-scleritis

[Guest guest]

Welcome . You've come to the right place to learn about rheumatic

diseases. I'm glad your doctor

is digging deeper to find out what is going on with you. The sed rate

test is a measurement of inflammation.

0-20 is considered normal. 50 means you have a lot of inflammation

going on. The prednisone will help,

but long term prednisone has some nasty side effects such as

osteoporsis, so hopefully when other meds start

to work you'll be weaned off of prednisone. Just because your RH is

negative doesn't rule out RA. Sero-negative

RA is a possibility. I have sero-negative RA.

As far as the stomach distress, the most common side effect of plaquenil

is mild nausea and occasional stomach cramps. Plaquenil is one of the

best tolerated meds for RA. Taking it with meals may help with the

nausea.

Here is some information on scleritis:

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATED SCLERITIS

http://www.uveitis.org/Enhanced/MD_info/RA_ass_scler.htm

Handbook of Ocular Disease Management - Scleritis

http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/sect2g.htm

Picture of scleritis

http://www.eyemac.com/healthlinks/disease/scleritis.html

Intelihealth-what is scleritis?

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9957.html

Eye MD Link

http://www.eyemdlink.com/Condition.asp?ConditionID=400

I'm glad to hear that the meds are helping you.

a

On Thursday, May 9, 2002, at 08:09 PM, Drager wrote:

> Hi!  I'm also new to the group.  This is the first time I've ever

> joined a support group but it seemed like a really good idea.  I

> started on Placquenil, Prednisone and Celebrex about 2 months ago.  I

> was actually referred by my eye doctor to a family practice doctor who

> then referred me to a Rheumatologist (Rheumy, I think I've seen in some

> postings ).  I have had chronic eye inflammation for some time and

> after 3 eye doctors who treated it like an infection, only to have it

> return in a few weeks, this doctor started asking some questions, such

> as, was I frequently tired, did my joints hurt, etc.  I'm really

> grateful to her for not brushing me off. 

>

> I had been having pain in my hands, wrists and ankles but really

> started having trouble with my hips and could barely walk if I sat too

> long at work.  My RH factor was negative but sed rate was 50.  I'm not

> really sure what all that means.  The rheumy office ran the tests and

> the doctor just called me back with the results and called in the meds

> so I haven't gotten too much information. She never said for sure it

> was RA, really didn't say much of anything.   From what I've been able

> to read, the drugs she's prescribed are for RA but I wasn't sure since

> the RH factor was neg.  I go back to her in another month.

>

> The meds have made a HUGE difference already.  My biggest problems with

> them are the difficulty sleeping, night sweats and upset stomach. 

> Nothing I can't deal with but since I went on all 3 at once, I'm not

> sure which is causing what.  Any ideas?  Is anyone else on Placquenil?

> I'm hoping the Prednisone is the culprit because from what the dr said,

> I'm just going to be on it short term. 

>

> I'm still trying to get used to all of this and sometimes it's a little

> overwhelming and a bit scary.  Any words of wisdom would be greatly

> appreciated. 

>

>

>