Re: New to list/jennifer

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the group

Arava is working well for me. It helped my shoulder and clavicular joint (sp?)

out but

not so much for my ankles though. I am almost giving up hope on them.

I went from 10 to 20mg of Arava. I did have a couple times when my liver

enzymes

were a little elevated but they always came back down. If you get the generic

brand

they are a lot cheaper. Also you have to really be good about getting your

blood checked

every 4-6 weeks and no alcohol.

Joy

Gonnella <witchywomyn@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this list but not new to RA...I was diagnosed 18 years ago with RA

and Sjogren's Syndrome. In the early years I struggled, tried different meds and

didn't have much luck. I would go into remissions eventually and have lived

fairly well, with too many major upheavals due to the RA/SS until just recently.

I work in a medical office, the front desk, and due to that fact was told I

should have a flu shot to keep from getting sick. I did and I believe that

opened the door to lowering my resistance and I ended up contracting some awful

bacterial infection that triggered the worst " flare " I have ever known. My body

was very, very angry. I had pain and swelling in my joints, tissue and was told

even my blood vessels and cells. My head felt as if it would explode. I missed

two weeks of work and only could return because I had access to my PCP at work

who was able to administer pain meds via injection a couple times that first

week back. My ankles were triple their normal size and I could barely walk. It

took a long course of antibiotics and I am now back on prednisone. My labs are a

bit of a mess too. My doctor encourages me to follow up with the rheumatologist

that I saw about 9 months ago that I was not happy with. He just doesn't listen.

It is hard to change providers in this

town and I have been told that I cannot see any other doctor in that Arthritis

Group. Sometimes specialists suck, they are so bloody arrogant. I am sticking

with my PCP for now. So, what has been proposed is DMARDs. Arava is the one she

wants me to try. I am unconvinced that I want to take this route. I have always

had issues with meds and am curious, have any of you tried alternative

treatments?

As afraid as I am about the permanent damage of my flares, I just am unconviced

the risks of some of these meds are worth it. What are the feelings of this

group if I might ask?

Oh, BTW, I have only had one positve Rheumatoid factor or other RA test and

since have been sero-negative.

Blessings,

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings

having a human experience.

-

Joy

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