Guest guest Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Hi Tim- I am sorry about your diagnosis but now you have to make a choice. A brave choice. This Disease is a parasite. You are the host. It is feeding on your body, specifically your joints. Its turned your immune system against you and you need to let it know who is boss. It will take no prisoners and neither should you. Dont ever let it make you a prisoner in your own body. I got RA in 94 so you are talking to someone who has taken everything. Medication does have side effects, but they are different for everyone. You have so many choices now, you can decide what is right for you. Let me tell you something. I was on cyclosporine and had been for many years and by that time, Remicade came on the scene. I did research on it and could only find "Scary" stories and Negative feedback so I absolutely convinced myself I would die before I would resort to it. I never read about the thousands of people it helped or put in remission because they were all back leading normal lives and taking it for granted. Well my Cyclosporine stopped working. It was like night and day. I was so afraid of remicade, I let the doctor pump me full of Darvon. Months passed. There comes a point where the pain is so bad and the quality of your life is so terrible, that you have to try something. I hate needles, but there I was, walking into the infusion center scared out of my mind and barely able to walk. After the infusion I felt super charged, kind of hyper and then over the next 48 hours numb. No pain at all. I walked around on egg shells, not understanding why my body wasnt feeling any pain. Within a week, I was walking, shopping, and after a few months could even go to the gym. Yes the gym. I felt absolutely amazing. Like the old me. I suffered for a year letting my RA eat me alive, because I was afraid of something I read. I will never ever do that again. I started on Remicade in 2000 and while it doesnt work as well as in the first few years, I am still so much better than without it. It was designed for newly diagnosed patients like you. It should bring the disease to a grinding halt. It is covered by most all insurances. Stay strong and be proactive!!!!!! Visit www.arthritisfoundation.org for more information. Try to find a support group if you can in your area through the website as well. This isnt the end of your life, you just hit a little speed bump. Yours, Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 Thank you Deborah. I like this site, people are so tuned in to controlling their pain. I am schedule to start next week. They said they will train me so I can give myself the shot. I hope I can get used to all this. I know I will probably sit there for 10 minutes or more before I can muster up the will to do it myself...... A good lookin nurse may be my only option, he hee, but I guess that is only a dream at this point. We will see... Timdbargad@... wrote: Hi Tim- I am sorry about your diagnosis but now you have to make a choice. A brave choice. This Disease is a parasite. You are the host. It is feeding on your body, specifically your joints. Its turned your immune system against you and you need to let it know who is boss. It will take no prisoners and neither should you. Dont ever let it make you a prisoner in your own body. I got RA in 94 so you are talking to someone who has taken everything. Medication does have side effects, but they are different for everyone. You have so many choices now, you can decide what is right for you. Let me tell you something. I was on cyclosporine and had been for many years and by that time, Remicade came on the scene. I did research on it and could only find "Scary" stories and Negative feedback so I absolutely convinced myself I would die before I would resort to it. I never read about the thousands of people it helped or put in remission because they were all back leading normal lives and taking it for granted. Well my Cyclosporine stopped working. It was like night and day. I was so afraid of remicade, I let the doctor pump me full of Darvon. Months passed. There comes a point where the pain is so bad and the quality of your life is so terrible, that you have to try something. I hate needles, but there I was, walking into the infusion center scared out of my mind and barely able to walk. After the infusion I felt super charged, kind of hyper and then over the next 48 hours numb. No pain at all. I walked around on egg shells, not understanding why my body wasnt feeling any pain. Within a week, I was walking, shopping, and after a few months could even go to the gym. Yes the gym. I felt absolutely amazing. Like the old me. I suffered for a year letting my RA eat me alive, because I was afraid of something I read. I will never ever do that again. I started on Remicade in 2000 and while it doesnt work as well as in the first few years, I am still so much better than without it. It was designed for newly diagnosed patients like you. It should bring the disease to a grinding halt. It is covered by most all insurances. Stay strong and be proactive!!!!!! Visit www.arthritisfoundation.org for more information. Try to find a support group if you can in your area through the website as well. This isnt the end of your life, you just hit a little speed bump. Yours, Deborah FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2005 Report Share Posted November 3, 2005 > > Thank you Deborah. I like this site, people are so tuned in to controlling their pain. I am schedule to start next week. They said they will train me so I can give myself the shot. I hope I can get used to all this. I know I will probably sit there for 10 minutes or more before I can muster up the will to do it myself Tim, I was exactly where you are just over a month ago. Was convinced I wouldn't be able to give myself the weekly Enbrel injections. Went to the doctor's office and a wonderful nurse walked me through the whole process of giving MYSELF the first shot. I couldn't believe how easy it was. The next week I was a little nervous but followed her directions and was able to do the injection on my own. This morning was my 4th injection, and I am thrilled at how much it is helping me. Didn't see your first post so don't know what you will be taking. Good luck!! Posie in MI PS: I also take 15 mg of methotrexate each week and 2 folic acid pills every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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