Re: Re: [RA] Digest Number 5652 River

[Guest guest]

Hi River:

I'm so sorry to read that you have been in so much

pain, and have pneumonia. I had that many years ago

and can remember how lousy it made me feel - I had

never been so sick before, and I was an old hand at

bronchitis, pneumonia is sooo much worse. I hope that

your meds kick in fast and give you some relief.

The medication you are talking about is Plaquenil,

which is also used for anti-malarial treatment. I was

put on Plaq when I was first dx 7 years ago, and did

really well on it, plus Motrin, and occasional Pred,

for the first 2-1/2 years of treatment. I had no side

effects at all, and it began to work probably about

six to eight weeks into treatment. The main thing you

need to watch for is that you get your eyes examined

every six months for the very rare side effect of

retinal damage - I had no problems with that. I liked

it because it is the DMARD with the least amount of

side effects, and you don't have to have constant

blood work like with the other meds. In my opinion,

you should give it a try - I know, another med is such

a wonderful thing to think about - but it just might

help, and enable you to cut back on another med. I

had terrible side effects from Arava too, you are not

alone there.

I think it's wonderful that you have been able to turn

your hobby of jewelry making into a business. You

must be very creative to have shows! That's great

that your wife is able to help you out with the show

you were set to do. Do you have a web page where I

could see some of the things you have done? I loved

making jewelry - it was my creative outlet - and miss

it, but my hands just can't do it anymore. I've done

a few pieces for my daughter, and that took forever,

so I can't really see myself getting back into it,

sigh.

Anyway, hope this answers your question regarding

Plaq. I will be keeping you in my prayers that your

pneumonia resolves quickly and you are back on your

feet soon. Take care -

Kathe in CA

--- River Wolfe <river61@...> wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I have just returned from the hospital and was dx

> with mild

> pneumonia. Last night I had excruciating chest

> pain, very difficult

> to breathe. I also had a fever. I wondered if it

> was RA, as I've

> read that it may involve the chest. Went to the ER

> at the suggestion

> of my

> Dr. and am now in bed.

> I " m bummed big time. I have an art show tomorrow

> and can't go, will

> have to have my spouse take care if, thank goodness

> she's willing to

> go ahead.

>

> Which brings me to my occupation(s0 I retired from

> a job with the

> state as a drug and alcohol counselor for people

> with brain injury.

>

> I was there for 7 yrs and thought my boss would work

> with me. I

> asked to go part-time and they refused. That really

> broke my heart,

> I had no choice

> but to retire. My job involved taking clients

> places and I was just

> too tired to do it anymore. At that time I hadn't

> been dx'd with RA,

> was told by

> a Dr. that even though I had a +RA factor, I did not

> have it. Even

> though every joint in my arms and shoulders were in

> pain. He

> attributed my pain

> to 15yrs of wear and tear on my joints from pushing

> the wheelchair.

>

> i've turned my hobby of jewelry making into a

> business, I do about 5

> shows a year, sometimes more or less. I have

> adapted all of my tools

> for my comfort.

> I'll do this until I can't any longer, which I hope

> is never.

>

> I was granted disability on the pain and fatigue

> alone. That was a

> BIG relief for me. Several months later, still in

> pain and not

> getting better I was referred to another

> Rheumy. After 5min he said he was positive I had RA

> and put me on

> prednisone to calm down the inflammation and then

> MTX.

>

> That was 5 yrs ago and now I'm up to 17.5 mgs of MTX

> and 200mgs of

> Celebrex two times a day. When they took vioxx of

> the market, my

> pain got worse but my

> ulcer got better !

>

> I've tried Arava, I had awful neurological

> side-effects and felt

> faint most of the time. Now he wants to put me on

> ??? drawing a

> blank here (cough medicine must be kicking in)

> it's the malaria drug. I'm scared of the side

> effects and haven't

> filled the prescription yet. I better go now.

>

> I love this group.

>

> Peace,

> River

>

>

>

>

>

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