Re: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

[Guest guest]

Good Evening All

Stress is a Hugh factor in RA I know from personal experience...

If I get stressed I will have a flare within days... I am on Hurima methotraxate and Steroids and the only thing that really works is the steroids and I have to take high doses (50mg) for that to work during a flare. When I started taking Humira I expected it to work, a miracle if you please and nothing... the only thing that stops the flare is the steroids. This RA seems to be different in each person.. what works for one may not work for someone else. On a good day I use a cane.. on a bad day I use a walker... and on a real bad day ... I use a wheelchair.

But my hands are the worst.. I can't even turn a door knob with my right hand on any day good or bad.

Wishing the best to all

Chrisina

How are you bearing out Toni? I'm suppose to be taking Naproxyn

500mg but OTC Motrin is just as good if I take 800mg. I also take

Darvocet 200mg and Prednison 20mg prn. On bad days

none of it helps. I have been thinking of asking my Dr to

give me a shot of Prednisone in my lower back. Thats what he wanted

to do this past April when I had the worst flareup with RA I have

ever had. My son died in April which caused the flareup. I never

realized stress could cause so much pain that I could hardly walk or

get up and down..............Joyce

----- Original Message -----

From: aclavern33@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 10:41 PM

Subject: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

On the surface the TNFs may seem safer...but I know a lady that is now blind in one eye from taking enbrel. She lost her eye sight due to optic nuritis..or serious and permenent damage to the optic nerve. It is listed as a potential side effect but is listed in medical language to the average patient would not understand what it means.

As far as humira is concerned there are some patients that take humira weekly. They do not get enough response from bi-weekly dosing so they go to weekly.

Personally I prefer NO drugs at all...but that is just my opinion. I have been off all drugs now all most six months.

toni

In a message dated 12/2/2004 1:33:48 PM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes:

Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 18:41:32 -0000 From: "" <catdelouise@...>Subject: my drugsHi, I've been reading the posts here and noticing the different drugs. I agree with Harrold, I believe the best choice for RA are the TNF blockers, Enbrel, Humira, etc. I am currently on Humira and have had good success on it. It is an injectable but you only take it once every 2 weeks. It does cost about $1200/mo. though! I feel that drugs such as methotraxate and steroids have too many side effects and are not as effective. Since I am of child-bearing years, I am trying to avoid methotraxate. Anyway, if you have R.A. and your Rheumatologist has not offered TNF drugs, you might want to consider changing doctors! This is just in my humble opinion and experience.

Chrisina DenBaugh, CEOwww.Adoption-Free-Search.orgEmergency Medical Locators for Adoptees"Dedicated to adoptees whose lives are imperiled by medical crisis"Free Medical locations Locating and obtaining biological medical histories For the adoption community and all in needBiological family traces for transplants availableStaff members are online 24/7 To handle emergency searches.Donations of old databases, year books, cross directories greatly appreciated Fax: 775-845-4334No one should die because they are adoptedFREE DNA Project for Adoptees and Birthfamily _http://www.touchedbyadoption.org/_ (http://www.touchedbyadoption.org/) IF YOU CAN FOSTER OR ADOPT A DOG IN ANY STATE PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ONCE. Feed a Dog in Need Click on site below http://www.animalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa/237Donations are not currentyTax Deductible http://www.adoption-free-search.org/Donate.htm

[Guest guest]

How are you bearing out Toni? I'm suppose to be taking Naproxyn

500mg but OTC Motrin is just as good if I take 800mg. I also take

Darvocet 200mg and Prednison 20mg prn. On bad days

none of it helps. I have been thinking of asking my Dr to

give me a shot of Prednisone in my lower back. Thats what he wanted

to do this past April when I had the worst flareup with RA I have

ever had. My son died in April which caused the flareup. I never

realized stress could cause so much pain that I could hardly walk or

get up and down..............Joyce

----- Original Message -----

From: aclavern33@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 10:41 PM

Subject: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

On the surface the TNFs may seem safer...but I know a lady that is now blind in one eye from taking enbrel. She lost her eye sight due to optic nuritis..or serious and permenent damage to the optic nerve. It is listed as a potential side effect but is listed in medical language to the average patient would not understand what it means.

As far as humira is concerned there are some patients that take humira weekly. They do not get enough response from bi-weekly dosing so they go to weekly.

Personally I prefer NO drugs at all...but that is just my opinion. I have been off all drugs now all most six months.

toni

In a message dated 12/2/2004 1:33:48 PM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes:

Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 18:41:32 -0000 From: "" <catdelouise@...>Subject: my drugsHi, I've been reading the posts here and noticing the different drugs. I agree with Harrold, I believe the best choice for RA are the TNF blockers, Enbrel, Humira, etc. I am currently on Humira and have had good success on it. It is an injectable but you only take it once every 2 weeks. It does cost about $1200/mo. though! I feel that drugs such as methotraxate and steroids have too many side effects and are not as effective. Since I am of child-bearing years, I am trying to avoid methotraxate. Anyway, if you have R.A. and your Rheumatologist has not offered TNF drugs, you might want to consider changing doctors! This is just in my humble opinion and experience.

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: CHRISINAD@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 12:33 AM

Subject: Re: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

Good Evening All

Stress is a Hugh factor in RA I know from personal experience...

If I get stressed I will have a flare within days... I am on Hurima methotraxate and Steroids and the only thing that really works is the steroids and I have to take high doses (50mg) for that to work during a flare. When I started taking Humira I expected it to work, a miracle if you please and nothing... the only thing that stops the flare is the steroids. This RA seems to be different in each person.. what works for one may not work for someone else. On a good day I use a cane.. on a bad day I use a walker... and on a real bad day ... I use a wheelchair.

But my hands are the worst.. I can't even turn a door knob with my right hand on any day good or bad.

Wishing the best to all

Chrisina

How are you bearing out Toni? I'm suppose to be taking Naproxyn

500mg but OTC Motrin is just as good if I take 800mg. I also take

Darvocet 200mg and Prednison 20mg prn. On bad days

none of it helps. I have been thinking of asking my Dr to

give me a shot of Prednisone in my lower back. Thats what he wanted

to do this past April when I had the worst flareup with RA I have

ever had. My son died in April which caused the flareup. I never

realized stress could cause so much pain that I could hardly walk or

get up and down..............Joyce

[Guest guest]

Chrisina, I was taking 60mg steroid when I was so stresses out. The only thing I don't like about steroids is that I

gain weight. Recently I lost 10 lbs but had a flareup and gain 7 lbs back as I had to get back on steroids. When I

have a bad day I have to hold to the wall to get from one room to the other. Last week I bought a cane but really

hate to give over to it. I'm afraid I am going to have to whether I like it or not.................Joyce

----- Original Message -----

From: CHRISINAD@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 12:33 AM

Subject: Re: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

Good Evening All

Stress is a Hugh factor in RA I know from personal experience...

If I get stressed I will have a flare within days... I am on Hurima methotraxate and Steroids and the only thing that really works is the steroids and I have to take high doses (50mg) for that to work during a flare. When I started taking Humira I expected it to work, a miracle if you please and nothing... the only thing that stops the flare is the steroids. This RA seems to be different in each person.. what works for one may not work for someone else. On a good day I use a cane.. on a bad day I use a walker... and on a real bad day ... I use a wheelchair.

But my hands are the worst.. I can't even turn a door knob with my right hand on any day good or bad.

Wishing the best to all

Chrisina

How are you bearing out Toni? I'm suppose to be taking Naproxyn

500mg but OTC Motrin is just as good if I take 800mg. I also take

Darvocet 200mg and Prednison 20mg prn. On bad days

none of it helps. I have been thinking of asking my Dr to

give me a shot of Prednisone in my lower back. Thats what he wanted

to do this past April when I had the worst flareup with RA I have

ever had. My son died in April which caused the flareup. I never

realized stress could cause so much pain that I could hardly walk or

get up and down..............Joyce

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry, Joyce. No parent should have to bury thier child. Life isn't

fair.

Sharon.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sharon..........Joyce

----- Original Message -----

From: " Sharon Wertz " <sbwertz@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 6:41 AM

Subject: Re: All drugs have the potential to do

serious damage

I'm so sorry, Joyce. No parent should have to bury thier child. Life isn't

fair.

Sharon.

[Guest guest]

No meds is working fine for me. I took a bextra for the first time in many months earlier this week. I function just fine with no meds. Of course I have made some serious diet changes, increasing water intake, no sodas, no sugar, very little carbs, high protein and of course plenty of exercise. I have lost 40 lbs since May..which is when I had lapband weight loss surgery..my diet is now for life.

As far as disease progression I would not know. I haven't seen my rheummy in many months now. He is not pro-surgical weight loss and loves to give me meds which conflict with my new small pouch for a stomach. I plan to dump the rheummy and let my Internal Med doc manage me.

In all honesty, I feel so much better and clearer...not all drugged up and walking around like a Zombie. I sleep all night now. I do have my fatigue days..especially if I get real busy.

Toni

In a message dated 12/4/2004 7:58:55 PM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes:

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 12:30:19 -0800 (PST) From: yellow dancer <yellowplugempress@...>Subject: Re: All drugs have the potential to do serious damagehow is that working for you?Are you able to get along without meds?and is the disease progressing?yellow

[Guest guest]

You said:

As far as disease progression I would not know. I haven't seen my rheummy in many months now. He is not pro-surgical weight loss and loves to give me meds which conflict with my new small pouch for a stomach. I plan to dump the rheummy and let my Internal Med doc manage me.

Reply: May I tell you a story? My internist was the first doctor to diagnosis my RA. I requested a referral to a rheumy. He thought he could manage my case, but I insisted

on the referral. 5 years later I am at the internists office for something or other and he said that I was right to insist on a referral because he would have been afraid to treat me as aggressively as my rheumy had. Dump your present rheumy if you don't like him, but make sure another rheumy is managing your case. This disease is not reversible. We can go into remission but we cannot restore damage that has already been done.

Pat

[Guest guest]

Pat, that's odd about Doctors. It was my ear, nose & throat Dr that

diagnosed me........Joyce

----- Original Message -----

From: Pat Berens

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 10:39 PM

Subject: Re: Re: All drugs have the potential to do serious damage

You said:

As far as disease progression I would not know. I haven't seen my rheummy in many months now. He is not pro-surgical weight loss and loves to give me meds which conflict with my new small pouch for a stomach. I plan to dump the rheummy and let my Internal Med doc manage me.

Reply: May I tell you a story? My internist was the first doctor to diagnosis my RA. I requested a referral to a rheumy. He thought he could manage my case, but I insisted

on the referral. 5 years later I am at the internists office for something or other and he said that I was right to insist on a referral because he would have been afraid to treat me as aggressively as my rheumy had. Dump your present rheumy if you don't like him, but make sure another rheumy is managing your case. This disease is not reversible. We can go into remission but we cannot restore damage that has already been done.

Pat