Re: UPdate & New RA and starting Arava..comments on the med welcomed

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I've been on Areva for 2 months now and I am starting to notice less pain and swelling. I had to stop Enbrel because it would have cost us $265 a month. which we cannot afford.

Areva takes up to 3 months to notice a change. It can upset your stomach so I take it before bed and I also take ginger pills to help with my stomach problems, I take MTX and that can really cause stomach upset. Areva can also cause you to lose your hair, but that is a rare side effect. I haven't had anyproblems with my hair, just my stomach. I think taking it at night has helped me.

Does anyone else take Areva?

Vicki

----- Original Message ----From: pr_jem <pr_jem@...>Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 8:57:43 PMSubject: UPdate & New RA and starting Arava..comments on the med welcomed

Hi All,Well I went to the new Rheumy. There was a good connection and I left feeling good(unlike the other one i tried). He was on the RA foundation referal list - Dr. McKnight. In any vent, he recommended I take ARava in conjuction with the Plaquenil and then whine out the plaquenil. If that does not work we will try both the Arava & Plaquenil.He said that my hlth coverage would not cover me going from Plaquenil to Enbrel. that the enbrel would cost me like $1,500 a month. So he suggested we start with Arava and move up from their accordingly.What I found unusual was the fact that My finger is still swollen and very slightly deformed, yet he did not suggest anything in particular. I have never wanted an injections in my joints, however, the pain got so bad that I would have welcomed the suggestion. He did find my let elbow really swollen I hope this med works. This week I have had my left

side go haywire: the side of my left knee is swollen with the bone slightly protruding, and he did not say much about the bone that is slightly protruding above my chest. He did however, say that he did not think that my lungs were as bad as i had assumed. Although, i will continue to have Ct scans done every six months. Any comments on the Arava. Hugs,CookiePS: Thank you both Ardy and Deborah

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