Newbie here seeking support

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I have finally sought out the support of an RA group after my morning

bus ride which made me feel completely defeated...I had to reach up

with both of my arms to get out of my seat because my knee pain was so

severe.

I just turned 24 years old, and was " sort of " diagnosed with RA when I

was 21 (the doctor neither confirms nor denies that it is actually RA,

but treats it as such). I have been through Vioxx, Bextra, et. al.

Finally after about 1 year of experiementing with treatments, a

regimine of 5 mg of Prednisone daily, and a .8 cc injection of

Methotrexate once a week had my RA into remission. Just recently, I

have had a terrible flare up (it seems even worse than when I first

" felt " the RA). My hands, wrists, elbows, knees, feet, back are all

incredibly stiff and sore. I went to the doctor and she prescribed me

Celebrex for the flare-ups, which doesn't seem to really be working

(200 mg twice a day).

After receiving a Dexa Bone Density test, they found that my spine had

minimal thinning, so now I have to take Alcotel (sp?) once a week

(which is prescribed for Osteo from what I understand).

Basically, my regimine now is:

3 mg predniose daily

1 unit folic acid daily

35 mg Alcotel weekly

1000-1500 mg calcium daily

400-800 units of Vitamin D daily

Celebrex as needed

..8 cc of Methotrexate weekly

After ALL of this, I do not feel better. I have an appointment with

my Rheumy next week, but I just wanted to introduce myself as a

currently suffering RA patient, and am looking for advice and support

in the mean time. I hope to be an active participant on the board.

My very best,

billy

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the board and I'm sorry you have reason to be here. You don't say how long you have been on the Methotrexate and you don't say how much the Prednisone helped you. Methotrexate can take up to several months to become effective and while it is being started many people take fairly large doses of Prednisone to permit them to function till the Methotrexate takes over. If you've been on Methetroxate at the 0.8 cc dose for over 3 months I think it's time to add another DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug). Stay on the Methotrexate until you are well controlled and then try to reduce some medications slowly so you are not overmedicated. However, Prednisone is the first one to get rid of if possible. If you can afford a biologic (Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, or Kineret) that would be my first choice. Arava would be a second choice but that is somewhat expensive. Then comes the other DMARDs that are mostly older and on average less effective, but for some people they are very effective. Here's a link to explain many RA medicines. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/meds/

If you feel that your rheumatologist is not treating you well enough, try to get a second opinion from a different rheumatologist. Let us know how you make out. God bless.

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

From: billybubsterino

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 7:25 AM

Subject: Newbie here seeking support

Dear All,I have finally sought out the support of an RA group after my morningbus ride which made me feel completely defeated...I had to reach upwith both of my arms to get out of my seat because my knee pain was sosevere.I just turned 24 years old, and was "sort of" diagnosed with RA when Iwas 21 (the doctor neither confirms nor denies that it is actually RA,but treats it as such). I have been through Vioxx, Bextra, et. al. Finally after about 1 year of experiementing with treatments, aregimine of 5 mg of Prednisone daily, and a .8 cc injection ofMethotrexate once a week had my RA into remission. Just recently, Ihave had a terrible flare up (it seems even worse than when I first"felt" the RA). My hands, wrists, elbows, knees, feet, back are allincredibly stiff and sore. I went to the doctor and she prescribed meCelebrex for the flare-ups, which doesn't seem to really be working(200 mg twice a day). After receiving a Dexa Bone Density test, they found that my spine hadminimal thinning, so now I have to take Alcotel (sp?) once a week(which is prescribed for Osteo from what I understand). Basically, my regimine now is:3 mg predniose daily1 unit folic acid daily35 mg Alcotel weekly1000-1500 mg calcium daily400-800 units of Vitamin D dailyCelebrex as needed.8 cc of Methotrexate weeklyAfter ALL of this, I do not feel better. I have an appointment withmy Rheumy next week, but I just wanted to introduce myself as acurrently suffering RA patient, and am looking for advice and supportin the mean time. I hope to be an active participant on the board.My very best,billy