Re:stomach burning/AP?

[Guest guest]

Hi Leonie

Even though I'm trying to find my way in the dark with no experienced

AP dr up here, I thought I'd tell you my experiences with gut

problems and anti-inflammatories over the past three years. I used to

use Naprosyn and Celebrex which helped with the pain but eventually

gave me terrible stomach and bowel problems and then I added Nexium

which made me blow up like a balloon and gave me flu-like symptoms (I

only take it very occasionally now for a day or two). I've heard that

Somac is better for some people so will keep that in memory if ever

I need it.

I've been on AP for 2 years with some measure of success though

it's been up and down with seemingly no pattern to flares. The best

thing has been in the area of muscle pain in shoulders, arms and neck

which have virtually disappeared. After diagnosis I used prednisone

and Naprosyn, then cut out the pred, went on to Plaquenil and

minomycin (100mg MWF) and Naprosyn or Celebrex for pain. After five

months I had weeks with very little pain. I cut out the Naprosyn and

Celebrex and managed on plaq, mino and paracetamol when I needed it.

I experimented with the mino dosage but haven't found a dosage that

eliminates pain. I already had candida and it got very bad. I think

it makes pain worse too. After 15 months on Plaq I cut that out too

(early this year) but the pain came back and three months ago I

decided to try it again. I'm now much better, using only paracetamol

for twinges and when I have flares, if they don't subside within two

weeks I have a ten day course of prednisone rather than the anti-

inflams. That seems to work and doesn't give me gut problems though

of course I don't like taking it at all.

The long and the short of it is that I have found paracetamol to be

pretty harmless as long as I don't overdo it (8 a day on bad days)

and the combo of plaquenil and mino seems to work well for me. I

researched plaq and though it can affect the eyes it's so rare I

decided to risk it. Better than methotrexate or the others.

By the way, I'm doing all the diet things (no gluten, dairy, sugar,

tomatoes, oranges or alcohol) and supplement things too but am unsure

whether they have much effect or not. Am also having Diflucan twice a

week to keep candida somewhat under control but it gives me fluey

symptoms and mouth ulcers so I don't like that either.

I'm going to make an appointment to see an inexperienced AP dr in

this area (Far North Coast) who Doolan says is keen to learn,

and together we may be able to work out a plan of action that is most

effective.

Good luck with your battle. As the blue cattle dog in the tv ad says,

" Bugger! " (Aussie joke).

Cheers,

Ros from Byron