Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 Dear Jay, Hello! I saw your email on the RA list. My name is . I'm 25 years old and developed inflammatory arthritis in 1999 when I was 22. My current meds are: Prednisone, Ibuprofen, Azulfidine EN, Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and Remicade. Unfortunately, the pain never stops. From the onset of my arthritis in 9/99, my diagnosis in 11/99 and finding my current working combo of meds in 5/00 my pain went from a 20 (I couldn't walk or wash my hair by myself) to a 3. Currently, I am in a medication-induced remission. My swelling is mostly gone and my pain is now a dull ache, unless I overdue it. Every facet of my life has been affected by my arthritis. I still get angry about it sometimes but I'm grateful my meds have been working. The awful pain at the onset of arthritis generally lessens once the meds start working. Ibuprofen takes about a week to fully "kick in" but the metho and Plaq can take up to 3 months to work. Take care, in VA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My name is Jay, I own a small business and am an EMT serving on a volunteer ambulance service.I just joined this group tonight. I am 55 years old and apparently have developed rheumatioid arthritis.Two months ago I started having pain in my feet, them my shoulders. Next my knees, wrists and hands started hurting. Four weeks ago I went to the ER and found my RA Factor was 113. A week later it was 118. It is now 164. I was prescribed Vicadin and Motrin 800 Mg. A consult appointment with a Rheumatologist is scheduled for Aug 27th. In the mean time my Dr. is going to start me on Methotrexate and Plaquenil.I hurt 24/7 and I am scared. I have a hundred questions, but will just let this be my introduction to all of you. I will read what you say and try to educate myself on this debilitating disease. No, I do need a question answered by someone. Does the pain ever stop?I hurt so much it even wakes me up. I haven't had a full nights sleep in 6 weeks. I get so stiff I need help getting dressed sometimes. I can hardly wash my own hair and feet, Sometimes I can't even scratch an itch.I've been told that these symptoms are worse at first and will get better. Is this true? If so about how long before the pain lessens?Any answers and information will be greatly appreciated.Thanks, JayAdd photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Step, My Rheumy confirmed the DX of RA and made some changes in my meds. He double my oral intake of Plaquinil to 200 mg daily. He increased my Methotrexate to weekly injection rather than oral and increased the dosage from 10mg to 15mg. The reason for the injection is there is no real way of knowing how much the body is aborbing by the intestines when taken orally, and I will get all of it by injection. He also wants me to take between 1500 and 2000 mg of calcium with Vit D daily. He is SLOWLY going to decrease the amount of Prednisone I take. Each decrease will take 3 weeks before the next decrease. I asked him about taking Prednisone in multiple daily doses and he advises against it because it is easier for the body to rid itself of the toxins from Prednisone if taken in one single dose. Thank you for remembering, your so sweet. Jay > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Jay, Do you have to go in weekly for the injection of Methotrexate or are you to do it yourself? I find this very interesting as I'm currently taking 25mg weekly in pill form. *hugs* ----- Original Message ----- From: " Jay Bishop " Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 5:39 PM Subject: Re: Jay > Hi Step, > > My Rheumy confirmed the DX of RA and made some changes in my meds. > He double my oral intake of Plaquinil to 200 mg daily. He increased > my Methotrexate to weekly injection rather than oral and increased > the dosage from 10mg to 15mg. The reason for the injection is there > is no real way of knowing how much the body is aborbing by the > intestines when taken orally, and I will get all of it by injection. > > He also wants me to take between 1500 and 2000 mg of calcium with Vit > D daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Jay! I wish I could do my injections! My insurance company insists I go to the doctor's office. Ohhhh well.....I wish you the best with yours! Having the mtx thru injection has really helped me. Very little side effects. I went out of state for 2 weeks and had to take the 25mg in pill form......YUCK! I was sooooo sick!!!! Have a great weekend! Carla -----Original Message----- From: Jay Bishop [mailto:jbirdak@...] Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2003 3:23 AM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Jay Hi Namcy, I did my first injection tonight. I am an EMT and do injections ans IV's so I'm trained and used to it. Except it was on myself which felt odd. The needle and syringe is the same that diebetics use for insulin injections. I tend to agree with my RD that I am getting a more precise dose as all the medicine is being absorbed and none being flushed out. You can be trained to do the injections. it is very easy. Even I can do it!! Best wishes and God Bless, Jay --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " nmr " <nmr.01@t...> wrote: > Hi Jay, > > Do you have to go in weekly for the injection of Methotrexate or are you to > do it yourself? I find this very interesting as I'm currently taking 25mg > weekly in pill form. > > *hugs* > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: " Jay Bishop " > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 5:39 PM > Subject: Re: Jay > > > > Hi Step, > > > > My Rheumy confirmed the DX of RA and made some changes in my meds. > > He double my oral intake of Plaquinil to 200 mg daily. He increased > > my Methotrexate to weekly injection rather than oral and increased > > the dosage from 10mg to 15mg. The reason for the injection is there > > is no real way of knowing how much the body is aborbing by the > > intestines when taken orally, and I will get all of it by injection. > > > > He also wants me to take between 1500 and 2000 mg of calcium with Vit > > D daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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