Re: Tuesday Morning/Joyce

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

Welcome to the group. I'm sorry to hear about your pains but I can

certainly understand all you are going through. Plaquenil is not an

aggressive DMARD but it has been effective in some people. It's good

that you have a Dr. that recognizes that the disease does need to be

modified. I was on Plaquenil for a year, about 10 years ago before

they had all the new DMARD's that they have now. It does take awhile

to kick in.

In the meantime, even though you don't want to, Prednisone should

help you. My advice, is take the smallest amount that you can that

works for you, as I'm sure you and your Dr. have discussed.

Prednisone has it's issues but it certainly does make you feel

better. The Bextra will help with daily pain and inflammation. I

take Ibuprofen for that since that works well for me (I take 4

800mg/day).

I had some success with methotrexate and sulfasalazine (as I also

have Crohn's). But I am now getting much relief from Enbrel.

Please update us on how you are doing.

Wishing you well,

> Hi All,

> I wish you all a better today than yesterday. I am new here so

please

> forgive me

> if it's not correct for me to say I will keep you all in my

prayers.

> This was a rougher than normal weekend for me also. I finally

broke down after

> 2 years of seeing my doctor and a gastro for my anemia that I went

to a rheumy

> on Thursday. He prescribed Plaquenil and Bextra (in place of

Celebrex) and

> offered

> the prednisone until Plaquenil kicked in. With visions of my face

so puffy

> that

> I would float away, I said no thanks to the prednisone - only to

call

> yesterday and

> say yes...I am so exhausted and achy. So I will pick up my

prescription

> this morning.

> Does anyone have any recommendations? So far I'm on Bextra,

Lexapro, Protonix,

> I will start Prednisone and Plaquenil today. I have to tell you,

I am

> scared to death.

> My symptoms of achy painful hands (no swelling) and anemia and

general

> malaise have

> been occuring for over 2 years while I kept my head in the sand.

Right now

> it's just

> " diffuse connective tissue disease " but they're treating it like

RA/Lupus.

> I'm only 45 and otherwise feel healthy. I'm praying for others on

this

> list and I hope

> you get some relief.

> Joyce in MI