Re: Re: How long does it take for Arava to kick in?/Dalanne

[Guest guest]

Dalanne,

Have you ever been on Sulfasalazine? Sulfasalazine does not suppress the immune

system and from what I understand, you can stay on the medication even if you

were to get an infection. Arava is an immunosupressant which is why we have to

go off it when we are sick.

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] Re: How long does it take for Arava to kick in?

I should have clarified that I'm taking monthly infusions of Orencia. Guess my

" brain farts " are taking over. In the past I've been on MTX/folic acid,

prednisone, and plaquenil but all those didn't like me very well at all.

Dalanne

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[Guest guest]

How are you feeling now? I have 5 days of antibiotic left and my doctor has me

on a nasal steroid. If I never get as sick as I was last week again, it will be

too soon. I have never felt so " defenseless " in my life for about 4 days until

the antibiotic kicked in. I am missing my Humira and Arava, though..... My

knees and hands are feeling it.....

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] Re: How long does it take for Arava to kick in?

Oddly my Rheumy didn't say anything about starting back on it in any certain

manner. He just said to start again after I was done with the antibiotic so I

started back in with the 20mg tablet. Just today I blew my nose and infection

showed back up in spades. Mighty Mack but I just can't catch a break! I HAD been

very happy with the results of the Arava/Orencia mix but I won't put up with

this on again/off again garbage. Guess I have to go back to daily sinus rinsing.

Now THERE is an unpleasant thing to do.

If it weren't for my hubby I'd think about running away for awhile but I did

get my worst job of the year done. Today I felt like crap but it was the only

day with good weather to do it so....I pulled my fish out of my pond, drained

the water and my 8 yr old helped me cut the waterlilies up so we could get them

out. We pulled a rootmass out that was 6 " thick at the thinnest and it was

roughly 6 feet long and 5 feet wide. It was so nice to sit there and watch the

fresh water running back in. Now that the dirty work is done I can finally sit

alone outside and listen to the little waterfall and watch my goldfish that

survived the winter. I'm not doing any more yardwork. Period. The kids know I'm

exhausted. THey are helping me out in the house. I'm pretty picky about how I

look when I leave the house but not tonight. I'm going to McD's to get supper

for us and my husband (hauling 7000 gl of manure per trip) and I'm clean from

the shower with my nightgown and grannydrawers on. I'm not even gonna comb my

hair. Matter of fact I may drive barefoot. If the kids start in on each other

I'll just get the squirtbottle out of the refrigerator. It works on the cats so

it should work on them. 8-)

Dalanne

>

> Dalanne,

>

> I, too, have been hit with a massive infection (throat) and have had to stop

both my Arava and Humira for AT LEAST 21 days (14 days of antibiotics, 1 week

wait to make sure I do not have a rebound infection) and will not be restarting

my meds until the 28th at the earliest. I have not been this sick in over 20

years.

>

> Question: When you restarted Arava, did they have you do the loading dose

again? Are you on any biologics? I have been VERY PLEASED with my Arava/Humira

combo and am already seeing my joints swell and pain set in after missing

Saturday's injection. (I inject weekly) I can't imagine what I am going to be

like in 2 weeks. :-(

>

> Let's run away together. My son just came home from college and he and his

15 year old sister have been snipping at each other every chance they can......

>

>

> *~ Kami ~*

[Guest guest]

I am so glad you are feeling somewhat better. I am calling my rheumy today and

asking if I can start Humira again on Saturday vs next Thursday. I take my last

antibiotic on Wednesday and well, I am in pain and feel that I need the Humira.

My husband wants me to wait but.... well, we shall see.

I am going to see if I can go without the Arava as long as possible. I did not

realize how bad of stomach issues I was having on it until I stopped it.

*~ Kami ~*

[ ] Re: How long does it take for Arava to kick in?/Dalanne

All in all, I'm somewhat better. I just keep sinus-rinsin' away. The incessant

rain and low-pressure areas are killin' me but I know that will go away soon

enough. Right now I am glad to be back on the Arava. It is helping me a lot now.

I did get called in to work Thursday and Friday. I'm a truck driver but my boss

was there and we both had to pull limbs and logs off the road from one that came

down in one of the storms we had. I took my Vicodin that night and the next day

so I could work and function. Thank goodness I'm back to hauling rock and

spreading it with the tailgate. I know a trick to get the tailgate to close

without me having to get out and inspect it. Saves me getting down off the truck

and crawling back up.

I have caved in on some of my housework though. A friend of mine is staying

home because her 8 yr old has some health problems and she needs a little extra

money now and then. She is coming over once a week during school hours and she

deep-cleans for me. I can't get down on my knees anymore or support myself by

leaning on my hands. She spent 2 hours in my bathroom last week. I think we

could eat in there if we had to.

Well, it's Sunday and I'm going to go check the baby rabbits in the yard. A

wild rabbit scratched out a shallow nest and had her babies in the yard just

beyond what the dogs fence can go. She's pretty smart! The cats don't go

anywhere near the dogs and the dogs don't bother barking at the rabbits anymore.

She had 6-7 tiny babies. We check them once a day to make sure no one has

stepped on them as they are right along the route we walk to the barn. They are

the size of a golf ball now. At least the kids know not to touch them. If they

do the mother will abandon them.

Dalanne

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