Re: Completely at my wits end...

[Guest guest]

In reply to " I am constantly tired, my appetite is slacking off, and I hurt

all over. " You still don't have effective medication for you. Ask your doctor

to try something that will work. I was a guest attender at the American College

of Rheumatology in Atlanta in November. I listened to a researcher from England

who shared this with us:

BIRMINGHAM, England - Methotrexate is not disease modifying in patients with

psoriatic arthritis, and it has a borderline effect on psoriatic arthritis

response criteria.

Placebo-controlled trial findings show that although methotrexate therapy

results in some symptomatic improvement after 6 months of therapy, the drug has

little effect on measures that suggest disease modification, including joint

swelling and the acute phase response.

Before the MIPA trial, no randomized, controlled trial had looked at the role

of methotrexate in psoriatic arthritis because it was widely believed that the

drug was effective

http://www.skinandallergynews.com/index.php?id=1059 & type=98 & tx_ttnews[tt_news]=5\

470 & cHash=da03e20e36

She gave us this conclusion: Conclusions:Contrary to general opinion, MTX does

not act as a DMARD in PsA but has only borderline “symptom modifyingâ€

properties. Its value in active PsA is questionable when there are other agents,

such as leflunomide and TNF-inhibitors, which are true DMARDs. This has

important implications for current national and international guidance for the

treatment of PsA.

I remember her also saying it looked like NSAIDs offered us more relief, though

not as much as TNFs, than methotrexate so keep the mobic. I also went to a

session that said methotrexate remains the " gold standard " for rheumatoid

patients so this is very specifically aimed at us. We are different from the

rheumatoid people but we always get their hand-me-downs whether they fit us or

not.

Janette in Indiana

________________________________

From: gboneske <gboneske@...>

Sent: Sat, December 11, 2010 8:14:08 PM

Subject: [ ] Completely at my wits end...

After almost 10 years of symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with Psoriatic

Arthritis. I was put on methotrexate and mobic - but I constantly get the " you

don't look sick " response from friends and even some family. I also have

fybromyalgia. I have no idea where to turn now. I am constantly tired, my

appetite is slacking off, and I hurt all over.

[Guest guest]

I still get some of those looks STILL... I have been sick for many years

bad back and then my arthritis, asthma etc.... YET my family still wonder why

I don't feel like doing anything and have a bunch of pain to boot...

psoriatic arthritis is nothing to sneeze at... It attacks joints, bones, and

causes loads of pain... If they don't understand then don't share anymore with

them... It will be like talking to the wall... Im sorry your going threw

all this...

Love and Peace

Always

Shaun and Barb

Aka: ScarlettShaun

[Guest guest]

Let's hope you get some progress on this. If I were diagnosed with fibromyalgia

and had the symptoms you describe, I would, in addition to turning to your local

physician, turn to the following website: www.endfatigue.com

This is the website of Dr. Teitelbaum, an expert in fibro and chronic

fatigue. His website is loaded with useful information. He himself has had these

diseases, and it led him to develop a protocol. He got the disease(s) when he

was a med student - imagine trying to deal with medical school and having your

symptoms.

I suspect these days physicians are heavily prescribing Lyrica, as it is all

over the television. Surely it does help some, but it also comes with some known

side effects.

I hope you have luck, whichever way you turn. I would " bone up " on the condition

via scouring Teitelbaum, then go back to your physician to engage him/her with

any ideas you may have found via Teitelbaum. By the way, he has written a fine,

readable book called From Fatigued to Fantastic, about his protocol, and his own

experiences. You'll see it on his website. I got it through our local library

network quite a long while back.

Don

Boston