Re: Re: Inflammatory arthritis with chronic urticaria/

[Guest guest]

I just started on doxycylcine last week. Can you tell me about how long it

takes

before you see relief? I also had rheumatic fever twice as a child. But no heart

damage

thank goodness.

Joy

From: blondewbrains1971 <blondewbrains1971@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Inflammatory arthritis with chronic urticaria

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 11:59 PM

Hi Jen

If you're given the opportunity to try the Minocin and you're happy

with what you know about it i'd definately say go for it!!

I used Doxycycline for 6-7 years. I'm in Australia and as yet we

stil haven't approved it as a DMARD (craziness!). They were happy to

give me Gold upfront 14 years ago (when swimming seemed to clear up

my first swollen joint a knee) - it just does not make sense!!

It's difficult to say what results you actually get from something as

there is nothing to compare it to whilst your taking the drugs and we

all know what a rollercoaster RA can be - if that makes sense. I

definately got through a long period of time just using the Doxy and

some Voltaran on occasion for many years - I often had periods of

remission in between also so I took nothing when I could.

My personal experience was very positive with no ill side affects

aside from a very tanned skin without much sun exposure. I used the

odd Diflucan capsule when I felt a little low and it seemed to clear

up any signs of thrush but we're all different. A lot of docs seem to

think that as long as we're not constantly changing our stomach flora

this shouldnt be a problem - it's when we change it that thrush can

go wild.

The minocin is an altered drug from the original antibiotics used

over the past 80 years by Dr Brown and his followers so i'm not as

big a fan of it as I personally believe there is an infectious

element to some arthritis and some of these parts of the drug have

been removed. I used Euromycin also and also had good results with

it when the Doxy seemed to be loosing it's affects.

If nothing else it's been proven over and over again to reduce the

production of destructive cytokines.

If you have a good PC or Rheumy who is interested in this it would

also help you i'm sure no end - especially if they agreed to

intravenous etc as well as following you completely in the treatment -

ie checking your ASOT's etc prior to starting etc.

The www.roadback.org has some interesting articles as does the book

of the same name - it's been rewritten a few times. When I came

across it in a library 10 years ago I think it was something amazing

and total luck!

Unfortunately about 12 months ago I agreed to go onto Arava and

Methatrexate as the Salazopyrin i'd been on with the Doxy and

Voltaren weren't giving me relief after a flare started after i'd had

another episode of Rheumatic Fever which damaged my heart (from Strep

A-what the ASOT tests are for - tonsilitis) and I had x-ray evidence

of erosions in my hands and feet. There is nothing to say I wouldn't

have had these errosions if i'd started on the methotrexate earlier

either - DMARDS are unfortunately just that - they modify the disease

not stop it.

Since using the Methotrexate & Arava (only for 3 months) for about 6

months though i've gone back to where I usually am with pain etc and

it seems the flare has finally stopped and I have stopped taking them

and the Salosopyrin and only rely on the Voltaren and Doxy when I

need. So for me accepting the Methotrexate etc was obviously the

right decision at that point even though at the time the idea brought

me to tears.

I wish you the best of health and hope that if you decide to go the

antibiotic route that you have the benefits I found with it.

All I can say to people is don't poo poo it till you try it - if it's

not for you it's not but it's helped others so i'm sure will

continue

to - even if it can't help everyone, you might be one of the lucky

ones.

All the best