I fear resigning into DMARDs

[Guest guest]

Okay.

Since I was diagnosed in Nov. of '07, I've dealt with my pain fairly easily. 

Herbal/vitamin supplements and ibuprofen have kept me moving and rather relaxed

about this.  I'd have bad days with the pain moving around my body like someone

who couldn't make up their mind as to where to go, but I dealt with it.  In the

last few months, the pain has settled pretty much everywhere except my spine,

but still it has been managable.  Instead of taking ibuprofen only when needed,

I began to take it on a regular daily regimen, just to avoid the flares.  I

noticed not terribly long ago that my index knuckle on my right hand is now

permanently swollen, or seems to be and is a daily problem.  I wake every night

now around 3:30am or so because the ibuprofen I took before bed has started to

wear off.

I fired off that little questionnaire to you all in hopes of finding a pattern,

some method to the madness that would prove to me that taking DMARDs actually

exacerbated the problems I've heard you all talk of.  But I didn't find one,

other than the vast majority of you began taking DMARDs almost as soon as the

doctor diagnosed you.  I am still limber, provided that I take my ibuprofen, but

yesterday I forgot to take the lunchtime dose, and the evening dose didn't go in

because I forgot to pick more up from the store.  I became rather frightened by

the level of pain when I woke up this very early morning.  I tried to get out of

bed, but my neck, shoulder, hands and feet were like fire. I stood up and my

hips and legs all popped and cracked as I hobbled to the shower.  I was almost

late for work because I walk to work across a wide meadow and, being behind

schedule, I sprinted with each foot blasting with pain with the unevenness of

the ground. 

I was almost in tears by the time I got to work.  First order of business then

was to locate some ibuprofen.  No one who was there had any.  I became quite

scared and went to our maintenance guy's desk (he has arthritis too, so I

figured he had some) and thank goodness, I found some.  I popped three tablets

and took it slow until I felt better about an hour later.  I am, for the most

part, fine again, though my neck and shoulder and feet are in pain, and wonder

now if DMARDs are an inevitability.  I've been slowly thinking more about them,

asking people around town whom I know have RA about them, but I fear taking them

because I have a condition that is aggravated by a suppressed immune system and

don't need more problems.  I just no longer really know how to proceed.  The

natural route has been kind, and I give a good deal of credit to it staving off

alot of the hardship so far (as well as to the ibuprofen), but I just don't know

if it is

strong enough now to take this on.  I've been a rather proud proponent for the

natural path and it kills to think I may have to set it aside medication-wise. 

I do have a couple more things to try, but I am sorely afraid of those drugs you

folks take so seemingly nonchalantly.  I know the decisions for all of you

have probably been as difficult as it is for me, but where is the courage found

to take that step?  Was it through fear of the pain, or did you just simply

decide to take the bull by the horns?

Unsettled in a false peace,

Brad  

[Guest guest]

Brad,

So sorry that things are getting to this level.

I didn't have a hard time making the decision. I needed relief and

took the route that my rheummy advised. I had already done a lot of

online research and it fell in line with her approach and

recommendations.

I sure hope today is a better day for you.

Shirley

--- In , Brad Berg <blueworld_of_fire@...>

wrote:

>

> Okay.

> Since I was diagnosed in Nov. of '07, I've dealt with my pain

fairly easily.  Herbal/vitamin supplements and ibuprofen have

kept me moving and rather relaxed about this.  I'd have bad days

with the pain moving around my body like someone who couldn't make

up their mind as to where to go, but I dealt with it.  In the last

few months, the pain has settled pretty much everywhere except my

spine, but still it has been managable.  Instead of taking ibuprofen

only when needed, I began to take it on a regular daily regimen,

just to avoid the flares.  I noticed not terribly long ago that my

index knuckle on my right hand is now permanently swollen, or seems

to be and is a daily problem.  I wake every night now around 3:30am

or so because the ibuprofen I took before bed has started to wear

off.

> I fired off that little questionnaire to you all in hopes of

finding a pattern, some method to the madness that would prove to me

that taking DMARDs actually exacerbated the problems I've heard you

all talk of.  But I didn't find one, other than the vast majority of

you began taking DMARDs almost as soon as the doctor diagnosed you. 

I am still limber, provided that I take my ibuprofen, but yesterday

I forgot to take the lunchtime dose, and the evening dose didn't go

in because I forgot to pick more up from the store.  I became rather

frightened by the level of pain when I woke up this very early

morning.  I tried to get out of bed, but my neck, shoulder, hands

and feet were like fire. I stood up and my hips and legs all popped

and cracked as I hobbled to the shower.  I was almost late for work

because I walk to work across a wide meadow and, being behind

schedule, I sprinted with each foot blasting with pain with

the unevenness of the ground. 

> I was almost in tears by the time I got to work.  First order of

business then was to locate some ibuprofen.  No one who was there

had any.  I became quite scared and went to our maintenance guy's

desk (he has arthritis too, so I figured he had some) and thank

goodness, I found some.  I popped three tablets and took it slow

until I felt better about an hour later.  I am, for the most part,

fine again, though my neck and shoulder and feet are in pain, and

wonder now if DMARDs are an inevitability.  I've been slowly

thinking more about them, asking people around town whom I know have

RA about them, but I fear taking them because I have a condition

that is aggravated by a suppressed immune system and don't need more

problems.  I just no longer really know how to proceed.  The natural

route has been kind, and I give a good deal of credit to it staving

off alot of the hardship so far (as well as to the ibuprofen), but I

just don't know if it is

> strong enough now to take this on.  I've been a rather proud

proponent for the natural path and it kills to think I may have to

set it aside medication-wise.  I do have a couple more things to

try, but I am sorely afraid of those drugs you folks take so

seemingly nonchalantly.  I know the decisions for all of you

have probably been as difficult as it is for me, but where is the

courage found to take that step?  Was it through fear of the pain,

or did you just simply decide to take the bull by the horns?

>

> Unsettled in a false peace,

>

> Brad  

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Brad,

The reality for me was the deformity in my feet. Remember, RA not only causes

intense pain, but it does cause irreversible damage to your joints. That's why

I went with DMARDs. I was 29 when this all started almost three years ago. I

did not want to go on these drugs because of the side effects and the fact that

I would have to be on them so long. As we all know, there is no cure for RA at

this time and I hope that I have many years left in me, LOL! For me, RA came on

fast and strong and it took me about 7 months to get a diagnosis because I'm not

a textbook case. I also have 2 children and a husband to care for. I needed to

get better in order to be there for them. My children are 5 and 7 years old.

At the time when this started, they were 3 and 5. Needless to say, it's hard

taking care of children so young when you can barely walk or get out of a chair.

I don't regret the DMARDs and the Biologics. I tried Azulfadine and Plaquanil

which didn't do anything for me. I had a partial response to Methotrexate.

After being on the Methotrexate for 8 months, I started Humira. I've responded

incredibly well to the Humira, so well in fact that I lead a normal life. When

my RA was at it's worst, I couldn't walk without limping (which I did for 1.5

years!), I couldn't walk very far at all. Normal every day tasks were nearly

impossible! I've now been on the Humira for about 15 months. Because I'm doing

so well, we are starting to back off on the Methotrexate. To me, this is very

encouraging!

Now, I do get more infections while on the DMARDs and Humira, but so far I can't

really complain. Everytime I have gotten sick, I've taken antibiotics and

recovered with no problems. Personally, I feel that this is a small price to

pay for getting so much pain relief and mobility back by taking these drugs. I

know how scary it is to be in so much pain and not know what to do about it.

Your very lucky that the ibuprofen works for you. Just take care of your

stomach!!! NSAIDs can cause GI problems and because we have arthritis we tend

to take enough of them that for many of us that is a real concern. It wasn't

until I stopped taking NSAIDs that I really saw how they had effected my

stomach. I felt so much better!

Ultimately, a lot of us are afraid of these drugs. I remember how scared I was

of the Methotrexate. Boy, what a list of side effects! I think that you have

to take into account the quality of your life and the responsibilities and

obligations you have in life. If you've already tried the " natural " route and

it's not working, I don't think that you have much to lose just by trying these

drugs. I didn't choose these drugs nonchalantly! I put a lot of thought into

this. I worried about suffering debilitating side effects from the medications

and I worried about the financial impact these drugs would have on my family.

But, ultimately in the end, I couldn't be the mother I wanted to be to my

children, the wife I wanted to be to my husband and I have deformity in both of

my feet.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

I think this is a wonderful post, from the heart and says it all. Life is a

series of risks but lets be able to be here to take them, and the next !!

 

Lets check what we are fighting, and not  falsely deny any chances that might

make all the difference to our quality of life.The health/fitness  culture and

'natural remedies' ...' I am fit and healthy  because...outlook'  does have a

lot to answer for in modern times I believe. Excludes those who do not manage to

turn their life around with such measures.

Please believe I am no way 'a dyed in the wool' rigid medic and I like and have

an open respect for a searching, questioning  mind and other angles on things

but sometimes the time is right.....Do not feel failed or despondent but

beginning a journey with hope

Very Best wishes

Chris

UK,

retired doc, non rheum

From: Stitching Queen <queenstitcher@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] I fear resigning into DMARDs

Date: Friday, 3 October, 2008, 2:00 PM

Hi Brad,

The reality for me was the deformity in my feet. Remember, RA not only causes

intense pain, but it does cause irreversible damage to your joints. That's why I

went with DMARDs. I was 29 when this all started almost three years ago. I did

not want to go on these drugs because of the side effects and the fact that I

would have to be on them so long. As we all know, there is no cure for RA at

this time and I hope that I have many years left in me, LOL! For me, RA came on

fast and strong and it took me about 7 months to get a diagnosis because I'm not

a textbook case. I also have 2 children and a husband to care for. I needed to

get better in order to be there for them. My children are 5 and 7 years old. At

the time when this started, they were 3 and 5. Needless to say, it's hard taking

care of children so young when you can barely walk or get out of a chair.

I don't regret the DMARDs and the Biologics. I tried Azulfadine and Plaquanil

which didn't do anything for me. I had a partial response to Methotrexate. After

being on the Methotrexate for 8 months, I started Humira. I've responded

incredibly well to the Humira, so well in fact that I lead a normal life. When

my RA was at it's worst, I couldn't walk without limping (which I did for 1.5

years!), I couldn't walk very far at all. Normal every day tasks were nearly

impossible! I've now been on the Humira for about 15 months. Because I'm doing

so well, we are starting to back off on the Methotrexate. To me, this is very

encouraging!

Now, I do get more infections while on the DMARDs and Humira, but so far I can't

really complain. Everytime I have gotten sick, I've taken antibiotics and

recovered with no problems. Personally, I feel that this is a small price to pay

for getting so much pain relief and mobility back by taking these drugs. I know

how scary it is to be in so much pain and not know what to do about it. Your

very lucky that the ibuprofen works for you. Just take care of your stomach!!!

NSAIDs can cause GI problems and because we have arthritis we tend to take

enough of them that for many of us that is a real concern. It wasn't until I

stopped taking NSAIDs that I really saw how they had effected my stomach. I felt

so much better!

Ultimately, a lot of us are afraid of these drugs. I remember how scared I was

of the Methotrexate. Boy, what a list of side effects! I think that you have to

take into account the quality of your life and the responsibilities and

obligations you have in life. If you've already tried the " natural " route and

it's not working, I don't think that you have much to lose just by trying these

drugs. I didn't choose these drugs nonchalantly! I put a lot of thought into

this. I worried about suffering debilitating side effects from the medications

and I worried about the financial impact these drugs would have on my family.

But, ultimately in the end, I couldn't be the mother I wanted to be to my

children, the wife I wanted to be to my husband and I have deformity in both of

my feet.

Lori

http://home. comcast.net/ ~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingque en.multiply. com

[Guest guest]

Brad,

Your description of waking up and getting out of bed described my

situation a about 6 weeks ago. Even the sitting in the car near

tears because of the walk ahead of me to my desk. That's no way to

live. Also, most of the things you described only treat the

symptoms. It's even possible for this disease to cause irreversible

joint damage even without feeling pain. I'm certain you don't want

that.

Sure, I hated the idea of taking Prednisone and then possibly a DMARD

and who knows what else after that, but I also want a good shot at a

somewhat normal life ahead of me. You're going to go through the

stages of grief and I can see some already. The denial. The anger.

The bargaining. It's all part of dealing with and adjusting to this

disease.

Start making the right choices. You've made one by laying your

thoughts out to us for our scrutiny and I suspect you're ready to

take some advice. See a Rheumy if you're not already doing that and

make sure it's one you trust. Do whatever you need to do to get to

that level of trust with your Rheumy because that's important. Then

follow what he tells you to do. Then come back here and share your

fears, pains, suspicions and successes.

There's a lot of women on this board but there are also some of us

guys who also understand what it means as a man going through this.

We can be stubborn as hell. My wife loves it when I pull over

finally to ask for directions but then don't follow them because I

don't trust the directions I'm given. I'll never admit it to her

face, but 9 times out of 10, the directions I was given were right.

I've too many times gone in the wrong direction because I needed

to " find my own way " . Hopefully you find the right thing to do.

If you want to exchange emails off the forum, feel free to send me a

note. I usually check in here daily.

Hang in there and good luck.

Bob

--- In , Brad Berg <blueworld_of_fire@...>

wrote:

>

> Okay.

> Since I was diagnosed in Nov. of '07, I've dealt with my pain

fairly easily.  Herbal/vitamin supplements and ibuprofen have

kept me moving and rather relaxed about this.  I'd have bad days with

the pain moving around my body like someone who couldn't make up

their mind as to where to go, but I dealt with it.  In the last few

months, the pain has settled pretty much everywhere except my spine,

but still it has been managable.  Instead of taking ibuprofen only

when needed, I began to take it on a regular daily regimen, just to

avoid the flares.  I noticed not terribly long ago that my index

knuckle on my right hand is now permanently swollen, or seems to be

and is a daily problem.  I wake every night now around 3:30am or so

because the ibuprofen I took before bed has started to wear off.

> I fired off that little questionnaire to you all in hopes of

finding a pattern, some method to the madness that would prove to me

that taking DMARDs actually exacerbated the problems I've heard you

all talk of.  But I didn't find one, other than the vast majority of

you began taking DMARDs almost as soon as the doctor diagnosed you. 

I am still limber, provided that I take my ibuprofen, but yesterday I

forgot to take the lunchtime dose, and the evening dose didn't go in

because I forgot to pick more up from the store.  I became rather

frightened by the level of pain when I woke up this very early

morning.  I tried to get out of bed, but my neck, shoulder, hands and

feet were like fire. I stood up and my hips and legs all popped and

cracked as I hobbled to the shower.  I was almost late for work

because I walk to work across a wide meadow and, being behind

schedule, I sprinted with each foot blasting with pain with

the unevenness of the ground. 

> I was almost in tears by the time I got to work.  First order of

business then was to locate some ibuprofen.  No one who was there had

any.  I became quite scared and went to our maintenance guy's desk

(he has arthritis too, so I figured he had some) and thank goodness,

I found some.  I popped three tablets and took it slow until I felt

better about an hour later.  I am, for the most part, fine again,

though my neck and shoulder and feet are in pain, and wonder now if

DMARDs are an inevitability.  I've been slowly thinking more about

them, asking people around town whom I know have RA about them, but I

fear taking them because I have a condition that is aggravated by a

suppressed immune system and don't need more problems.  I just no

longer really know how to proceed.  The natural route has been kind,

and I give a good deal of credit to it staving off alot of the

hardship so far (as well as to the ibuprofen), but I just don't know

if it is

> strong enough now to take this on.  I've been a rather proud

proponent for the natural path and it kills to think I may have to

set it aside medication-wise.  I do have a couple more things to try,

but I am sorely afraid of those drugs you folks take so seemingly

nonchalantly.  I know the decisions for all of you have probably been

as difficult as it is for me, but where is the courage found to take

that step?  Was it through fear of the pain, or did you just simply

decide to take the bull by the horns?

>

> Unsettled in a false peace,

>

> Brad  

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Brad,

I was diagnosed with JRA at 12 years old. I am 44 now.

All this time I have been taking NSAIDs, and although some days are worse than

others, I actually have done pretty well.

A few months ago I woke up and realized how my hands are drawing up, how really

deformed I am getting in the hands and feet. I knew if I didn't take something

now to slow the disease, instead of just treating the symptoms, I would soon not

be able to to the things I love. And that is unacceptable to me. I will have my

second injection of Enbrel today. Although it's too early to tell, I am very

excited that I am doing something to discourage the disease from doing further

damage.

Re: [ ] I fear resigning into DMARDs

Hi Brad,

The reality for me was the deformity in my feet. Remember, RA not only causes

intense pain, but it does cause irreversible damage to your joints. That's why I

went with DMARDs. I was 29 when this all started almost three years ago. I did

not want to go on these drugs because of the side effects and the fact that I

would have to be on them so long. As we all know, there is no cure for RA at

this time and I hope that I have many years left in me, LOL! For me, RA came on

fast and strong and it took me about 7 months to get a diagnosis because I'm not

a textbook case. I also have 2 children and a husband to care for. I needed to

get better in order to be there for them. My children are 5 and 7 years old. At

the time when this started, they were 3 and 5. Needless to say, it's hard taking

care of children so young when you can barely walk or get out of a chair.

I don't regret the DMARDs and the Biologics. I tried Azulfadine and Plaquanil

which didn't do anything for me. I had a partial response to Methotrexate. After

being on the Methotrexate for 8 months, I started Humira. I've responded

incredibly well to the Humira, so well in fact that I lead a normal life. When

my RA was at it's worst, I couldn't walk without limping (which I did for 1.5

years!), I couldn't walk very far at all. Normal every day tasks were nearly

impossible! I've now been on the Humira for about 15 months. Because I'm doing

so well, we are starting to back off on the Methotrexate. To me, this is very

encouraging!

Now, I do get more infections while on the DMARDs and Humira, but so far I

can't really complain. Everytime I have gotten sick, I've taken antibiotics and

recovered with no problems. Personally, I feel that this is a small price to pay

for getting so much pain relief and mobility back by taking these drugs. I know

how scary it is to be in so much pain and not know what to do about it. Your

very lucky that the ibuprofen works for you. Just take care of your stomach!!!

NSAIDs can cause GI problems and because we have arthritis we tend to take

enough of them that for many of us that is a real concern. It wasn't until I

stopped taking NSAIDs that I really saw how they had effected my stomach. I felt

so much better!

Ultimately, a lot of us are afraid of these drugs. I remember how scared I was

of the Methotrexate. Boy, what a list of side effects! I think that you have to

take into account the quality of your life and the responsibilities and

obligations you have in life. If you've already tried the " natural " route and

it's not working, I don't think that you have much to lose just by trying these

drugs. I didn't choose these drugs nonchalantly! I put a lot of thought into

this. I worried about suffering debilitating side effects from the medications

and I worried about the financial impact these drugs would have on my family.

But, ultimately in the end, I couldn't be the mother I wanted to be to my

children, the wife I wanted to be to my husband and I have deformity in both of

my feet.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Brad

You asked what motivated us to take DMARDs: My decision was I guess for my

own sake (to stop feeling so utterly awful) and also so I could be a

'normal' mother to my daughter. was not quite one yr old when I was

diagnosed - she is now almost 15. Thanks to DMARDS, painkillers, prednisone

and a hip replacement, I have been able to participate fully in her growing

up. I can still run faster than her at 42! Of course there have been periods

when (during a flare) I have been in pain, or disabled to varying degrees,

but these periods are the minority of the last 14 years - thanks to the

mobility DMARDs have given me.

For myself, I feel I would be also doing my husband of 22 years a

disservice, if I didn't do what I can to manage my disease. In return, he

has been my Rock of Gibraltar in terms of support.

Best wishes to you,

in NZ

(in methotrexate-induced remission, for 2 years now)

[Guest guest]

Brad,

We all go through the same thing, being afraid. When I was first dx

with severe RA, it broke my heart. I went home, and stayed in bed for

days, and just cried.

My doctor put me on mtx, and when I read the side effects I didn't want

to take it. Then when I went back, and he showed me the x-rays, and the

damage the disease was causing, I decided he knew best.

All meds have side effects, even OTC meds. So, I would rather take

prescribed meds, that I know that will help stop the progression, then

meds to just stop the pain for awhile.

I know its hard for you, and you have a family to support. We all have

different opinions on these meds. I feel if I can take these meds to

take care of myself, and to take care of my family, their working.

I'm so afraid to be in a wheelchair, and my family taking care of me,

you know? That is hard for me, because I've always taken care of them.

Some things I can't do, and they have to do it for me.

If by taking these meds help you, and keep you on your job, its so worth

it, your able to take care of your family. I would have loved given the

chance. I wasn't dx until I was 40, I'm now 46, and not in good shape.

I've had the disease, I'm sure 25 yrs, if not longer. I hurt when I was

a child. No one ever really cared why I hurt.

You need to talk to your family, and I know you've been reading posts,

and I'm so glad your here. I hope you stay awhile, this group will help

you feel better, and make living with RA a little easier. Were not here

to get everyone on medication, just to help what we've experienced.

Take care, Tawny

--- In , Brad Berg <blueworld_of_fire@...>

wrote:

>

> Okay.

> Since I was diagnosed in Nov. of '07, I've dealt with my pain fairly

easily. Herbal/vitamin supplements and ibuprofen have kept me moving

and rather relaxed about this. I'd have bad days with the pain moving

around my body like someone who couldn't make up their mind as to where

to go, but I dealt with it. In the last few months, the pain has

settled pretty much everywhere except my spine, but still it has been

managable. Instead of taking ibuprofen only when needed, I began to

take it on a regular daily regimen, just to avoid the flares. I noticed

not terribly long ago that my index knuckle on my right hand is now

permanently swollen, or seems to be and is a daily problem. I wake

every night now around 3:30am or so because the ibuprofen I took before

bed has started to wear off.

> I fired off that little questionnaire to you all in hopes of finding a

pattern, some method to the madness that would prove to me that taking

DMARDs actually exacerbated the problems I've heard you all talk of.

But I didn't find one, other than the vast majority of you began taking

DMARDs almost as soon as the doctor diagnosed you. I am still limber,

provided that I take my ibuprofen, but yesterday I forgot to take the

lunchtime dose, and the evening dose didn't go in because I forgot to

pick more up from the store. I became rather frightened by the level of

pain when I woke up this very early morning. I tried to get out of bed,

but my neck, shoulder, hands and feet were like fire. I stood up and my

hips and legs all popped and cracked as I hobbled to the shower. I was

almost late for work because I walk to work across a wide meadow and,

being behind schedule, I sprinted with each foot blasting with pain with

the unevenness of the ground.

> I was almost in tears by the time I got to work. First order of

business then was to locate some ibuprofen. No one who was there had

any. I became quite scared and went to our maintenance guy's desk (he

has arthritis too, so I figured he had some) and thank goodness, I found

some. I popped three tablets and took it slow until I felt better about

an hour later. I am, for the most part, fine again, though my neck and

shoulder and feet are in pain, and wonder now if DMARDs are an

inevitability. I've been slowly thinking more about them, asking people

around town whom I know have RA about them, but I fear taking them

because I have a condition that is aggravated by a suppressed immune

system and don't need more problems. I just no longer really know how

to proceed. The natural route has been kind, and I give a good deal of

credit to it staving off alot of the hardship so far (as well as to the

ibuprofen), but I just don't know if it is

> strong enough now to take this on. I've been a rather proud proponent

for the natural path and it kills to think I may have to set it aside

medication-wise. I do have a couple more things to try, but I am sorely

afraid of those drugs you folks take so seemingly nonchalantly. I know

the decisions for all of you have probably been as difficult as it is

for me, but where is the courage found to take that step? Was it

through fear of the pain, or did you just simply decide to take the bull

by the horns?

>

> Unsettled in a false peace,

>

> Brad

>

[Guest guest]

Brad,

I am like you. I have tried many different RA meds. Had bad side effects or

it was just unpleaseant to keep up with the medication schedule. I was

diagnosed in 2002.

I have not been very compliant with my meds. I have basically told the doc I

will take them when I feel I REALLY must have them.

Well, now the flares and fatigue are affecting my ability to work. It was all

soo easy when I was no working. NO stress....so not a lot of flares and when I

did I just rested.

Well, now I run my own business and I need to work outside my home and the

pain, flares and fatigue are creating issues for me.

So I am looking at going back on RA meds. There are some I will never take

again due to severe reactions or side effects...but others I will give it a

good try again.

I am seeing a rheummy for the first time again in a year. I have seen this

rheummy before he is nice but a real whiner and push over....so basically I

will demand what I want and get it. I left him before because he refused to

fill out my Long Term Disability papers.

I am hoping to go back on Enbrel (twice a week you mix) and either plaquinil or

Arava. Along with an Anti-inflammatory and a bottle of low dose prednisone I

can do wonders!

Since I do not have health insurance Vocational Rehab is paying for my

healthcare for the next 6 months. I say plaquinil because I need an eye exam

and they will have to pay for it!

I have paperwork to get on the Enbrel Encourage funding to get the enbrel free

until I get insurance. I chose enbrel twice a week dosing because you have to

mix it and it does not have the preservatives in it like the pre-mixed embrel

syringes/pens or the Humira does. I am allergic to many of the preservatives

they put in pre-mixed Biologic DMARDS.

I would say if RA is interfering with daily life go for better control. That

is what I am doing. I have stepped up my game with a far busier life. Meaning

I am more tired and more stress....for me means more symptoms. Also I am

exposed to more stuff that stresses my body.

I am far more aware of the side effects and make decisions on if I should

continue on a medication. I also like and prefer herbal and holistic medicine.

I will be seeing my naturpathic doc to make sure she can provide me the best

complimentary therapy I can find.

The doc I am seeing also supports naturpathic medicine as well. I hope you too

are able to find a balance between meds and nature. Because like you I prefer

less or no meds..to tons of meds.

I have been both routes and less or no meds works far better for me. Oh I have

minimal to no damage on my xrays accord to both my rheummy and my podistrist.

My xrays also have not changed hardly at all in 6 yrs. I leave them scratching

their heads. I tell them its will power! lol

Toni

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