My Rheumy is a madman, I am a madwoman!

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I saw my Rheumy today. For the past 6 weeks I haven't taken my Enbrel or my

MTX. We had discussed my stopping meds for quite sometime, we just weren't sure

when I was going to do it. I decided to do it as I'd gotten a series of sore

throats, colds here and there, couldn't take it any way, so it seemed like a

good time. The reason why he suggested we do this, is all my tests have been

normal and I've been doing OK...pain level, tolerable. He was not the Rheumy

who dx'd RA, that Rheumy left me for Ohio. This Rheumy wants to make sure I'm

not being over medicated with powerful drugs without a reason. Lately, my

fingers have been swollen, my knees have been hurting and swollen, even my

elbows have been hurting. I had my blood drawn on May 20th for this appt. and

it showed normal results. Today though he saw that my fingers were actually

swollen and offered me a cortisone shot in my knee. I didn't want that now.

Ick! The plan is for me to stay off the Enbrel and MTX for 3 more weeks, have

my blood drawn 3 weeks from today, increase my Plaquenil to 2 a day , get me

back on meds for my stomach and add advil for an anti-inflammatory. I take

tramadol daily and percocet for bad days. I feel comfortable doing this because

those meds are powerful , but they do work and if I have to go back on them, so

be it. Have any of you done this before, how did it go? Hope you are all well.

Heidi in Mass.

" Until one has loved an animal, part of their

soul remains unawakened. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi.  I sure do feel your frustration.  I know you haven't felt good for

awhile.  It is so hard to really know what is going on when the tests show

nothing.  It must be hell to be off all your RA meds.  I do hope when the

tests are repeated that they finally show something so the Dr. can treat you

accordingly.  I know you hate to take heavy drugs, but sometimes that is the

only thing left for us to do.  I know how much pain you are in.  I also know

when there is bad swelling, we hurt terribly.  I have always said RA is a very

ugly disease.  I know the next 3 weeks will be a lot to deal with, and I so

pray the Rheumy will have some treatment plan for you then.  There is light at

the end of the tunnel.

 

I pray you will have many pain free days ahead.  I know you are so sick of

being sick and in pain.

Many, many monster hugs to you.  I feel so bad you are suffering so much.  I

care.

 

Hugs, your friend,

 

Barbara

From: Heidi <sposy@...>

Subject: [ ] My Rheumy is a madman, I am a madwoman!

Date: Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 11:58 PM

 

Hi all,

I saw my Rheumy today. For the past 6 weeks I haven't taken my Enbrel or my MTX.

We had discussed my stopping meds for quite sometime, we just weren't sure when

I was going to do it. I decided to do it as I'd gotten a series of sore throats,

colds here and there, couldn't take it any way, so it seemed like a good time.

The reason why he suggested we do this, is all my tests have been normal and

I've been doing OK...pain level, tolerable. He was not the Rheumy who dx'd RA,

that Rheumy left me for Ohio. This Rheumy wants to make sure I'm not being over

medicated with powerful drugs without a reason. Lately, my fingers have been

swollen, my knees have been hurting and swollen, even my elbows have been

hurting. I had my blood drawn on May 20th for this appt. and it showed normal

results. Today though he saw that my fingers were actually swollen and offered

me a cortisone shot in my knee. I didn't want that now. Ick! The plan is for me

to stay off the Enbrel

and MTX for 3 more weeks, have my blood drawn 3 weeks from today, increase my

Plaquenil to 2 a day , get me back on meds for my stomach and add advil for an

anti-inflammatory. I take tramadol daily and percocet for bad days. I feel

comfortable doing this because those meds are powerful , but they do work and if

I have to go back on them, so be it. Have any of you done this before, how did

it go? Hope you are all well.

Heidi in Mass.

" Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi - I've not done this before. I worry about you, though. Aren't you

afraid of putting your joints at risk of deformity and deterioration by not

taking the RA meds? I know there have been times when I've needed the

anti-inflammatory and have taken the Advil, and even though I take Zantac 150

daily, it will upset my stomach after a few days of doing that. No matter what,

though, I wish you the best. I pray the pain will ease and no joint damage is

done... Doreen

Hi all,

I saw my Rheumy today. For the past 6 weeks I haven't taken my Enbrel or my

MTX. We had discussed my stopping meds for quite sometime, we just weren't sure

when I was going to do it. I decided to do it as I'd gotten a series of sore

throats, colds here and there, couldn't take it any way, so it seemed like a

good time. The reason why he suggested we do this, is all my tests have been

normal and I've been doing OK...pain level, tolerable. He was not the Rheumy

who dx'd RA, that Rheumy left me for Ohio. This Rheumy wants to make sure I'm

not being over medicated with powerful drugs without a reason. Lately, my

fingers have been swollen, my knees have been hurting and swollen, even my

elbows have been hurting. I had my blood drawn on May 20th for this appt. and

it showed normal results. Today though he saw that my fingers were actually

swollen and offered me a cortisone shot in my knee. I didn't want that now.

Ick! The plan is for me to stay off the Enbrel and MTX for 3 more weeks, have

my blood drawn 3 weeks from today, increase my Plaquenil to 2 a day , get me

back on meds for my stomach and add advil for an anti-inflammatory. I take

tramadol daily and percocet for bad days. I feel comfortable doing this because

those meds are powerful , but they do work and if I have to go back on them, so

be it. Have any of you done this before, how did it go? Hope you are all well.

Heidi in Mass.

[Guest guest]

Hi Doreen,

Thanks It's a short trial. The last 3 years of hand x-rays have shown

little change so I feel comfortable doing this. I like giving my body a break

from the medications and also seeing what happens. I'm still at the point where

I can't make a fist with either hand, but they don't appear all that swollen, I

can just feel they are. It's just for 3 more weeks. I've also decided not to

go near Advil. Thanks for caring.

Heidi in Mass.

" Until one has loved an animal, part of their

soul remains unawakened. "

[ ] Re: My Rheumy is a madman, I am a madwoman!

Hi Heidi - I've not done this before. I worry about you, though. Aren't you

afraid of putting your joints at risk of deformity and deterioration by not

taking the RA meds? I know there have been times when I've needed the

anti-inflammatory and have taken the Advil, and even though I take Zantac 150

daily, it will upset my stomach after a few days of doing that. No matter what,

though, I wish you the best. I pray the pain will ease and no joint damage is

done... Doreen

Hi all,

I saw my Rheumy today. For the past 6 weeks I haven't taken my Enbrel or my

MTX. We had discussed my stopping meds for quite sometime, we just weren't sure

when I was going to do it. I decided to do it as I'd gotten a series of sore

throats, colds here and there, couldn't take it any way, so it seemed like a

good time. The reason why he suggested we do this, is all my tests have been

normal and I've been doing OK...pain level, tolerable. He was not the Rheumy

who dx'd RA, that Rheumy left me for Ohio. This Rheumy wants to make sure I'm

not being over medicated with powerful drugs without a reason. Lately, my

fingers have been swollen, my knees have been hurting and swollen, even my

elbows have been hurting. I had my blood drawn on May 20th for this appt. and

it showed normal results. Today though he saw that my fingers were actually

swollen and offered me a cortisone shot in my knee. I didn't want that now.

Ick! The plan is for me to stay off the Enbrel and MTX for 3 more weeks, have

my blood drawn 3 weeks from today, increase my Plaquenil to 2 a day , get me

back on meds for my stomach and add advil for an anti-inflammatory. I take

tramadol daily and percocet for bad days. I feel comfortable doing this because

those meds are powerful , but they do work and if I have to go back on them, so

be it. Have any of you done this before, how did it go? Hope you are all well.

Heidi in Mass.

[Guest guest]

I've tried it a couple of days at ta time and usually end up paing the price

with a bad flare. Advil and Alieve are very hard on your system over the long

run, I've found Tylenol to work the best, at least for me.

Stan

Seattle, Sun.

[ ] Re: My Rheumy is a madman, I am a madwoman!

  

    

                  

Hi Heidi - I've not done this before. I worry about you, though. Aren't you

afraid of putting your joints at risk of deformity and deterioration by not

taking the RA meds? I know there have been times when I've needed the

anti-inflammatory and have taken the Advil, and even though I take Zantac 150

daily, it will upset my stomach after a few days of doing that. No matter what,

though, I wish you the best. I pray the pain will ease and no joint damage is

done... Doreen

Hi all,

I saw my Rheumy today.  For the past 6 weeks I haven't taken my Enbrel or my

MTX.  We had discussed my stopping meds for quite sometime, we just weren't

sure when I was going to do it. I decided to do it as I'd gotten a series of

sore throats, colds here and there, couldn't take it any way, so it seemed like

a good time. The reason why he suggested we do this, is all my tests have been

normal and I've been doing OK...pain level, tolerable.  He was not the Rheumy

who dx'd RA, that Rheumy left me for Ohio.  This Rheumy wants to make sure I'm

not being over medicated with powerful drugs without a reason. Lately, my

fingers have been swollen, my knees have been hurting and swollen, even my

elbows have been hurting.  I had my blood drawn on May 20th for this appt. and

it showed normal results.  Today though he saw that my fingers were actually

swollen and offered me a cortisone shot in my knee.  I didn't want that now.

Ick!  The plan is for me to stay off the Enbrel and MTX for 3  more weeks,

have my blood drawn 3 weeks from today, increase my Plaquenil to 2 a day , get

me back on meds for my stomach and add advil for an anti-inflammatory. I take

tramadol daily and percocet for bad days.  I feel comfortable doing this

because those meds are powerful , but they do work and if I have to go back on

them, so be it.  Have any of you done this before, how did it go?  Hope you

are all well.  

Heidi in Mass.