Re: Thank you all VERY MUCH!!!!

[Guest guest]

Amen Ray....same as you ...without tmj but add AS Rena

[Guest guest]

Kami, has your doc mentioned a biologic?  Since I was in infertility treatment

when I was dx with RA, I was never on MTX and have done great on low dose pred +

Enbrel.  If the mtx wipes you out or doesn't control the symptoms, maybe it's

something to consider?  Enbrel started working for me within a week and I've

stayed on it through this pregnancy.  I also try hard not to ruminate about the

possible side effects.

I also agree with you that if we have too much time to think, we can get bunched

up.  Plus, I empathize with you around your P'nil experience.  My hubby had a

rxn to his flu shot last year (Guillian-Barre type sx) and I'm now freaked out

about vaccines.  Before I never cared at all, now I'm all bunched up.  It only

takes 1 bad experience to make you rethink things.

As one of my MD friends said, " sure, the complication rate might be 1 in a

million, but if you're the 1, that really sucks. "

[ ] Thank you all VERY MUCH!!!!

Thank you to everyone who replied to me about my fears of starting MTX. My

husband and I went out for a ride and talked a bit about it and all of a sudden

it hit me!

I have been given too much time to think about this!!!!!!!! !

Had I gone to see the doctor the next day or so, I don't think I would be like

this. I think that by them sending me info and an appt a week later... I have

been given too much time to THINK about it.... and research it!

When given the list of options in meds back in December, we decided on Plaquenil

because I had been experiencing problems with my liver enzymes since September.

I have had an MRCP of my liver, CT Scan, and ultrasound and the only thing that

has shown up was an enlarged pancreas in 2/3 tests. My gastro doctor had given

me clearance to go on MTX in February but the doctor decided in March to keep me

on the Plaquenil. Fast forward to the 3 month eye exam and well.... I am pretty

sure that my insurance company is going to start sending me GET WELL SOON cards.

LOL

So anyway.... I think that I am spooked about what happened with the Plaquenil.

Granted, my case is that one in a million and well it shouldnt have surprised me

but it did...and spooked me. I have been off it 6 days now and my wrists and

hands are killing me like you would not believe..... I can't wait til Wednesday!

Thanks again for all the tips and advice. Keep them coming! :-)

*~ Kami ~*

[Guest guest]

Kami,

I just wanted to say that I am one of thoe few that can't take

Plaquenil. After 3 weeks on it, I started getting lots of

gastrointestinal upset (polite phrase for unpolite stuff lol) and had

to stop it. So you might imagine how nervous I was about starting

MTX! I figured, that's such a stronger drug, surely it will have more

of an effect on me. But so far (roughly a month) I have tolerated it

spledidly and I think it is indeed helping. Overall I have a bit more

energy, and there is a decided decrease in my pain and stiffness. I

take it right before going to bed Saturday night. Weird thing is, I

am fine until late afternoon Sunday, when this cogntive fog decends

on me and just a bit of a headache, and rather suddenly I get so

sleeply I have to lay down. I generally sleep for about 3 hours, get

up and eat a bite and take it easy for a couple hours, then go back

to sleep for another 9-10 hours overnight. When I awake for good

Monday morning I am fine. I consider this a small price to pay for

keeping this beast at bay. So I say, it is definately worth trying

out. Remember, MTX is the most common RA drug out there, and it's

been around for 50 years. Every possible side effect someone has had

in that time is in the literature. Most people don't get any of that

stuff. Just stay on top of your bloodwork and you will be fine. and

until you know how you will react, keep your schedule open the day

after. I am very lucky indeed that my boss agreed ahead of time to

give me Sundays off regularly, and schedule me to close the store on

Mondays. I couldn't get there are 8 a.m. monday morning! But by 1, I

am good to go.

[Guest guest]

,

I am so very sorry to hear about your husband's Guillan-Barre! I personally know

3 people (men) who have been affected by GB! It was a heated topic of discussion

in our household when my son had to receive the meningitis vaccination before

going to college this past August. There are WAY to many incidents of GB

associated with vaccinations!

My doctor and I talked biologics however they generally try at least 2 DMARDs

before moving to a biologic mainly because most insurance companies want to see

2 failed attempts because the biologics are so expensive. I will discuss this

with them tomorrow.

I am sitting here today in AGONY. There is no doubt in my mind that the

Plaquenil had finally started working. I have been off it a week now and the

pain in both of my hands and wrists has returned as well as my neck......

I personally LOVE what your MD friend said! I have often said to my therapist

" Why is it that I am always that less than 1%? " I guess I should be used to it

by now but I'm not.... LOL

*~ Kami ~*

Re: [ ] Thank you all VERY MUCH!!!!

Kami, has your doc mentioned a biologic? Since I was in infertility treatment

when I was dx with RA, I was never on MTX and have done great on low dose pred +

Enbrel. If the mtx wipes you out or doesn't control the symptoms, maybe it's

something to consider? Enbrel started working for me within a week and I've

stayed on it through this pregnancy. I also try hard not to ruminate about the

possible side effects.

I also agree with you that if we have too much time to think, we can get

bunched up. Plus, I empathize with you around your P'nil experience. My hubby

had a rxn to his flu shot last year (Guillian-Barre type sx) and I'm now freaked

out about vaccines. Before I never cared at all, now I'm all bunched up. It

only takes 1 bad experience to make you rethink things.

As one of my MD friends said, " sure, the complication rate might be 1 in a

million, but if you're the 1, that really sucks. "

.