Re: On Orencia, off MTX & Folic Acid, & on Arava with no pain medications!

[Guest guest]

Hi Dalanne:

I want to wish you good luck when you try the Arava. Hopefully, it will

work well for you. At least you are going to try it.

Yes, I know what you mean about not sleeping. I have been tossing,

turning, and awake half the night. When the morning comes, I am just

beat. I did try some O.T.C. sleep aides, but they didn;t work well for

me. I did get an RX from the dr. for 2 weeks, but it didn't do much for

me. I hate not being able to sleep all night. I am no good the next

day.

I hope your dr. appt. goes well, and you get the answers to all your

questions. Glad you don't have Fibro. One disease is enough to

handle!!

Wishing you pain free days ahead, and that the dr. can give you a RX for

something to help you sleep. Rest and sleep are so important for us.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Went to my Rheumy appt today. Yippee. I don't think Orencia is helping

me & all OTC pain meds, Ultram & Vicodin have stopped helping as I've

built up a tolerance for them...what a sucky day.

>

> He thinks Orencia is still the best medication but that the MTX isn't

working so I'm still on Orencia for the next 3 months, I'm to stop the

MTX & Folic acid on Monday. Instead of taking MTX on it's usual day I'm

to start 10mg of Arava (Generic: Leflunomide) for 1 week then 20mg daily

from then on. From what I've been hearing about Arava I'm not real

thrilled about being put on it.

>

> He listened to me closely when I told of my ongoing pain/heat in my

hands/wrists & tested (tortured) me allegedly to see if he caught a

whiff of fibro. Thank goodness he doesn't think that has been added to

my plate.

>

> My sleeping habits, or lack thereof, was my other big issue. I've

built up tolerance for all OTC pain relief, Ultram, & Vicodin.I'm sure

you know what I'm talking about here. Dealing with the pain during the

day but when you stop moving and try to relax....but you can't? My 8 yr

old doesn't even try to crawl in bed (from nightmares) anymore. She told

me I move more in bed than she does. That's saying something right

there!

>

> Rheumy consulted his Big Book of Answers & said the next drug on the

list to try is Percocet but due to my parttime job I can't take it.

Lovely. For those who don't recall me I'm the gal who drives a

10-wheeler for a local township in central Illinois. I haven't slept

more than 2 hours at a stretch for probably 3 months. I've tried hot

cocoa before bedtime as well as getting in the hot tub. By the time I

dry off, climb the stairs and crawl in bed the hot tub warmth has worn

off and I'm back where I started. Anybody got any ideas? Besides

whackin' myself in the head with a hammer?

>

> Thanks for listening....chuckling....sypmathizing....all o' that

stuff. I hope you folks have a great nights rest! I'll be thinking about

all of you and all those sheep jumping over the fences, rebuilding the

fences, recapturing the sheep, counting the sheep.....

>

>

> Dalanne

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Dalanne,

My understanding is that is takes at least two, sometimes 6 doses of Orencia

to build up in your system and work. I just started it too. I have my

second dose next week.

I can't do vicodin or percacet, they actually keep me awake! My rheumy

gave me valium to help me sleep/pain and it has been a lifesaver. It really

helps with my jaw pain. Also, I just discovered Dead Sea Salts and I prefer

them over plain Epson Salts. They have a higher mineral content and I am

low on several minerals. You can buy them online. It's the cheapest way.

Of course, I can only take hot baths when my BP is down because it's been so

wonky lately (Arava, thanks!)

Where in central Illinois do you live? We moved to Nashville area from

LeRoy, Illinois-that's outside of Bloomington and Champagne. I miss

Illinois a year and half later! But I don't miss the snow. I do miss the

fantastic sweet corn.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Dalanne

Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 11:10 PM

Subject: [ ] On Orencia, off MTX & Folic Acid, & on Arava with no

pain medications!

Went to my Rheumy appt today. Yippee. I don't think Orencia is helping me &

all OTC pain meds, Ultram & Vicodin have stopped helping as I've built up a

tolerance for them...what a sucky day.

He thinks Orencia is still the best medication but that the MTX isn't

working so I'm still on Orencia for the next 3 months, I'm to stop the MTX &

Folic acid on Monday. Instead of taking MTX on it's usual day I'm to start

10mg of Arava (Generic: Leflunomide) for 1 week then 20mg daily from then

on. From what I've been hearing about Arava I'm not real thrilled about

being put on it.

He listened to me closely when I told of my ongoing pain/heat in my

hands/wrists & tested (tortured) me allegedly to see if he caught a whiff of

fibro. Thank goodness he doesn't think that has been added to my plate.

My sleeping habits, or lack thereof, was my other big issue. I've built up

tolerance for all OTC pain relief, Ultram, & Vicodin.I'm sure you know what

I'm talking about here. Dealing with the pain during the day but when you

stop moving and try to relax....but you can't? My 8 yr old doesn't even try

to crawl in bed (from nightmares) anymore. She told me I move more in bed

than she does. That's saying something right there!

Rheumy consulted his Big Book of Answers & said the next drug on the list to

try is Percocet but due to my parttime job I can't take it. Lovely. For

those who don't recall me I'm the gal who drives a 10-wheeler for a local

township in central Illinois. I haven't slept more than 2 hours at a stretch

for probably 3 months. I've tried hot cocoa before bedtime as well as

getting in the hot tub. By the time I dry off, climb the stairs and crawl in

bed the hot tub warmth has worn off and I'm back where I started. Anybody

got any ideas? Besides whackin' myself in the head with a hammer?

Thanks for listening....chuckling....sypmathizing....all o' that stuff. I

hope you folks have a great nights rest! I'll be thinking about all of you

and all those sheep jumping over the fences, rebuilding the fences,

recapturing the sheep, counting the sheep.....

Dalanne

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13:27:00

[Guest guest]

I guess I should clarify...I've been on Orencia since September '08. I have

taken all the infusions as regularly as I'm supposed to. I just don't feel any

better. I think he is hoping the Arava will kick the Orencia up a notch more

than the MTX has.

Dalanne

>

> Hey Dalanne,

>

> My understanding is that is takes at least two, sometimes 6 doses of Orencia

> to build up in your system and work. I just started it too. I have my

> second dose next week.

>

> I can't do vicodin or percacet, they actually keep me awake! My rheumy

> gave me valium to help me sleep/pain and it has been a lifesaver. It really

> helps with my jaw pain. Also, I just discovered Dead Sea Salts and I prefer

> them over plain Epson Salts. They have a higher mineral content and I am

> low on several minerals. You can buy them online. It's the cheapest way.

> Of course, I can only take hot baths when my BP is down because it's been so

> wonky lately (Arava, thanks!)

>

> Where in central Illinois do you live? We moved to Nashville area from

> LeRoy, Illinois-that's outside of Bloomington and Champagne. I miss

> Illinois a year and half later! But I don't miss the snow. I do miss the

> fantastic sweet corn.

>

>

[Guest guest]

You know arava was working for me until the big d..but It doesnt mean you will

get them..My rheumy told me stay on the folic acid ..

good luck

diane in ohio