Re: Re: seeking friends- from a newbie (kinda long)

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

From whateveryone tells me DMARDS are the way to go, versus

prednisone..however I am still hesitating..might I suggest finding the web page

from Hopkins, that I did ..

www.hopkins-arthritis.org/rheumatoid/rheum_treat.html .. it's mainl written for

doctor's (lotta very detailed & high education words) .. but alot of it is

written in language that those of us that are intelligent, but not so highly

educated as a doctor, can understand .. It gives the run down on 'all' drugs now

available for the treatment of RA ..

Check it out .. Dave F.

[ ] Re: seeking friends- from a " newbie " (kinda long)

Hi - my name is paula and was recently diagnosed with RA, tho I

think that I may have been having 'symptoms' for about a year and a

half before my first (and only) major flare......in Feb/Mar of this

year. I was fortunate enough to have a family physician who after

my second visit took the time to listen to me, and ordered the RA

blood work which confirmed his suspicions. Never, in my wildest

dreams, did I think that this is what was causing my pain - even tho

I had a cousin who had this horrible disease, and another that has

dermatomyositis.

My Rheumy put me on mtx almost immediately and did injections in my

joints that were swollen and painful. She avoids giving prednisone

to her patients as long as she can as she believes that the pred.

causes SO many serious side affects. After so many of my joints

flared, and after about 8 injections, she finally

relented......mostly because I had gotten to the point where I could

no longer walk. It has been about 3 weeks now and I am finally

feeling 'almost' human again. I tried all the cox-2's and none of

them work for me - so I take Naprosyn, MTX, Folic Acid, pred. (which

I am weaning off of already), two Enbrel injections a week, and

Vicodin ES. She also gave me flexeril so I could sleep at night,

but I only take it when my legs are giving me grief. My main

problem with the pred. is that I have gained almost 10 lbs. since I

started taking it - I guess it counteracts the lack of appetite of

the mtx - and my feet swell like balloons. Guess I can live with

that for the next 2 months tho, as long as it helps me get around

until all the other stuff " kicks in " .

I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet - but am looking

forward to it. Glad I found this group - seems like everyone here

is nice, and there's LOTS of information that I've already digested,

just reading *some* of the posts.

Looking forward to reading more...............

paula (cadysgram has been my nic FOREVER - well at least since the

birth of my granddaughter Cady, 10 & 1/2 years ago, hence the name.

BTW - I'm 55 yrs. old, have 2 grown daughters and 2 g'kids - Cady

and a boy, y, age 7. Been married to the same man for 35 yrs. -

just celebrated our anniversary May 31, with a party given by our

children and my sister.............first time I've been able

to 'entertain' since Christmas!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!)

> Howdy:

>

> My name is Dave Francis. I am a California native (one of the few

> left!!)

> I recently was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis .. and am

> experiencing hesitancy in going on the DMARD's that the

> rheumatologists are suggesting going onto, instead of the

prednisone

> and pain killer maintenance that I am now on.

> Anyone else out there facing this same problem?

>

> Dave F.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/06/2004 17:19:31 Central Standard Time,

hbdave@... writes:

> From whateveryone tells me DMARDS are the way to go, versus prednisone..

Hi Dave

Prednisone can be very helpful, and it can kill you indirectly. I have seen

patients die from compression fractures caused by osteoporosis caused by

prednisone. Can't move due to the spinal fractures, can't expand lungs due to

not

moving, can't clear pneumonia, etcetcetc.......it is great short term, but a

wolf in sheep's clothing. Ask anyone who has been stuck on it long term, they

wish they could get off of it. Who knows about some of the other meds,

though-long term I guess it is the devil you know vs. the devil you don't.

Cary

[Guest guest]

> Hi a. I¹m a a too. It¹s great that you have such a good doctor that

> not only listened to you, but seems knowledgeable about treatment. I applaud

> her for trying to avoid prednisone, but knowing when there just isn¹t a

> choice. I hope your meds kick in quickly and you will be able to get off the

> pred. I¹ve been on Enbrel for a long time and it has helped. I hope you get

> relief.

> a

>

>

> [ ] Re: seeking friends- from a " newbie " (kinda long)

>

>

>

> Hi - my name is paula and was recently diagnosed with RA, tho I

> think that I may have been having 'symptoms' for about a year and a

> half before my first (and only) major flare......in Feb/Mar of this

> year. I was fortunate enough to have a family physician who after

> my second visit took the time to listen to me, and ordered the RA

> blood work which confirmed his suspicions. Never, in my wildest

> dreams, did I think that this is what was causing my pain - even tho

> I had a cousin who had this horrible disease, and another that has

> dermatomyositis.

>

> My Rheumy put me on mtx almost immediately and did injections in my

> joints that were swollen and painful. She avoids giving prednisone

> to her patients as long as she can as she believes that the pred.

> causes SO many serious side affects. After so many of my joints

> flared, and after about 8 injections, she finally

> relented......mostly because I had gotten to the point where I could

> no longer walk. It has been about 3 weeks now and I am finally

> feeling 'almost' human again. I tried all the cox-2's and none of

> them work for me - so I take Naprosyn, MTX, Folic Acid, pred. (which

> I am weaning off of already), two Enbrel injections a week, and

> Vicodin ES. She also gave me flexeril so I could sleep at night,

> but I only take it when my legs are giving me grief. My main

> problem with the pred. is that I have gained almost 10 lbs. since I

> started taking it - I guess it counteracts the lack of appetite of

> the mtx - and my feet swell like balloons. Guess I can live with

> that for the next 2 months tho, as long as it helps me get around

> until all the other stuff " kicks in " .

>

> I haven't had a chance to read all the posts yet - but am looking

> forward to it. Glad I found this group - seems like everyone here

> is nice, and there's LOTS of information that I've already digested,

> just reading *some* of the posts.

>

> Looking forward to reading more...............

>

> paula (cadysgram has been my nic FOREVER - well at least since the

> birth of my granddaughter Cady, 10 & 1/2 years ago, hence the name.

> BTW - I'm 55 yrs. old, have 2 grown daughters and 2 g'kids - Cady

> and a boy, y, age 7. Been married to the same man for 35 yrs. -

> just celebrated our anniversary May 31, with a party given by our

> children and my sister.............first time I've been able

> to 'entertain' since Christmas!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>> > Howdy:

>> >

>> > My name is Dave Francis. I am a California native (one of the few

>> > left!!)

>> > I recently was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis .. and am

>> > experiencing hesitancy in going on the DMARD's that the

>> > rheumatologists are suggesting going onto, instead of the

> prednisone

>> > and pain killer maintenance that I am now on.

>> > Anyone else out there facing this same problem?

>> >

>> > Dave F.

>

>

>

>

>