). My eliminating I became less dependent on Enbrel taking

an occasional shot here and there.

At present I have a flare and need help from any of you guys. I dont

wish to take prednisone hence this email. Also if people wish to email

me off-line I would appreciate that too.

Pl offer your suggestions. Thanks.

shanthi