Re: RA & Other Arthritis Toni

[Guest guest]

Thanks Toni for telling me your experience, It is so good to hear form different

pepole.

Many Blessings to you,

April

aclavern33@... wrote:

April,

My RA was diagnosised with a combination fo blood tests, physical exam, xrays

and my report of symtoms. Not everyone with RA has a positive RA factor

test. I was one of those people for the first 18 months or so after I was

diagnosised. Then one test was positive and a few months after that my RA factor

test was negative. So as my rheummy explained to me the RA factor just lets him

know how active the disease is. Sed rate is a better predictor for me.

I started on Methotexate pills and they made me deathly ill. I had nausea,

vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, mouth sores, eye sores, throat sores, severe

fatigue and drug induced pneumonitis. This is a side effect of Methotrexate that

can be fatal if left untreated. It starts as a bad dry hacking cough and

being short of breath. My doc stopped the methotrexate immediately to allow my

lungs to heal. I restarted afew weeks later I restarted methotrexate

injections with the same side effects just not as severe. I was also taking high

doses

of folic acid daily and it got so bad with the sores that I was started on

leukovorin. Methotrexate does require frequent bloodwork to check liver enzymes

as well as to make sure you are not getting too depressed. I developed

anemia as well as low platelets on Methotrexate which my rheummy thought was no

big

deal byt my internal med doc disagreed. I decided on my own the side effects

were not work the little bit of good if any good the drug was doing. Yes

this drug is chemo but used in far smaller dosages than is used to treat cancer.

For me if this is what a cancer patient has to go through they can keep this

stuff. For me Methotrexate was NOT worth all the misery and suffering I went

though will taking it. I was took sick to do anything.

For me the steriods really helped when I was first diagnosised. I could

never take steriods for long periods of time or in high dosages. They make me

very agressive and pyschotic. I also suffer from insonmia while on them. So I

chose to skip the steriods if at all possible. I have gotten steroid

injections into the affected joint to give some immediate relief. My doc mixs

the

steriods with lidocaine so you get immediate relief.

My family is sort of indifferent. They really don't say much. Then again

neither do I.

Toni

In a message dated 11/26/2004 9:51:44 PM Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 11:43:03 -0800 (PST)

From: April

Subject: RA & Other Arthritis Q's

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am " New " and I have a few questions:

(1) How do you find out if you have RA in all your joints or if you have

another type of arthritis in others? Also, is there " Blood Tests " to find that

out?

(2) Do most people get on Methetrexate (sp) for RA and is that a low dose

chemo?

Does it make you nausious? Is it worth it?

(3) Can I skip steroids if doc says I should take them?

(4) How does your families respnd /treat you with the RA? Denial? No

interrest? and is that a normal reaction?

Thanks and Blessings,

April

[Guest guest]

Thanks Toni for telling me your experience, It is so good to hear form different

pepole.

Many Blessings to you,

April

aclavern33@... wrote:

April,

My RA was diagnosised with a combination fo blood tests, physical exam, xrays

and my report of symtoms. Not everyone with RA has a positive RA factor

test. I was one of those people for the first 18 months or so after I was

diagnosised. Then one test was positive and a few months after that my RA factor

test was negative. So as my rheummy explained to me the RA factor just lets him

know how active the disease is. Sed rate is a better predictor for me.

I started on Methotexate pills and they made me deathly ill. I had nausea,

vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, mouth sores, eye sores, throat sores, severe

fatigue and drug induced pneumonitis. This is a side effect of Methotrexate that

can be fatal if left untreated. It starts as a bad dry hacking cough and

being short of breath. My doc stopped the methotrexate immediately to allow my

lungs to heal. I restarted afew weeks later I restarted methotrexate

injections with the same side effects just not as severe. I was also taking high

doses

of folic acid daily and it got so bad with the sores that I was started on

leukovorin. Methotrexate does require frequent bloodwork to check liver enzymes

as well as to make sure you are not getting too depressed. I developed

anemia as well as low platelets on Methotrexate which my rheummy thought was no

big

deal byt my internal med doc disagreed. I decided on my own the side effects

were not work the little bit of good if any good the drug was doing. Yes

this drug is chemo but used in far smaller dosages than is used to treat cancer.

For me if this is what a cancer patient has to go through they can keep this

stuff. For me Methotrexate was NOT worth all the misery and suffering I went

though will taking it. I was took sick to do anything.

For me the steriods really helped when I was first diagnosised. I could

never take steriods for long periods of time or in high dosages. They make me

very agressive and pyschotic. I also suffer from insonmia while on them. So I

chose to skip the steriods if at all possible. I have gotten steroid

injections into the affected joint to give some immediate relief. My doc mixs

the

steriods with lidocaine so you get immediate relief.

My family is sort of indifferent. They really don't say much. Then again

neither do I.

Toni

In a message dated 11/26/2004 9:51:44 PM Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 11:43:03 -0800 (PST)

From: April

Subject: RA & Other Arthritis Q's

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am " New " and I have a few questions:

(1) How do you find out if you have RA in all your joints or if you have

another type of arthritis in others? Also, is there " Blood Tests " to find that

out?

(2) Do most people get on Methetrexate (sp) for RA and is that a low dose

chemo?

Does it make you nausious? Is it worth it?

(3) Can I skip steroids if doc says I should take them?

(4) How does your families respnd /treat you with the RA? Denial? No

interrest? and is that a normal reaction?

Thanks and Blessings,

April