Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 a, Yes, my friend, on another list, has stopped all her other meds and takes only undenatured chicken collagen. That's why I'm so anxious to try it. I don't want to take enbrel. I also found out that my DHEA levels are low and that is used to help lupus and might help RA, especially since mine is low. What are you taking and how do you feel? Thanks, ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 a, Yes, my friend, on another list, has stopped all her other meds and takes only undenatured chicken collagen. That's why I'm so anxious to try it. I don't want to take enbrel. I also found out that my DHEA levels are low and that is used to help lupus and might help RA, especially since mine is low. What are you taking and how do you feel? Thanks, ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 ette, How long has your friend been on it? So many times I though something was working because of the way this disease flares and subsides. I'm on enbrel and I feel pretty crappy, but there are many reasons for it. I had stopped enbrel because of having a cold and I went into a flare. I also know that these hurricanes here in Florida are really causing me a lot of pain. On top of that I joined a wellness center and am doing the aqua exercise program that the Arthritis Foundation has, and I'm doing an osteoporosis exercise class. So you see, it's not a good time to ask how I feel LOL! I hope as time goes by, these classes won't be so difficult and leaving me feel so exhausted. I feel better exercising, but my muscles are so out of shape that I have little endurance. It will get better in time. Enbrel has helped a great deal and that is the only reason I continue taking it. I'd love to go off of it, but every time I go off of it I'm quickly reminded why I keep taking it. Since I have a lot of joint damage, I can't afford any more. Who tested your DHEA levels? I bought a bottle of DHEA but have been reluctant to take it. a > a, > > Yes, my friend, on another list, has stopped all her other meds and takes > only undenatured chicken collagen. That's why I'm so anxious to try it. I > don't want to take enbrel. I also found out that my DHEA levels are low and > that is used to help lupus and might help RA, especially since mine is low. > > What are you taking and how do you feel? > > Thanks, > ette > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 ette, How long has your friend been on it? So many times I though something was working because of the way this disease flares and subsides. I'm on enbrel and I feel pretty crappy, but there are many reasons for it. I had stopped enbrel because of having a cold and I went into a flare. I also know that these hurricanes here in Florida are really causing me a lot of pain. On top of that I joined a wellness center and am doing the aqua exercise program that the Arthritis Foundation has, and I'm doing an osteoporosis exercise class. So you see, it's not a good time to ask how I feel LOL! I hope as time goes by, these classes won't be so difficult and leaving me feel so exhausted. I feel better exercising, but my muscles are so out of shape that I have little endurance. It will get better in time. Enbrel has helped a great deal and that is the only reason I continue taking it. I'd love to go off of it, but every time I go off of it I'm quickly reminded why I keep taking it. Since I have a lot of joint damage, I can't afford any more. Who tested your DHEA levels? I bought a bottle of DHEA but have been reluctant to take it. a > a, > > Yes, my friend, on another list, has stopped all her other meds and takes > only undenatured chicken collagen. That's why I'm so anxious to try it. I > don't want to take enbrel. I also found out that my DHEA levels are low and > that is used to help lupus and might help RA, especially since mine is low. > > What are you taking and how do you feel? > > Thanks, > ette > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Hi a, My rheumatologist tested the DHEA levels. I am going to try a sublingual DHEA that I get from a compounding pharmacy. I want the sublingual since I don't want to have trouble with my liver. I will take 12 1/2 mg. to start. The tablet is 25 mg but I will cut it in half. The person on the other list has been taking the collagen since she was in the study. Not sure how long ago that was. ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Hi a, My rheumatologist tested the DHEA levels. I am going to try a sublingual DHEA that I get from a compounding pharmacy. I want the sublingual since I don't want to have trouble with my liver. I will take 12 1/2 mg. to start. The tablet is 25 mg but I will cut it in half. The person on the other list has been taking the collagen since she was in the study. Not sure how long ago that was. ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2004 Report Share Posted September 30, 2004 ette, I hope it helps. I doubt my my rheumys have ever tested my levels. I'll have to request it especially since I suddenly stopped having periods at age 48. My GYN even gave me a pregnancy test LOL! He wanted me to go on hormones but I declined. I feel 48 is pretty young for menopause and had expected to at least become irregular before just stopping cold turkey. I'm not complaining LOL! But I did read that low DHEA levels can cause amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) so maybe I should look into it. I'm not sure what study phase your friend was in, but I believe it ended around 199. I remember Enbrel being approved close to the time the study ended, and that is when I started Enbrel. a > Hi a, > > My rheumatologist tested the DHEA levels. I am going to try a sublingual > DHEA that I get from a compounding pharmacy. I want the sublingual since I > don't want to have trouble with my liver. I will take 12 1/2 mg. to start. > The tablet is 25 mg but I will cut it in half. > > The person on the other list has been taking the collagen since she was in > the study. Not sure how long ago that was. > > ette > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2004 Report Share Posted September 30, 2004 ette, I hope it helps. I doubt my my rheumys have ever tested my levels. I'll have to request it especially since I suddenly stopped having periods at age 48. My GYN even gave me a pregnancy test LOL! He wanted me to go on hormones but I declined. I feel 48 is pretty young for menopause and had expected to at least become irregular before just stopping cold turkey. I'm not complaining LOL! But I did read that low DHEA levels can cause amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) so maybe I should look into it. I'm not sure what study phase your friend was in, but I believe it ended around 199. I remember Enbrel being approved close to the time the study ended, and that is when I started Enbrel. a > Hi a, > > My rheumatologist tested the DHEA levels. I am going to try a sublingual > DHEA that I get from a compounding pharmacy. I want the sublingual since I > don't want to have trouble with my liver. I will take 12 1/2 mg. to start. > The tablet is 25 mg but I will cut it in half. > > The person on the other list has been taking the collagen since she was in > the study. Not sure how long ago that was. > > ette > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2004 Report Share Posted October 1, 2004 Hi a, I started menopause at 47 and was diagnosed wirh RA at the same time. I do take hormones - natural estriol and natural micronized progesterone in a sublingual tablet that I break in half. I started on the collagen this morning and I'll start on the DHEA when it is delivered. How are you doing on enbrel? Do you worry about getting infections and lowering your immune system, etc. I have it in my refrigerator but I'm trying everything else first. Best of health, ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2004 Report Share Posted October 1, 2004 Hi a, I started menopause at 47 and was diagnosed wirh RA at the same time. I do take hormones - natural estriol and natural micronized progesterone in a sublingual tablet that I break in half. I started on the collagen this morning and I'll start on the DHEA when it is delivered. How are you doing on enbrel? Do you worry about getting infections and lowering your immune system, etc. I have it in my refrigerator but I'm trying everything else first. Best of health, ette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 I am doing very well on Enbrel. I've been on it since 1998 and have not had one infection. I rarely get sick, maybe one cold a year and when I do, I stop Enbrel. I've have a very good immune system all of my life. When I do get something, I'm over it very quickly. It seems most people with RA have a low immune system, but for some reason mine seems quite strong. I've tried going off Enbrel several times for reasons of being afraid of the possible long term side effects. Each time I " m quickly reminded that the quality of my every day life is not so good when I don't use the Enbrel. I was one of the lucky ones that responded immediately to Enbrel. Within 2 days of my first injection I felt relief. I though it was in my head, but others have reported immediate results as well. I wish it worked as well for everyone. Maybe when I get my liver problem resolved, I'll look into the DHEA. a > Hi a, > > I started menopause at 47 and was diagnosed wirh RA at the same time. I do > take hormones - natural estriol and natural micronized progesterone in a > sublingual tablet that I break in half. I started on the collagen this > morning and I'll start on the DHEA when it is delivered. > > How are you doing on enbrel? Do you worry about getting infections and > lowering your immune system, etc. I have it in my refrigerator but I'm > trying everything else first. > > Best of health, > ette > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2004 Report Share Posted October 4, 2004 I am doing very well on Enbrel. I've been on it since 1998 and have not had one infection. I rarely get sick, maybe one cold a year and when I do, I stop Enbrel. I've have a very good immune system all of my life. When I do get something, I'm over it very quickly. It seems most people with RA have a low immune system, but for some reason mine seems quite strong. I've tried going off Enbrel several times for reasons of being afraid of the possible long term side effects. Each time I " m quickly reminded that the quality of my every day life is not so good when I don't use the Enbrel. I was one of the lucky ones that responded immediately to Enbrel. Within 2 days of my first injection I felt relief. I though it was in my head, but others have reported immediate results as well. I wish it worked as well for everyone. Maybe when I get my liver problem resolved, I'll look into the DHEA. a > Hi a, > > I started menopause at 47 and was diagnosed wirh RA at the same time. I do > take hormones - natural estriol and natural micronized progesterone in a > sublingual tablet that I break in half. I started on the collagen this > morning and I'll start on the DHEA when it is delivered. > > How are you doing on enbrel? Do you worry about getting infections and > lowering your immune system, etc. I have it in my refrigerator but I'm > trying everything else first. > > Best of health, > ette > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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