Feeling good

[Guest guest]

Mark,

Congratulations. What a difference a few months make. Not so long ago you

were in pretty bad shape. My Reynauds has lessened this year so your may

too on the AP.

It is bitter cold here to right now and I just go warm up the car, come back

in the house and run out and get in when it is warmed up.

ps. I hope you carry a cell phone on these treks. :>)

Bev

>

> Well, I must be feeling pretty good - went to town, came back, and

> backpacked about 30 Lbs. of groceries up a steep 1/2 mile driveway in the

> snow and ice and 11 degree temps and am alive to tell about it! Actually

> feel fine - only problem I had was that my fingertips started to get

cold -

> that's a touch of Reynaud's I have.

>

> So there is hope!

> Mark

[Guest guest]

Mark,

Glad you're feeling good. Sounds more like great1

I'm sure the Methotrexate is doing its job and I'm glad you're doing it.

Maybe you should keep on the AP anyway since it can't do harm. Have you

thought of testing to see if you should perhaps try another antibiotic

instead of the mino?

Best,

[Guest guest]

I've also sent this e-mail to the group. What is methrotrex? Sorry I'm not too

sure of all the medicines and what they are for. Thanks. Oh, also Mark what

kind of results have you seen with Methrotrex?

Donna Sapp

[Guest guest]

" I've also sent this e-mail to the group. What is methrotrex? Sorry I'm

not too sure of all the medicines and what they are for. Thanks. Oh, also

Mark what kind of results have you seen with Methrotrex?

Donna Sapp

Go to www.rxlist.com and look up " methotrexate " . Basically, an

immuno-suppressing drug (although at very small dosages, thus some rheumies

consider it more anti-inflammatory than immuno-suppressing). It is the

" standard " treatment used by rheumies today and has generally been found to

work quite well, thus the reason for them prescribing it. It can come with

some nasty side effects in certain people but the percentage of people

experiencing those side effects is low. If you read the literature and all

the possible side effects, it can scare you to death. I felt that way

before I took it. However, I have had virtually no problems with it and it

has helped me substantially. The question is - how long will it help and

does it really control joint damage and can it put you into remission and is

it toxic over the long haul? There seems to be considerable debate about

all of that. I have to believe that being able to function once again and

not being in pain are good indicators - if there is considerable damage

going on underneath that process,then I drew an unlucky ticket. You do have

to have blood tests every 6 weeks or so to make sure your liver enzymes are

not becoming elevated. So far after 7 months, I have not had that problem

(knock on wood). Some people have a lot of problems with nausea on the

pill - by taking it at night, I don't have that problem. It is also

recommended generally to take additional folic acid supplementation with

this drug (1mg per day) to prevent some of the side effects, which I do.

You will note that on this list you will find people with varying

experiences with this drug - some have had very bad experiences, some have

had good experiences but quit taking it because they felt like they were

putting something " toxic " into their bodies. And some are taking it and

finding it helps. It is a very difficult decision to make. You will not

find support for it's use in this group because the group considers it to be

" toxic " . If I am not wrong, the founders of the group have gone down the

road of gold, and other " usual treatments " and found success only here, by

using antibiotics. So naturally, you will not find support for the

" standard " treatments. If you want to talk to people who actually use it

and get their experiences (a wise move, imho), then you can go to the

alt.support.arthritis newsgroup. If you are unfamiliar with how those

newsgroups operate, then simply go to www.deja.com and do a search for

methotrexate - you will find plenty there.

I really think you have to think about " your " case and how you feel. There

is nothing wrong with reading what every person here in the group feels

about it or reading all the posts on other newsgroups. Ultimately, it will

come down to you. This disease treats each person differently and what

works for one often fails for another. Your rheumie or doctor will be quite

familiar with methotrexate - he will be most likely unfamiliar with the

antibiotic therapy. I think you should consider how fast the disease is

progressing and whether you have given the antibiotics a fair trial. I

continue to take antibiotics despite being on methotrexate. My doctors have

assured me that there is not a problem with this. To be honest, I did not

try the IV clindy treatments here, nor have I switched from minocycline to

doxycycline, etc. Some (perhaps many?) would say that is why the AP isn't

working for me anymore. I didn't feel I had the time to try those avenues

as I was rapidly progressing, so I went with more conventional treatment

combined with the AP which is uncommon, so I am a guinea pig of sorts.

Hopefully all this helps. I think you need to look at all the options, try

to read as much as you can, discuss with your doctor (whether you get an

unbiased view there, depends on your doctor). And then think about what it

is that YOU need because in the end, you have to be happy with YOUR choice,

not someone elses.

Mark

http://Mark_Holmes.tripod.com

RA 4/98 AP 7/98

Minocycline (Lederle generic) 100mg 2x/day Daily;Methotrexate

(9/99)(12.5mg/once weekly); folic acid (1 mg/day); Lodine 400mg 3x/day;Zone

Diet;;Fish Oil(9 caps/day);acidopholus;Milk Thistle;Calcium;Multi-Vit

ICQ 18123139

AOL IM - ATHiker95

Re: rheumatic feeling good

I've also sent this e-mail to the group. What is methrotrex? Sorry I'm not

too sure of all the medicines and what they are for. Thanks. Oh, also Mark

what kind of results have you seen with Methrotrex?

Donna Sapp

[Guest guest]

How??? By experimenting for 2 months at a time? That's the one frustrating

thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to know if the antibio is

working and I'm herxing or just getting worse. That happened for 2 years

while trying many antibio to find one that works but unfortunately I was just

getting worse until I found Minocin and colloidal silver. (I've been on

antibiotics for 8 years and suddenly the combo stopped working--also I was

doing better and had skipped dosages..bad mistake!!! But no going back)

<< Have you

thought of testing to see if you should perhaps try another antibiotic

instead of the mino? >>

[Guest guest]

,

I was feeling the same as you last summer when I was flaring most of the

summer and was wondering if I should switch to something else. I stopped

all my meds, even the anti inflams and HRT and just took the Mino and my

thyroid pills for about two months and was so stiff and sore I had to be

helped walk across the street. I decided to start back on my anti inflams

and gradually I felt better and better. I could feel the difference each

day in more flexibility. This was last fall. I am experimenting with

dropping the Minocin on the weekends and it has made a further improvement.

I spent all morning at the gym at the rehab centre and I can't believe the

difference it is making getting the Kinesiologist to help me with exercises

to increase my strength and flexibility even more. I hopped out of the car

like my pre RA days. This is how it has been for me. It could change

and I could have another flare. I just count my blessings. I hope you

get the right combination of meds and anti inflammatories. That was what

worked for me.

Bev

>

> How??? By experimenting for 2 months at a time? That's the one frustrating

> thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to know if the antibio is

> working and I'm herxing or just getting worse. That happened for 2 years

> while trying many antibio to find one that works but unfortunately I was

just

> getting worse until I found Minocin and colloidal silver. (I've been on

> antibiotics for 8 years and suddenly the combo stopped working--also I was

> doing better and had skipped dosages..bad mistake!!! But no going back)

>

>

> << Have you

> thought of testing to see if you should perhaps try another antibiotic

> instead of the mino? >>

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

-Hi Dean:

Glad to hear that you are feeling well. I agree, exercise is a major

component to living healthy with PA. I've found that attacking the PA

simultaneously from three different fronts works the best for me.

First, regular exercise that includes swimming, walking, gardening

and yoga. Second, a diet that limits gluten, refined sugar, dairy,

red meat, wheat products, alcohol and caffeine. Third, medicine which

include antibiotics and celebrex.

When I can discipline myself enough to make these three areas a part

of my everyday life I usually feel quite good. Unfortunately, being

human sometimes I stray from regular exercise and a restricted diet.

However, the antibiotics seemed to have kept the arthritis in check

even when I am not dieting and exercising on a regular schedule. I

had my blood work checked last week and my rheumy was surprised to

see that it tested normal after only 5 months on the antibiotic

therapy. I wish that the antibiotics were also doing that well with

the psoriasis. Any suggestions?

Good luck with the new job. Change can be stressful at times but it

can also be exciting and challenging. Wishing you the very best.

Joe Godfrey

-- In @y..., Dean Flory <deanzo@m...> wrote:

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe:

Thanks for the encouragement. This change is a very good one and the

stress is actually leaving versus starting.

I found during this past summer that when I went on a very restrictive

diet by Dr. Mercola my psoriasis started to clear up. However, I was

also outside every day getting a lot of sun, so it could have been the

sun at work. With the onset of winter here in Minnesota I noticed the

psoriasis coming back.

In addition to the thing you mentioned as key, I've found the following

help too: proper supplements (as PAers tend to be deficient in several

key vitamins, minerals and enzymes like B complex as our bodies don't

absorb them well. Also C and E if you are on antibiotics to help offset

their affects on your liver and kidneys) and hydration (I live with a

bottle of water attached to my hand!).

Another tidbit if you are on AP... I've seen several people personally

report that doxycycline has shown to be as effective (if not more in my

case) than minocycline for PAers. And you don't have to worry about

being in the sun on doxy which is a big bonus for me.

Thanks again!

deano

On Monday, January 21, 2002, at 04:23 PM, sierra4733 wrote:

> -Hi Dean:

>

> Glad to hear that you are feeling well. I agree, exercise is a major

> component to living healthy with PA. I've found that attacking the PA

> simultaneously from three different fronts works the best for me.

> First, regular exercise that includes swimming, walking, gardening

> and yoga. Second, a diet that limits gluten, refined sugar, dairy,

> red meat, wheat products, alcohol and caffeine. Third, medicine which

> include antibiotics and celebrex.

>

> When I can discipline myself enough to make these three areas a part

> of my everyday life I usually feel quite good. Unfortunately, being

> human sometimes I stray from regular exercise and a restricted diet.

> However, the antibiotics seemed to have kept the arthritis in check

> even when I am not dieting and exercising on a regular schedule. I

> had my blood work checked last week and my rheumy was surprised to

> see that it tested normal after only 5 months on the antibiotic

> therapy. I wish that the antibiotics were also doing that well with

> the psoriasis. Any suggestions?

>

> Good luck with the new job. Change can be stressful at times but it

> can also be exciting and challenging. Wishing you the very best.

>

> Joe Godfrey

[Guest guest]

Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one......

..IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - especially the thought at the end.

1. Falling in love. 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 3. A hot shower. 4. No

lines at the supermarket 5. A special glance. 6. Getting mail. 7. Taking a drive

on a pretty road. 8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. 9. Lying in bed

listening to the rain outside. 10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 11.

Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price. 12. Chocolate milkshake.

(or vanilla!) (or strawberry) 13. A long distance phone call. 14. A bubble bath.

15. Giggling. 16. A good conversation. 17. The beach. 18. Finding a 20 note in

your coat from last winter. 19. Laughing at yourself. 20. Midnight phone calls

that last for hours. 21. Running through sprinklers. 22. Laughing for absolutely

no reason at all. 23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. 24.

Laughing at an inside joke. 25. Friends. 26. Accidentally overhearing someone

say something > nice about you. 27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few

hours left to sleep. 28. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new

partner). 29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. 30. Playing

with a new puppy. 31. Having someone play with your hair. 32. Sweet dreams. 33.

Hot chocolate. 34. Road trips with friends. 35. Swinging on swings. 36. Wrapping

presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking your

favorite tipple. 37. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing

along without feeling stupid. 38. Going to a really good concert. 39. Making eye

contact with a cute stranger. 40. Winning a really competitive game. 41. Making

chocolate chip cookies. 42. Having your friends send you home-made cookies. 43.

Spending time with close friends. 44. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from

your friends. 45. Holding hands with someone you care about. 46. Running into an

old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. 47.

Riding the best roller coasters over and over. 48. Watching the _expression on

someone's face as they open a much desired present from you. 49. Watching the

sunrise. 50. Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another

beautiful day.

---------------------------------