Re: Need Group Help CJ

[Guest guest]

Hi CJ:

Welcome to the group! Wow, you have been through this

RA journey for a very long time. I am so sorry that

you are having such pain at this time, but there are

medications out now that can be of so much help to

you.

That is unbelieveable that you cannot get in to the

new rheumy until October! What are you supposed to do

until then? Have them put you on a list to be called

when others cancel their appointments, and maybe you

will be seen sooner - I sure hope so.

I am only 7-8 years into RA (also have fibro, OA, and

Raynaud's), and am currently taking Methotrexate,

Enbrel, and Ultram for pain. I am very lucky and so

far have no x-ray evidence of any joint destruction,

and very little outward signs of RA and OA. How high

a dose were you taking of the Mtx when you had to go

on oxygen - and how long had you taken it? That is so

scary to hear about, and I am sorry that you have had

to go through so much with your RA.

In this group, between all of us, I think we could

probably tell you personal stories of our use of

various medications. I have been on Plaquenil,

Prednisone, Motrin, Celebrex, Bextra, Arava, Lodine,

Mobic, Minocycline, and my current medications. I

also use rice socks, take hot showers, and use

heating/massage pads to help ease the pain. I rest as

often as possible too.

I am 52 and live on a small farm with my husband and

two kids, 19 and 22, and we have horses, dogs,

chickens, and other fowl, and this keeps me pretty

active on a daily basis. There are times, though,

when I just cannot do it, and my family helps me out.

I also try to ride at least once a week, but lately it

has been way too hot to do so, unfortunately.

With the right medications/combo of meds, it is very

possible to live a quality of life, and that is what

we all strive for. The new biologics might be

something for you to look into, Enbrel has been very

good for me, and there are also others on that. We

have a couple of members trying the new Orencia too.

I hope that you are able to be seen sooner than

October - is that the only other rheumy you can see? -

and hate to see you in pain until then. Hang in there

- take care - and let us know how you are doing.

Kathe in CA

--- cjlady13 <cjlady13@...> wrote:

> Hi... I was diagnosed with RA 30 years ago, so this

> is nothing new to > me. I didn't become totally

disabled from the> disease until 16 years > ago. Since

then have been a series of drugs, damaged> joints,

surgeries, > and of course pain and limitation.

Through it all I've been able to > bounce back and

live with an UP spirit. In November> I was put on

> oxygen because of the damage done by long term use

> of Methotrexate. A > couple months ago I was taken

off Metho and left> with a small dose of > prednisone

and Mobic. Arava was offered but I read> nothing but

bad > stuff about it's use. I'm just coming out of a

six> week flareup of > pain like I've never had in my

life! Even my> fingernails were > painful. I've

never joined a support group before> for anything, but

I > think I'd better start to connct with others in my

> boat. I need > feedback on various meds and their

pros & cons from> your experience. I > fired my

arrogant, pompous, rude Rheumatologist and> can't get

in to see > another until early October. In the

meantime,> someone tell me that > there is a way to

have a life beyond just getting> through the pain.

>

> CJ

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