Re: Digest Number 5329.. reply 2

[Guest guest]

,

I hear ya! It's been 10+ years almost 11 years for me and I still

hold out hope that one of these days things will get better. It's

the only way to look at it in my opinion.

I did try the Arava. I am not sure what you are asking about the

Arava but it does work. It is also true about the side effects. The

side effects were severe for me, but I have heard many others say

they have no problems at all taking it or have mild side effects. I

lost my hair in 10 days, developed chronic diarrhea and severe

stomach cramps, a facial rash and can't remember what else now. The

MD insisted I stay on it a little longer and the symptoms just got

worse. So off of it now. I think it's trial and error with all of

the meds and you may want to give it a try just in case you are one

of the lucky ones. It was too harsh for me, however. I took it

along with Enbrel and felt cured of the RA but couldn't do much with

the side effects.

I can also totally understand about the insurance thing too. Been

there, done that and still there actually. I got the doctor to write

a letter for me to get the humira. I'll see how that goes.

hang in there,

Ebony

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the input, Ebony. Stomach cramps and diarrhea are what

put an end to Plaquenil for me. I just had another bout yesterday

with the Actonel she just put me on because of the prednisone. I am

NOT looking forward to another go-round of the same with the Arava.

OTOH, maybe I'll get lucky, and it won't give me that set of side

effects. It just seems that's the way my body is reacting to a lot

of things these days!

--- In , " Ebony " <stillbreathing29@...>

wrote:

>

> ,

>

> I hear ya! It's been 10+ years almost 11 years for me and I still

> hold out hope that one of these days things will get better. It's

> the only way to look at it in my opinion.

>

> I did try the Arava. I am not sure what you are asking about the

> Arava but it does work. It is also true about the side effects.

The

> side effects were severe for me, but I have heard many others say

> they have no problems at all taking it or have mild side effects.

I

> lost my hair in 10 days, developed chronic diarrhea and severe

> stomach cramps, a facial rash and can't remember what else now.

The

> MD insisted I stay on it a little longer and the symptoms just got

> worse. So off of it now. I think it's trial and error with all of

> the meds and you may want to give it a try just in case you are

one

> of the lucky ones. It was too harsh for me, however. I took it

> along with Enbrel and felt cured of the RA but couldn't do much

with

> the side effects.

>

> I can also totally understand about the insurance thing too. Been

> there, done that and still there actually. I got the doctor to

write

> a letter for me to get the humira. I'll see how that goes.

>

> hang in there,

> Ebony

>

[Guest guest]

Hi KAthe,

Thanks for the input. Actually, I felt great today, ('cause I'm

back up on 15 mg of pred) so Oliver and I went on a long trail

ride. It was GORGEOUS out!!!

--- In , Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi :

>

> I was put on Arava too, along with Mtx, at one point

> in my treatment. The Arava helped, but the side

> effects of diarrhea and stomach upset started at about

> 3 months into the med, and then I began to experience

> peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands at around 6

> months, so between the two, I decided to stop the med.

> Then I went on to Enbrel and Mtx. The Arava was very

> helpful RA-wise, but the rest of it was the pits.

> I hope that it does not do the same thing to you, but

> thought I would just say that I had the same sort of

> problems as Ebony. Have a great time at your

> conference, and hope you can get back to riding soon!

>

> Kathe in CA

>

> --- Randall

>

> Kathe

>

> " To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>