Re: I am back....til the next time :-)

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry that you've had so much trouble.

Do you mind telling us specifically what RA drugs you are talking about

and what happened? If you would prefer not to answer, that's perfectly

fine.

We do have one member - Louise - who has ascites which is under

investigation right now.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] I am back....til the next time :-)

> Hi everybody,

> I am a person with RA who has tried the drugs that the doctors

> recommend.

> I was active on this board back in November and Dec ( I think)

> I had a reaction to my RA meds and was yanked off all of them, for a

> while.

> I am tightening up more every day. I am looking forward to good lab

> values so I can get back on meds that help.

> Having RA for 8 years has made me very sensitive to drugs. Steroids

> are not an option for me. As the RA docs tell me.. I am missing out

> on a powerful tool but when the powerful tool throws your body into

> shut down.. I have decided that that class of drugs will not benefit

> me.

> They do benefit others....

>

> watch your bellies... if you start to swell, it may be time to see

> your doctor <-- IMO

>

> Glad to be back.... what's new?

[Guest guest]

i'm glad to see you posting again. How are you doing now? I'm so

sorry to hear that you had a reaction to you RA meds. We do have to

be careful, that's for sure. I was on Prednisone, but have weened

myself off again, I just don't won't too put more weight on. I hope

you find a med that works for you, keep in touch Tawny

> Hi everybody,

> I am a person with RA who has tried the drugs that the doctors

> recommend.

> I was active on this board back in November and Dec ( I think)

> I had a reaction to my RA meds and was yanked off all of them, for

a

> while.

> I am tightening up more every day. I am looking forward to good lab

> values so I can get back on meds that help.

> Having RA for 8 years has made me very sensitive to drugs. Steroids

> are not an option for me. As the RA docs tell me.. I am missing out

> on a powerful tool but when the powerful tool throws your body into

> shut down.. I have decided that that class of drugs will not

benefit

> me.

> They do benefit others....

>

> watch your bellies... if you start to swell, it may be time to see

> your doctor <-- IMO

>

> Glad to be back.... what's new?

[Guest guest]

> Do you mind telling us specifically what RA drugs you are talking about

> and what happened?

I had been on methaldrexate for a short period of time. I had trouble

with it.

Minocin was the drug that I have used for almost 6 years. It was a

miracle drug, in my mind. Within 10 days of starting the treatment, my

swelling was dramatically down... I have been happy with this drug.

My doctor (GP), who put me on the minocin[100mg twice a day], retired

in Oct. and the new doctor said I had to go back to an RA doctor and

then he would take care of me.

When I called the RA man I went to, who had taken my baseline

pictures, I was told that since I hadn't seen him in awhile, I would

have to start new. They destroyed my records so I would be a new

patient.... I gotta say, it really floored me and then made me angry.

I did not go back to him.

I found a lady RA doc who kept me on the minocin and added arava. I

started the arava and my blood work was good for a couple months. I

really felt the difference with the arava addition. It was great!

Then...

I started throwing up and having accidents [suddenly] and went back to

the RA doc, who immediately took me off all RA meds. That is where I

am now. I have an apointment with her in another week and I am hoping

that the blood draw comes back, ok.

I wait.....

> >>We do have one member - Louise - who has ascites which is under

> >>investigation right now.

My doctors don't tell me very much. I have to remedy this somehow.

With HMOs , I think ignorance of the patient is to their benefit, not

mine. I looked up **ascites** before I wrote this...and I don't know

if that is me or not.

I do know that I suddenly started drinking gallons ( I kid you not) of

water, a couple weeks before I started throwing up. When I got into

the docs office I had gained 15 pounds and my shoe size had gotten bigger.

I feel like a creaky sponge..

>

> > Hi everybody,

> > I am a person with RA who has tried the drugs that the doctors

> > recommend.

> > I was active on this board back in November and Dec ( I think)

> > I had a reaction to my RA meds and was yanked off all of them, for a

> > while.

> > I am tightening up more every day. I am looking forward to good lab

> > values so I can get back on meds that help.

> > Having RA for 8 years has made me very sensitive to drugs. Steroids

> > are not an option for me. As the RA docs tell me.. I am missing out

> > on a powerful tool but when the powerful tool throws your body into

> > shut down.. I have decided that that class of drugs will not benefit

> > me.

> > They do benefit others....

> >

> > watch your bellies... if you start to swell, it may be time to see

> > your doctor <-- IMO

> >

> > Glad to be back.... what's new?