Re: Goal of Treatment--More Questions From a Newbie Parrish

[Guest guest]

Hi Parrish:

Great questions! Well, for me, my goal is to reduce

the pain and keep the RA disease from progressing and

destroying my joints. For that, I take medications,

and have changed meds quite a few times over the

years.

Right now, with Mobic, Mtx, and Enbrel, my RA is doing

pretty well. Some flares, but I think that will

always be the case, as the disease does wax and wane,

with the meds doing what they can to control it. I am

still fatigued and have found myself to be a napper!

I know that I will be on meds for RA forever. The

meds may change when they are no longer effective, and

I will go onto something new. I hope that someday

research will find a miracle that will cure RA, but I

doubt this will be in my lifetime - but I have great

hope for future generations not to have to go through

what we have.

I have been at one time in what I would have called

regression, when my RA was really under control, but

by trying to reduce my Mtx (my doctor and I both

agreed to try this), I was able to only decrease by 20

mg. to 10 before the RA flared up again, and now I am

back on 15 mg. weekly. That, with the Enbrel, seems

to be where I will be staying as long as they continue

to work.

I have tried in the past to go off one or more of my

drugs on my own, only to be kicked in the butt by my

RA, letting me know that without meds I would be in

pretty sad shape. So I know that life without

medication is not something that I will have. Now,

with also have fibro, I have even more meds to take to

keep that under control. I am thankful to have them,

and will take what I need to be able to have a quality

of life.

Hope this helps - and hope that today is a god day for

you - take care -

Kathe in CA

--- Parrish Blaszka <parrish_blaszka@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> Me again! First off, thank you to all who have

> shared

> stories and insight into RA with me. I have learned

> a

> lot from all of you in just the week or so that I

> have

> been in the group.

>

> One question I am still hoping to hear from you all

> about relates to the overall goal of treatment. I

> know

> this answer will vary for all of us, which is good.

>

> What is the goal? I know RA is chronic and it's

> something that we'll have for the rest of our lives.

> I

> know we want to treat pain, swelling & prevent joint

> deterioration. But how do we figure out the

> long-term

> treatment plan?

>

> Do we only go on meds for a cetain time period? And

> then off when RA goes into remission? Do we cycle on

> &

> cycle off?

>

> I know a lot of this I will need to figure out with

> my

> rheumy, but any insight that people can share (as

> always!) appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Parrish

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kathe! Great insight into your situation and

treament decisions.

Is there anyone out there w/RA who is NOT taking any

meds? Would be curious to hear your situation.

TGIF!

Parrish

--- Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Parrish:

>

> Great questions! Well, for me, my goal is to reduce

> the pain and keep the RA disease from progressing

> and

> destroying my joints. For that, I take medications,

> and have changed meds quite a few times over the

> years.

> Right now, with Mobic, Mtx, and Enbrel, my RA is

> doing

> pretty well. Some flares, but I think that will

> always be the case, as the disease does wax and

> wane,

> with the meds doing what they can to control it. I

> am

> still fatigued and have found myself to be a napper!

>

> I know that I will be on meds for RA forever. The

> meds may change when they are no longer effective,

> and

> I will go onto something new. I hope that someday

> research will find a miracle that will cure RA, but

> I

> doubt this will be in my lifetime - but I have great

> hope for future generations not to have to go

> through

> what we have.

>

> I have been at one time in what I would have called

> regression, when my RA was really under control, but

> by trying to reduce my Mtx (my doctor and I both

> agreed to try this), I was able to only decrease by

> 20

> mg. to 10 before the RA flared up again, and now I

> am

> back on 15 mg. weekly. That, with the Enbrel, seems

> to be where I will be staying as long as they

> continue

> to work.

>

> I have tried in the past to go off one or more of my

> drugs on my own, only to be kicked in the butt by my

> RA, letting me know that without meds I would be in

> pretty sad shape. So I know that life without

> medication is not something that I will have. Now,

> with also have fibro, I have even more meds to take

> to

> keep that under control. I am thankful to have

> them,

> and will take what I need to be able to have a

> quality

> of life.

>

> Hope this helps - and hope that today is a god day

> for

> you - take care -

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

>

> --- Parrish Blaszka <parrish_blaszka@...>

> wrote:

>

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > Me again! First off, thank you to all who have

> > shared

> > stories and insight into RA with me. I have

> learned

> > a

> > lot from all of you in just the week or so that I

> > have

> > been in the group.

> >

> > One question I am still hoping to hear from you

> all

> > about relates to the overall goal of treatment. I

> > know

> > this answer will vary for all of us, which is

> good.

> >

> > What is the goal? I know RA is chronic and it's

> > something that we'll have for the rest of our

> lives.

> > I

> > know we want to treat pain, swelling & prevent

> joint

> > deterioration. But how do we figure out the

> > long-term

> > treatment plan?

> >

> > Do we only go on meds for a cetain time period?

> And

> > then off when RA goes into remission? Do we cycle

> on

> > &

> > cycle off?

> >

> > I know a lot of this I will need to figure out

> with

> > my

> > rheumy, but any insight that people can share (as

> > always!) appreciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Parrish

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>