RA appointment was interesting

[Guest guest]

So I'm back, no meds and no answers yet, waiting for blood test results.

Basically he said he thinks it may be that I am not healing from the Celiac

disease. I can't remember when he called it but I've read about it, some times

going gluten free does not heal everything. So anyways he said if it is RA then

it is a form that he does not think would cause any joint damage. I had no idea

there were different types. He said there was a new blood test for RA that was

more sensitive to types and he drew blood for that and a vitamin D deficiency.

He is thinking it's actually the vitamin deficiency. If the blood work comes

back fine for both of those he thinks it may be that the RA is just not showing

on blood work yet which he said was good and gives a good outcome. See what I

mean by no answers yet? If I show a vit D deficiency and the RA test is fine

then he will start me on vit D and see how the inflammation is. If the RA test

shows the problem or if both test show nothing or if both show a problem then I

will be placed on a drug called Plaquenil. Does anyone take it? He said I can

not take any NSAID's at all due to my stomach and bowels being compromised from

the celiac disease and he did not want to start on prednasone (sp?) and MTX

because of the side effects will hit me hard so he would like to see if the

Plaquenil will help me but it can take 4-6 weeks to see any help and even up to

6 months to see maximum benefits so it's a long term commitment to see if it

gives any help at all. So, I am even more confused than ever yet encouraged at

the same time. Does anyone know anything about any of this stuff?

____________________________________________________________

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover. Compare Offers & Apply Online. Click here!

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4txfrejbEvxQk9tvWzCu8TswAXP\

3uGP4qxfU9HTgc7kKMGAH/

[Guest guest]

Hi !

It sounds like your doctor was very thorough! Let us know how the blood tests

come back! I have some experience with Plaquenil.  I too, did not have anything

show up on my blood work except an elevated Sed rate, westegren and CRP.  Then

MRIS and xrays showed joint effusions on my knees with visible swelling and

warmth.  Plaquenil is an antimalaria drug and is a DMARD to slow down joint

damage.  It is one of the first lines of defense against the arthritis.  My

doctor had me see an opthamologist before I could begin the medication as it can

affect the retina, so they needed a baseline reading before giving me the drug. 

Then every six months, I had to go back to have my retinas examined.  I  had  no

problems with the medication.  It did take a bit for it to get in my system and

work.  I took it for a little over two years then we had to add sulfasalazine to

the treatment as plaquenil was no longer enough for me.  There have been studies

done

that show low vitamin d levels can attribute to chronic pain and those of us

with chronic pain seem to have lower levels.

From: <jaayimee@...>

Subject: [ ] RA appointment was interesting

Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 3:12 PM

So I'm back, no meds and no answers yet, waiting for blood test results.

Basically he said he thinks it may be that I am not healing from the Celiac

disease. I can't remember when he called it but I've read about it, some times

going gluten free does not heal everything. So anyways he said if it is RA then

it is a form that he does not think would cause any joint damage. I had no idea

there were different types. He said there was a new blood test for RA that was

more sensitive to types and he drew blood for that and a vitamin D deficiency.

He is thinking it's actually the vitamin deficiency. If the blood work comes

back fine for both of those he thinks it may be that the RA is just not showing

on blood work yet which he said was good and gives a good outcome. See what I

mean by no answers yet? If I show a vit D deficiency and the RA test is fine

then he will start me on vit D and see how the inflammation is. If the RA test

shows the problem or if both

test show nothing or if both show a problem then I will be placed on a drug

called Plaquenil. Does anyone take it? He said I can not take any NSAID's at all

due to my stomach and bowels being compromised from the celiac disease and he

did not want to start on prednasone (sp?) and MTX because of the side effects

will hit me hard so he would like to see if the Plaquenil will help me but it

can take 4-6 weeks to see any help and even up to 6 months to see maximum

benefits so it's a long term commitment to see if it gives any help at all. So,

I am even more confused than ever yet encouraged at the same time. Does anyone

know anything about any of this stuff?

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover. Compare Offers & Apply Online. Click here!

http://thirdpartyof fers.netzero. net/TGL2241/ fc/Ioyw6i4txfrej bEvxQk9tvWzCu8Ts

wAXP3uGP4qxfU9HT gc7kKMGAH/

[Guest guest]

, if you find out about the type that doesnt cause joint damage would you

please let us know? Ive never heard of that. I personally wouldnt start on

prednisone unless I had to, its so very hard to get off it. a

[ ] RA appointment was interesting

So I'm back, no meds and no answers yet, waiting for blood test results.

Basically he said he thinks it may be that I am not healing from the Celiac

disease. I can't remember when he called it but I've read about it, some times

going gluten free does not heal everything. So anyways he said if it is RA then

it is a form that he does not think would cause any joint damage. I had no idea

there were different types. He said there was a new blood test for RA that was

more sensitive to types and he drew blood for that and a vitamin D deficiency.

He is thinking it's actually the vitamin deficiency. If the blood work comes

back fine for both of those he thinks it may be that the RA is just not showing

on blood work yet which he said was good and gives a good outcome. See what I

mean by no answers yet? If I show a vit D deficiency and the RA test is fine

then he will start me on vit D and see how the inflammation is. If the RA test

shows the problem or if both test show nothing or if both show a problem then I

will be placed on a drug called Plaquenil. Does anyone take it? He said I can

not take any NSAID's at all due to my stomach and bowels being compromised from

the celiac disease and he did not want to start on prednasone (sp?) and MTX

because of the side effects will hit me hard so he would like to see if the

Plaquenil will help me but it can take 4-6 weeks to see any help and even up to

6 months to see maximum benefits so it's a long term commitment to see if it

gives any help at all. So, I am even more confused than ever yet encouraged at

the same time. Does anyone know anything about any of this stuff?

__________________________________________________________

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover. Compare Offers & Apply Online. Click here!

http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4txfrejbEvxQk9tvWzCu8TswAXP\

3uGP4qxfU9HTgc7kKMGAH/

[Guest guest]

I was wondering what kind of RA that was, too. My RA hasn't caused

joint damage, but that's because it's controlled so well with Enbrel.

I do know that polymyalgia rheumatica is an autoimmune disease that

causes lots of pain, but is not supposed to cause joint damage.

Sue

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at 05:10 PM, patandpaula wrote:

> , if you find out about the type that doesnt cause joint damage

> would you please let us know? Ive never heard of that. I personally

> wouldnt start on prednisone unless I had to, its so very hard to get

> off it. a