Re: Visit to Rheumy-Kathe

[Guest guest]

Kathe,

I chose to drop the mtx instead of the Arava, because it's the Arava that

has helped me so much. I guess both are responsible for the decline in WBC

count. Hopefully it will level off on just 10 mg of Arava.

I don't understand the decline, anyway; I was on such low doses of both. My

liver enzymes have been normal, too.

My rheumy did say when he prescribed Arava that if it didn't work, he was

going to try Remicade or Enbrel. I wonder if he even remembers saying that.

I don't know how they decide who's worth $12,000 a year.

I'm glad that you're finally going to get to try it. I hope it works well

for you and gets rid of the fatigue, too. The Arava and mtx do nothing for

the fatigue, do they?

Sue

on 11/21/02 11:51 AM, Kathe Sabetzadeh at lv2ryd@... wrote:

> Sue:

>

> Sorry to hear that you are still having problems with

> the WBC count and that you have to drop the Arava. I

> have tried going without Arava taking just the Mtx,

> and also taking Arava without the Mtx, and neither

> worked for me along - it's the combo I need. I hope

> that you are able to do well on just the Mtx. I see

> my doctor this morning and have been given my card for

> Enbrel from the company, so she will probably be

> starting me on that med. I want to be able to

> discontinue the Arava at the least and have heard that

> Mtx works good with Enbrel. Have you spoken to your

> doctor about getting Enbrel?

>

> I hope that you are able to continue feeling well even

> without the Arava - best of luck and let us know how

> it goes.