Re: RA breaking thru the MTX - Question

[Guest guest]

Hi OKD,

I'm sorry your feeling so badly. I would contact the doctor, and let

them know what's going on. It does take awhile for the mtx to start

working. Your doctor can increase the mtx, if your liver enzymes are

normal.

I am fatigued always. I have just learned to live with it. Between the

RA and fibro, it also causes it. The meds causes a lot of fatigue too.

I am on the mtx injections, and it helps stop a lot of the bad side

effects from the mtx.

It is very scary when the doctor talks to you about starting the

biologic meds. I have been on humira for quite awhile. I was on enbrel

for awhile too. I've had no problems with these meds. The med does

help me. I believe without it, would leave me bedridden.

The prednisone helps a lot. When you go off, you start feeling the pain

again. I hope the doctor can find the right cocktail of meds for you.

Please be careful with the fentanyl patch, there is a law suit on it.

--- In , " cofade_2000 " <Cofade_2000@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everybody:

>

> So I was feeling ok, I stopped the prednisone 2 weeks ago, then I

began having aching, miserable jaw pain, now I notice my ankle and foot

swelling. I thought the MTX was going to handle that. I have been on it

for one month. Dont want to take the prednisone, trying to avoid it.

>

> My doc wants me to start on Enbrel, frankly I am kind of scared of the

drug, after all I read, but I dont think the MTX is strong enough.

>

> Would my Rheumy up the dose of MTX before trying the Enbrel? I am

having my blood tests today to see how my liver is doing.

>

> So far I am just exhausted all the time, and the MTX knocks me out

from Friday to Saturday nite, I thought I would get used to the MTX and

that would stop, but so far it hasnt....

>

> My jaw is killing me, even with the Fentanyl Patches. I even slept

with a flector patch on my face last night - L0L:))

>

> Any advice would be appreciated......

>

> OKD

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply:

So far the fentanyl patch has been a god-send. I dont think all the patches are

in question (I could be wrong) just some from a particular company, I heard they

leak, mine are good so far...

I have a doctor's appt on July 9th, holding out til then. She did tell me if I

need to do 20 mgs of prednisone as a loading dose, then 5 for 4 days, I am

debating......

She also told me the more aggressive you treat this at the start, the better, so

I think I am going to go for the Enbrel.

Its 1500.00 for 4 synringes, my insurances pays 90%, then Enbrel is sending me

some card so I can get it free for one year (with insurance payment), so no out

of pocket, which made me very happy to hear.

OKD

>

>

> Hi OKD,

>

> I'm sorry your feeling so badly. I would contact the doctor, and let

> them know what's going on. It does take awhile for the mtx to start

> working. Your doctor can increase the mtx, if your liver enzymes are

> normal.

>

> I am fatigued always. I have just learned to live with it. Between the

> RA and fibro, it also causes it. The meds causes a lot of fatigue too.

> I am on the mtx injections, and it helps stop a lot of the bad side

> effects from the mtx.

>

> It is very scary when the doctor talks to you about starting the

> biologic meds. I have been on humira for quite awhile. I was on enbrel

> for awhile too. I've had no problems with these meds. The med does

> help me. I believe without it, would leave me bedridden.

>

> The prednisone helps a lot. When you go off, you start feeling the pain

> again. I hope the doctor can find the right cocktail of meds for you.

>

> Please be careful with the fentanyl patch, there is a law suit on it.

>

>

[Guest guest]

My advice is to try the Enbrel. I'm more afraid of prednisone than I

am of Enbrel. I has worked very well for me for over five years. And I

don't even take MTX with it.

Sue

On Jun 25, 2009, at 10:32 AM, cofade_2000 wrote:

> Hi everybody:

>

> So I was feeling ok, I stopped the prednisone 2 weeks ago, then I

> began having aching, miserable jaw pain, now I notice my ankle and

> foot swelling. I thought the MTX was going to handle that. I have

> been on it for one month. Dont want to take the prednisone, trying

> to avoid it.

>

> My doc wants me to start on Enbrel, frankly I am kind of scared of

> the drug, after all I read, but I dont think the MTX is strong enough.

>

> Would my Rheumy up the dose of MTX before trying the Enbrel? I am

> having my blood tests today to see how my liver is doing.

>

> So far I am just exhausted all the time, and the MTX knocks me out

> from Friday to Saturday nite, I thought I would get used to the MTX

> and that would stop, but so far it hasnt....

>

> My jaw is killing me, even with the Fentanyl Patches. I even slept

> with a flector patch on my face last night - L0L:))

>

> Any advice would be appreciated......

>

> OKD

[Guest guest]

Hi OKD - Forgive me for not remembering, but how many milligrams of the

prednisone were you on? And did you taper down on the dosage before stopping it

two weeks ago? I've shot myself in the foot before (so to speak) by stopping

suddenly. When I have had a flare before, my Rheumy has recommended a 5-day

burst of prednisone - but for me its 5mgs for five days and then stop.

Are you taking MTX pills? I would feel useless for days after the pills, but

since I switched to the injections, the fatigue isn't as bad. Your fatigue could

also just be the activity of the RA itself. That should subside once you are on

the right cocktail of meds.

Yesterday was week five on the Enbrel and I think I am starting to see the

benefits. We had a good thunderstorm roll through here today and I wasn't

feeling like I was getting zinged like I usually do, so I hope that is a good

sign.

Hang in there. It all takes time. Keep in close contact with your Rheumy - it

sounds like you've got a good one.....Doreen

Hi everybody:

So I was feeling ok, I stopped the prednisone 2 weeks ago, then I began having

aching, miserable jaw pain, now I notice my ankle and foot swelling. I thought

the MTX was going to handle that. I have been on it for one month. Dont want

to take the prednisone, trying to avoid it.

My doc wants me to start on Enbrel, frankly I am kind of scared of the drug,

after all I read, but I dont think the MTX is strong enough.

Would my Rheumy up the dose of MTX before trying the Enbrel? I am having my

blood tests today to see how my liver is doing.

So far I am just exhausted all the time, and the MTX knocks me out from Friday

to Saturday nite, I thought I would get used to the MTX and that would stop, but

so far it hasnt....

My jaw is killing me, even with the Fentanyl Patches. I even slept with a

flector patch on my face last night - L0L:))

Any advice would be appreciated......

OKD

[Guest guest]

I'm glad the patch is helping you. It sounds like you have a good

doctor, yeah! The prednisone always helps me when I'm in a flare. The

steroid shot really helps too, It can last 2-3 months sometimes.

I'm glad your going to start one of the biologic meds, it will help. I

know its hard waiting to see the doctor. Keep us posted.

Good luck,

Tawny

--- In , " cofade_2000 " <Cofade_2000@...>

wrote:

>

> Thanks for your reply:

>

> So far the fentanyl patch has been a god-send. I dont think all the

patches are in question (I could be wrong) just some from a particular

company, I heard they leak, mine are good so far...

>

> I have a doctor's appt on July 9th, holding out til then. She did tell

me if I need to do 20 mgs of prednisone as a loading dose, then 5 for 4

days, I am debating......

>

> She also told me the more aggressive you treat this at the start, the

better, so I think I am going to go for the Enbrel.

>

> Its 1500.00 for 4 synringes, my insurances pays 90%, then Enbrel is

sending me some card so I can get it free for one year (with insurance

payment), so no out of pocket, which made me very happy to hear.

>

> OKD

[Guest guest]

You should have a custom nightguard made by you dentist. It helps when we clench

our teeth, takes the pressure off the TMJ (temporalmandiblur Joint) should cost

between 200 and 400 dollars, dont bother with the OTC models you need it custom

made.

RDH for 12 years,

Newbie Darlene.

From: cofade_2000 <Cofade_2000@...>

Subject: [ ] RA " breaking thru " the MTX - Question

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 9:32 AM

Hi everybody:

So I was feeling ok, I stopped the prednisone 2 weeks ago, then I began having

aching, miserable jaw pain, now I notice my ankle and foot swelling. I thought

the MTX was going to handle that. I have been on it for one month. Dont want to

take the prednisone, trying to avoid it.

My doc wants me to start on Enbrel, frankly I am kind of scared of the drug,

after all I read, but I dont think the MTX is strong enough.

Would my Rheumy up the dose of MTX before trying the Enbrel? I am having my

blood tests today to see how my liver is doing.

So far I am just exhausted all the time, and the MTX knocks me out from Friday

to Saturday nite, I thought I would get used to the MTX and that would stop, but

so far it hasnt....

My jaw is killing me, even with the Fentanyl Patches. I even slept with a

flector patch on my face last night - L0L:))

Any advice would be appreciated. .....

OKD