Re: [ Rheumy Visit (was Wax treatment)

[Guest guest]

At 01:05 PM 12/28/00, you wrote:

> >Good to hear that about the wax treatment, . How did

> your >appointment go?

>

Hi ,

Well, yesterday was my first visit to the rheumatologist since he diagnosed

me with RA six weeks ago. I have been on Prednisone and Celebrex and have

gradually been decreasing the Prednisone to eventually get off of it. To

give you some idea of progress, back at the end of October when I started

the Prednisone I was on 60 milligrams because I also had pericarditis (I

still do; No better but no worse either). I have been gradually decreasing

the Prednisone and now am down to 7 mg. daily. The plan is, at some point

I am supposed to flare and from there they can determine the amount of

medication I need. He said I am doing better than he had expected because

he thought I would have flared by now. He told me to continue decreasing

the Prednisone by 1 mg now every two weeks instead of each week. Then when

the flare occurs, I am to increase it by four or five mgs and from there

continue decreasing but not to the point where the flare occurred.

I mentioned to him what you said about not just treating the symptoms but

what is he going to do about slowing the progression of the RA. He said

when he sees me again in two months he is going to start me on

Hyroxychloroquine as it is the only one where you don't need to have your

liver tested. Then we will go from there. I would like to get completely

off the Prednisone due to long term use problems and also, as a type-2

diabetic, it throws off my blood sugar and so " temporarily " am having to

try and inject insulin.

I asked him about Enbrel and he said that it cost something like 15

thousand dollars and I think he said it was too soon yet for me, whatever

that means. Then I found out that he is the director of clinical research

and he asked me if I would be interested in being part of a test in the

future of a med they will be testing which they call Enbrel light. I think

he said it is something like Enbrel mixed with Methatrexate but I don't

remember for sure. He also said it would be good for me because this study

is not using any placebos.

I also asked him about what blood tests he did on me after my initial visit

and they were - VEN Ambulatory, ANA Screen, ESR, Hemogram and Automated

Diff, Rheumatoid Factor, and Rheumatoid Factor Titer - whatever all that

means. Could you " translate " for me? I had a couple of these tests before

from my GP but he wanted current tests. I didn't ask him for specific

results but he mentioned that he could tell me that I definitely don't have

Lupus. I told him my hands and wrists were still not right as I can't make

a tight fist so he checked and mentioned something about a couple of the

joints and some tendon. Then he said to see the therapist at my local

hospital for evaluation, exercises, and the wax treatment - Hey, I if go on

a Saturday or Sunday would that make it a hot-wax weekend? :^)

BTW, I read recently you were in Chicago. I was born and raised there but

moved to this area, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago back in 1979. So

you will appreciate that the rheumy is in Rockford, about 85 miles from

here! I could have seen one in Chicago but there was a seven month waiting

list. The guy in Rockford had a three month wait but he and my GP are

friends or something so I was able to get in to see him in a couple weeks.

Well, I think that's about it. Would appreciate your opinion on all this

and my situation in general.

Thanks, !

Kossart

/Celine Kossart

kozys@...

[Guest guest]

Hyroxychloroquine

Before you begin this make sure you have your eyes checked by an

opthmologist. This med can cause eye problems. I just started and

went to opth. before MD would let me begin. Have to see opth. every 6

months now.

Pam