Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Nov. 2009 I was told I have RA. I was put on Plaquenil but it did nothing for me. I felt like it made me worse. The doctor said he doubts that. Then he put me on MTX. Started to feel a little better with 4 pills but then they wore off and had to up the dose. I got as high as 8 pills but started to get side effects and I asked to finally get off after we downed it back to 6 pills. He then put me on Humaria. I have had 3 shots (a shot every 2 weeks) so far. I have not seen a change. In the past year and 4 month I have gone down hill. I felt better before starting on meds. I feel more pain since being on meds. In my eyes I feel like the meds have made my RA worse. When I was younger I had JRA and was never treated (long story) and never had any damage. Basically I grew out of it if you want to call it that. Now that I'm older I took the right option to get treated. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about meds making symptoms worse and progressing the RA faster being on them. I would like info before going back to the doctor. My symptoms now are lots of pain and major fatigue. The last time I was at the doctor I complained about the side effects of the MTX and he said if getting off if it doesn't help then my RA might be progressing. The only thing that stayed was the fatigue. My doctor will listen to me but what I need right now is experience from the people that have it. Any info will be great. Thanks, Cheli Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Cheli, I think that what is happening is that your RA is getting worse. I don't see how the meds could make it worse; they're just not making it better. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right cocktail of meds that will work for the individual person. Your doctor has kept trying different meds, which is the usual procedure. Also, it does take time for some of the meds to kick in. With mtx, some people have fewer side effects with the injectable kind. Also, taking folic acid should help with the side effects. Some people have a more severe case of RA than others, and you are apparently one of those. Your doctor seems to be doing the right thing, trying to treat it aggressively. I do hope that he will soon find the mix that will relieve your symptoms. Keep hanging in there. Sue On Mar 28, 2011, at 7:50 AM, HLHSINFO@... wrote: > Nov. 2009 I was told I have RA. I was put on Plaquenil but it did > nothing for me. I felt like it made me worse. The doctor said he > doubts that. Then he put me on MTX. Started to feel a little better > with 4 pills but then they wore off and had to up the dose. I got as > high as 8 pills but started to get side effects and I asked to > finally get off after we downed it back to 6 pills. He then put me > on Humaria. I have had 3 shots (a shot every 2 weeks) so far. I have > not seen a change. In the past year and 4 month I have gone down > hill. I felt better before starting on meds. I feel more pain since > being on meds. In my eyes I feel like the meds have made my RA > worse. When I was younger I had JRA and was never treated (long > story) and never had any damage. Basically I grew out of it if you > want to call it that. Now that I'm older I took the right option to > get treated. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about meds > making symptoms worse and progressing the RA faster being on them. I > would like info before going back to the doctor. My symptoms now are > lots of pain and major fatigue. The last time I was at the doctor I > complained about the side effects of the MTX and he said if getting > off if it doesn't help then my RA might be progressing. The only > thing that stayed was the fatigue. My doctor will listen to me but > what I need right now is experience from the people that have it. > Any info will be great. > > Thanks, > Cheli > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hi, Cheli. I am sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. Maybe it's time for a second opinion. Is your current rheumatologist the only one you've seen lately? Not an MD On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 6:50 AM, HLHSINFO@... <hlhsinfo@...> wrote: > Nov. 2009 I was told I have RA. I was put on Plaquenil but it did nothing for me. I felt like it made me worse. The doctor said he doubts that. Then he put me on MTX. Started to feel a little better with 4 pills but then they wore off and had to up the dose. I got as high as 8 pills but started to get side effects and I asked to finally get off after we downed it back to 6 pills. He then put me on Humaria. I have had 3 shots (a shot every 2 weeks) so far. I have not seen a change. In the past year and 4 month I have gone down hill. I felt better before starting on meds. I feel more pain since being on meds. In my eyes I feel like the meds have made my RA worse. When I was younger I had JRA and was never treated (long story) and never had any damage. Basically I grew out of it if you want to call it that. Now that I'm older I took the right option to get treated. I am wondering if anyone knows anything about meds making symptoms worse and progressing the RA faster being on them. I would like info before going back to the doctor. My symptoms now are lots of pain and major fatigue. The last time I was at the doctor I complained about the side effects of the MTX and he said if getting off if it doesn't help then my RA might be progressing. The only thing that stayed was the fatigue. My doctor will listen to me but what I need right now is experience from the people that have it. Any info will be great. > > Thanks, > Cheli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Yes this has been my one and only. I do believe he has been doing a good job. He does know his meds, side effects, how they work to don't work. He will talk to me like I am part of the team. I do feel he has been a good match for me. I just like to have all the info at hand before I go to any doctor. Cheli Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone ----- Reply message ----- From: " " <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...> Date: Mon, Mar 28, 2011 5:58 pm Subject: [ ] Confused....need advise < > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I thought about trying the injected MTX but haven't got myself up to trying it. I'm still new to giving myself the shot every other week. I was on Folic Acid but I was having to take 4-5 a day just to help with the side effects. I guess I have to just wait. It is just so hard when you have a family to take care of. Cheli Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone ----- Reply message ----- From: " marysue " <marysue@...> Date: Mon, Mar 28, 2011 12:46 pm Subject: [ ] Confused....need advise < > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Cheli, I'm not saying you should leave your rheumatologist, just see what another thinks of your situation. If you aren't doing well, it won't hurt to let someone else think about what could be going on and offer advice to you. Not an MD On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 7:43 PM, HLHSINFO@... <HLHSINFO@...>wrote: > Yes this has been my one and only. I do believe he has been doing a good > job. He does know his meds, side effects, how they work to don't work. He > will talk to me like I am part of the team. I do feel he has been a good > match for me. I just like to have all the info at hand before I go to any > doctor. > > Cheli > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 I wasn't thinking that you were saying to leave him. I knew what you meant but thank you for the response. Cheli Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone ----- Reply message ----- From: " " <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...> Date: Tue, Mar 29, 2011 6:34 am Subject: [ ] Confused....need advise " HLHSINFO@... " <HLHSINFO@...> Cc: < > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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