Re: Re: Another newbie here

[Guest guest]

Harold had an excellent response about side effects of medications. Please revisit it if you have the time. I worked in pharmacy dept of an insurance company and he was right on about side effects. All meds have side effects and I think most people never read the adverse effects of such warnings. A doc has to report anything a patient tells him that may have been caused by a particular med, but keep in mind, it could have happened naturally, or due to other health problems, or interactions with meds, amongst several other scenarios.

While I believe you should be well informed before considering any meds, keep in mind, that there are alot of people that are doing very well on these meds with NO side effects, me being one. They don't list the good on the meds, they only have to list the side effects reported by patients - they do it thru medwatch program.

It's my opinion that if the side effects were so bad, these drugs would not be available to patients, just like some drugs that have been taken off the market for various reasons.

snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003@...> wrote:

However, it> seems from what I have been reading, the side effects of the> medications are just as bad as the RA or almost as bad. Helen, both my mom and I have RA. We have made different choices; she will not see a rheumatologist, not even to obtain information. She despises prescription medications of all kinds and does not trust doctors. As a result of lack of proper treatment, she is losing the ability to walk and lives a reclusive life. Her hands have become disfigured. She sleeps a lot and the pain can make her irritable. She no longer drives. She had to miss a family wedding last month due to health. Sadly, she's fairly young--in her early 60s.Seeing how untreated RA has ravaged her makes me happily gulp my

meds!Sierra

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[Guest guest]

Sierra I have to comment to this..........it's not just because your mother

refuses medication that her health is diminishing. RA is a serious illness,

with crippling consequences if left untreated, however, that doesn't

necessarily mean treatment has to be medications........I treat my RA, not

with medication but with a more healthy lifestyle and I'm not in denial

about the disease. We have to face the disease head on, but realize there

is no sure way to treat it and meds, although the route some choose, aren't

right for everyone, same as the holistic approach I've chosen isn't for

everyone.

Just wanted to ensure the proper message is out there..........the disease

has to be treated. Treatment of the persons choosing, but treatment just

the same or this disease will cripple left unattended.

Dorey

www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com

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

From: " snowdrift52003 " <snowdrift52003@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 5:44 AM

Subject: Re: Another newbie here

>

> However, it

>> seems from what I have been reading, the side effects of the

>> medications are just as bad as the RA or almost as bad.

>

> Helen, both my mom and I have RA. We have made different choices; she

> will not see a rheumatologist, not even to obtain information. She

> despises prescription medications of all kinds and does not trust

> doctors. As a result of lack of proper treatment, she is losing the

> ability to walk and lives a reclusive life. Her hands have become

> disfigured. She sleeps a lot and the pain can make her irritable. She

> no longer drives. She had to miss a family wedding last month due to

> health. Sadly, she's fairly young--in her early 60s.

>

> Seeing how untreated RA has ravaged her makes me happily gulp my meds!

>

> Sierra

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003@...> wrote:

However, it> seems from what I have been reading, the side effects of the> medications are just as bad as the RA or almost as bad. Helen, both my mom and I have RA. We have made different choices; she will not see a rheumatologist, not even to obtain information. She despises prescription medications of all kinds and does not trust doctors. As a result of lack of proper treatment, she is losing the ability to walk and lives a reclusive life. Her hands have become disfigured. She sleeps a lot and the pain can make her irritable. She no longer drives. She had to miss a family wedding last month due to health. Sadly, she's fairly young--in her early 60s.Seeing how untreated RA has ravaged her makes me happily gulp my meds!SierraYes Sierra ,

Even just seeing my mom and the differance of 10 years in treatment choices I have to say I

gladely agree and feel the same !

john__________________________________________________