Hi Everyone

[Guest guest]

I've been a member of this group for about a year, since I suspected

I had RA. The rheumy told me he thought it was Palindromic

rhuematism, and didn't give me any other info or meds. He told me to

come back when I was in pain. I was on celebrex for a year and didn't

have any flare ups, just the day to day aching hips, hands, and now

my wrists are affected. While on vacation in Cherokee NC, I had

pnuemonia and a flare up from h*ll. Thank God my husband had his

vicodin for his back; that;s the only thing that got me through. When

I got home, I decided to give this doc another visit (and if his

bedside manner was as bad as last year, I was going looking for

another). Well this time I saw the PA and she was great. She thinks

it is RA, sent me for xrays and MRI, and started me on valtoren

(because the celebrex wasn't covered by my insurance), and plaquenil.

I talked to a friend of mine who has RA and she said plaquenil

doesn't stop the damage to the joints. (The xrays showed mild to

moderate damage to the hips, hands, & wrists- I didn't need the xray

to tell me that!).

My question is: should I be on something else , like MTX? I'm having

another flare; I don't think the valtoren is working as good as the

celebrex.

Any suggestions? I'm just learning about all of this.

Thanks,