Re: RE:antibiotics/

[Guest guest]

Hello Brent and -

Brent, I appreciate your detailed description of your experiences with

antibiotic therapy and especially your caveats about delaying treatments that

are known to slow or stop the progression of this disease. I, too, resisted

starting methotrexate, and 20 years ago I did not have a doctor as forceful

as yours - or perhaps not enough was known. In any case, now the protocol is

to treat RA and Stills early and aggressively. If that had been done, I might

not have had the joint destruction I have had. I am now functional - though

not withouth pain - on Enbrel, Arava and mtx, as well as a small amount of

prednisone. And I am grateful for these drugs, without which I know I would

be in that wheel chair you referred to.

I also understand 's enthusiasm for antibiotic therapy. About a year ago,

I avidly read all the information I could get from Dr. Brown's book and the

Roadback foundation. They are very convincing. I spoke with my doctor who was

willing to prescribe the minocin for me though he cautioned me that with

everything else I am taking, it would be hard to know if it would have any

effect. He suggested that we would have to wait and see if my lab tests

improved over time and if I felt better.

Well, it is a year later, and my lab tests have improved (sed rate and CRP,

though still elevated, have come down and my hemoglobin has gone up.) It has

not been the miracle that I had hoped for, however, and I am not sure whether

to continue the treatment or not.

This disease has us on such a roller coaster all the time and I think that

hope is often what keeps us going. So, if you try the antibiotics, I do wish

you well. But I also caution you to consider what Brent has said, as well.

Do keep us posted on what happens. The success stories of some on antibiotic

therapy are very seductive. I'd love to be able to add yours to that group.

Marcia