Update: Getting Nowhere Fast

April 30, 2008

Hi All,

I last checked in 2 or 3 months ago. Last month I got laid off, which was

really awful

because it was totally based on personal reasons and jealousy! DH is also not

working due

to health problems. We have some money in the bank, but the only income is my

unemployment!

During that time, actually since October, the Humira that I have been taking

pretty

successfully for 4 years started failing me. I have some deformity, plus

Osteopenia in my

hands, actually all over, and I am just 38.

I have been on a lot of pain medication am currently taking 25 mg Opana, twice a

day,

plus 4 Percocet's 10/325, and it still doesn't cut the pain!

I advocated to go on Rituxan but my Rheum. and another Rheum. are against it.

The

feeling is that I am not swollen enough, that my RA doesn't look that bad! So,

now I

compromised and wish to go on Orencia.

My doc is ordering MRIs of my left and right hands and wrists as he does not see

why I am

in so much pain.

My feeling is who cares that you don't see it?! Should I wait to become a

cripple?

In the meantime, I am down to being in too much pain to drive, great fatigue,

and memory

and concentration problems as I wait. I need to go back to work but it has

become

impossible!

I feel like if the Humira worked than why would it hurt to try another RA drug,

even if they

don't think the pain is RA? Seems logical.

A big problem is that the doctor who originally diagnosed my RA has passed away

and he

has seen me at my worst.

Any thoughts? Thanks,

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