New Dr., new hope

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone, it's . Sorry I haven't posted much in a while,

but it's a busy season for all of us I guess and I just can't keep up!

ANYWAY, I'm happy to report I have a new Dr. He took one look at me

and said " you have SERIOUS rheumatoid arthritis for someone your

age " . Like, duh!! (I'm 46, by the way). He says my wrists have

pretty much spontaneously fused, and the tendons which hold the pinky

and ring finger up on my right hand have severed, so he's sending me

to a hand surgeon for a consult. FUN!

Went yesterday for xrays. The xray tech, a woman my age, was shocked

at my films. They were pretty gnarly...literally! :-(

Re: meds. He's keeping me on Mthx., upping my Prednisone from 5 mg

day to 20 mg a day, and once he gets approval from the HMO, is going

to start me on Remicade.

Have any of you tried Remicade? I'd be interested to hear your

stories.

ALSO... since I increased the prednisone, I've been vomiting every

day! He told me to make sure I eat first before I take the meds, and

I think maybe coffee could be affecting me too, so I'm going to cut

that out. Has anyone else experienced nausea with increased doses of

prednisone and/or methotrexate?

Happy Holidays to all of you!

in CA