Re: , the reader:)

[Guest guest]

Hi .

Sounds like we're in the same boat. I'm more of a

reader than poster:), have been officially diagnosed

for about 4 years now with RA, am 34, am thinking

about pregnancy (within the next couple years - or not

at all!), and I've also quit my enbrel & MTX.

Yes, I worry about the side effects of the drugs.

Yes, I worry about the long-term effects of the

disease. Yes, I wonder if being " crippled up " (as you

& my Grandma say! - she also says I'm too young to

have arthritis!) might be better than risking a

cancer/etc. potential side effect of the meds.

That's about as far as I've gotten, tho. So I'm

absolutely no help. Other than to say that right

now I'm feeling pretty darn good, and when that

changes, my thoughts about the side-effects of the

meds might also once again change. My energy levels

are falling fast - going to bed by 8 every night and

not really sleeping until morning, etc. And my hands

are beginning to bother...so we'll see.

Rie

Message: 10

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 03:09:15 -0000

From: " bart.tracy@... "

<bart.tracy@...>

Subject: Medicine Risk Worries

Hi all,

I've posted before but am noteably not a regular

poster here, more of a reader. Anyways, to refresh

everyone, My name is , ...I decided that I just

couldn't stand the skin reactions to my Plaquenil so

I've stopped taking it as of a week ago.

Just wondering; do you ever think it might be better

to not take all these drugs and see what happens. Does

the risks ever scare you, really scare you? I worry

more in the long term since I'm only 30.

Sometimes I just wonder, what would be worse, being

crippled up and in pain alot or risk something worse

by longterm use of these drugs.

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