Guest guest Posted February 3, 2003 Report Share Posted February 3, 2003 Hi : I just started Enbrel 4 weeks ago. Results are mixed - I had a couple of really great 3-4 day periods, and the rest of the time was as usual. I'm a little disappointed that I'm not responding faster, but my doctor said that it could take up to 3 months to really see the difference. I also take methotrexate. How long have you been on Enbrel? And what does Arava do? I take Darvocet occasionally when I can't stand the pain. But I usually find that it doesn't do me much good. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 Hi I was on Arava but had to be taken off because of a rash. It was working well while I was on it though. I do very well with methotrexate. I don't know what I am classified as but I think I am pretty bad. 'The bad news is I also was just diagnosed with having MS in october and the medication for that conflicts with the medication for RA and so I am back in pain again. I have had no replacements yet and I hope not to but I am sure I will. Jan -------Original Message------- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis Date: Monday, February 03, 2003 9:15:08 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: arava and enbrel I have had 25 years with Rh/Arth and am now using Arava and Enbrel to try and control it. I am classified as a lvel 3 Rh/Arth sufferer.. there are only 4 levels..[grin]...I have had bi-lat knee joint replacement surgery and just [Nov 25, 2002] had a total shoulder joint replacement.. If any of you have had experiance with arava or enbrel i would love to chat with you..PS: I use percocet to control my pain.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 I developed liver problems after a month of taking Arava. I became flushed and had a fever. It wasn't long before I went back to Methotrexate. I hear that Arava works great if you can tolerate it. Make sure you go for your monthly blood checks. That saved me. - > I have had 25 years with Rh/Arth and am now using Arava and Enbrel to > try and control it. I am classified as a lvel 3 Rh/Arth sufferer.. > there are only 4 levels..[grin]...I have had bi-lat knee joint > replacement surgery and just [Nov 25, 2002] had a total shoulder > joint replacement.. > > If any of you have had experiance with arava or enbrel i would love > to chat with you.. > > PS: I use percocet to control my pain.. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 Hi Diane I myself think that methotrexate is a wonder drug. at least until the ms medication ruined it for me. I don't know what they can do for me now but I have high hopes and will just learn to tolerate the pain and take pain pills when I really have to. I am sure something will come up. I sat in a chair depressed with pain and locked shoulders for 2 years . I thought I had no life left, doctors made the RA sound so permanently crippling. I finally decided I wasn't going to let it get me down and started reading. I went to physical therapy (which helped a lot) I was almost like a normal woman after I had been on methotrexate for a couple of months. I fought not to take such horrible drugs but finally gave in and I am glad I did. I am sorry about your liver problem luckily I have not faced that one yet but I expect anything at this point and I have learned tomorrow is another day. -------Original Message------- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis Date: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 17:54:02 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: arava and enbrel I developed liver problems after a month of taking Arava. I became flushed and had a fever. It wasn't long before I went back to Methotrexate. I hear that Arava works great if you can tolerate it. Make sure you go for your monthly blood checks. That saved me.-> I have had 25 years with Rh/Arth and am now using Arava and Enbrel to > try and control it. I am classified as a lvel 3 Rh/Arth sufferer.. > there are only 4 levels..[grin]...I have had bi-lat knee joint > replacement surgery and just [Nov 25, 2002] had a total shoulder > joint replacement.. > > If any of you have had experiance with arava or enbrel i would love > to chat with you..> > PS: I use percocet to control my pain..> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 I agree with that there is much to hope for in the future. The medical field is changing so fast - Remicade and Enbrel have helped thousands of people who previously were in terrible pain. I think we can look to the future for more relief. In the meantime, taking it a day at a time is good. I have "good" days and "bad" days and when I'm having a bad day, I just think that maybe tomorrow will be a good day. And I don't waste my good days! Maybe I just have a really bad memory, but I find that when I am feeling good, I can't remember how it feels to be in pain. If anything, this disease helps you live in the moment - I guess that's a good/bad thing depending on your day. Trudge on - there may be light around the next corner. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 > I have learned tomorrow is another day. How very true! I didn't want to take Methotrexate either, at first. I tried oter drugs - Plaquenil, Gold shots (I hate shots so that didn't last long), Sulfasalisine. But I was crippled and I needed something that would slow down the disease and I needed it fast. So I started Methotrexate. It worked in about 6 weeks. I was better but joint damage had already altered my body so I wasn't perfect. I had a little spell with Erothema Nodosum (bumps on my legs) so I had to come off Methotrexate until they were clear. The cause of those bumps was unknown but thought to be a virus. But to make sure, they took me off Meth. and put me on Arava. That's when the liver damage arose and I started Meth. again after a few months of nothing but steroids and NSAID's (needed time for liver to heal). I worry about the side effects of these medicines especially since I am only 28 years old. I will be on these drugs for 60 years! That's a long time and I will feel the negative effects. I've already experience some (liver damage). But if I weigh out what is better, life with these meds where I can walk, work, occassionally ride my bike, and LIVE or life with no meds - pain, crippling, more pain, more depressions, no work, consequently no money, etc... It is clear that tomorrow is another day and I am going to live like there are endless tomorrows ahead of me. I can't worry about the future if I am busy hurting in the present. Now that I am feeling better with the help of these meds., I will hope and pray for new cures, medicines, and treatments. Tomorrow will bring hope. I am sure of it. In the meantime, I'm living my life with the help of Methotrexate. In fact, I am hoping to go to agility camp with my dog, Autumn, this summer. Won't that be fun! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 Hi Sandy: In response to those well-meaning people who ask you too often how you are doing, I usually say (if I don't really want to talk about it) "well, I have good days and bad days." Then I usually smile, and those who know me generally don't ask past that. Maybe it's those long canines behind that smile that stop them.... Then I usually change the subject and they get the idea. You can make your feelings clear without having to - if you know what I mean. good luck. gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 6, 2003 Report Share Posted February 6, 2003 Gloria - What you wrote is MUCH the way I feel. Despite that I'm fearful of making plans, I figure that those who truly love me will understand- I've made it a point to educate them. My current challenge, is that my colleagues know I've been struggling over the past few months. They mean well, but ask me on a daily basis how I am. I never know how to answer. Does anyone have suggestions? I don't want to lie and say I feel great.......nor do I want to go into all the details of how lousy life is at this point......except that I'm proud to have made it to work alone. Please help with suggestions on how to handle? Thanks and hugs to you all. From: gloriarex@... Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Re: arava and enbrel Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 20:25:01 EST I agree with that there is much to hope for in the future. The medical field is changing so fast - Remicade and Enbrel have helped thousands of people who previously were in terrible pain. I think we can look to the future for more relief. In the meantime, taking it a day at a time is good. I have "good" days and "bad" days and when I'm having a bad day, I just think that maybe tomorrow will be a good day. And I don't waste my good days! Maybe I just have a really bad memory, but I find that when I am feeling good, I can't remember how it feels to be in pain. If anything, this disease helps you live in the moment - I guess that's a good/bad thing depending on your day. Trudge on - there may be light around the next corner. gloria Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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