New Kid Here/Relefen question

May 18, 2006

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I have mild-to-non existant PS,

which made it hard for me to get a diagnosis for PA. Long story

short, no one in my family has PS. Or so I thought. I just found out

last night from my second cousin in Australia, that members of her

family do have PS, and much worse than mine.

Another thing is that I was diagnosed with 'migratory' arthitis in my

mid-twenties. First the balls of my feet would hurt and I was

chastized for wearing high heels. Then my hands would hurt. The

large joints on the palm-side of my hand, not the knuckle side.

Finally, I was the most fatigued new mom on the planet, and made to

feel bad about not having the energy to take my kids out and play with

them. I'd take them to parks, but to get my but up to push a swing or

play hide and seek... no way. I just wanted to SIT. And I was an

'oddball' for being sick all the time with mild fevers. If I worked

out, I'd be exhausted all day and then get sick with a cold after a

week of working out.

I started jogging and my knees swelled, making it impossible to walk.

You can guess the rest...blood tests, X-rays, then the MRI. Finally

a diagnosis of PA about 10 years after my symptoms first started.

Then came the apologies from family who made me feel bad all these years!

I was on minocycline for a while and and NSAID. What's been working

for me for years now is plaquinil and relefen. However, I've had to

go off relefen a couple times for stomach problems. After 17 days of

being off of it again, my fingers started to swell again and the mild

fevers were coming back. So, I started taking it last night again and

improved immediately. If it upsets my stomach again with pain,

intestinal spasms and diarhea, I'm going to ask my doc for something

else. I was almost put on VIOXX and then it was taken off the market

the next week.

Has anyone else had problems with Relefen? I'm allergic to sulfa

drugs, so there goes a bunch of options. I'd like something that could

help with my fatigue, but am not sure at age 40 if I want or need

Enbrel. Suggestions would be welcome. Have a great week!

Diane

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