Stacey ~ A Newbie with a question!

[Guest guest]

Hello Stacey and Welcome to the group. You'll find just about everything you

to know here.

I will be 32 next month. I was diagnosed at age 13 with juvenile rheumatoid

arthritis. I have the RA in every joint and much damage. Since I have had

this for 18 years, I have been on just about every drug there is for RA and

can help you with questions. Feel free to ask me anything.

I also have Fibromyalgia, though not officially diagnosed. I asked my doc if

I had Fibromyalgia, he said with RA as bad as mine it goes along with it. He

did no tests, nor did he check the trigger points. My Mom did check the

trigger points and I have them all, painfully so. My Mom is also on the list,

a quiet member, and she is a licensed massage therapist in 2 states. Aren't I

lucky!

I am currently on Arava. I have been taking it since January 1999 and I have

long hair. =) Not everyone experiences all of the side effects with any one

particular drug. Everyone is different. With the Arava, some people may

experience minimal hair loss or a lot. Someone else on the list is

experiencing more hair loss than I. I can't remember who. But my opinion? If

the drug works to slow or stop the disease, or put you in remission, it is

worth putting up with the side effects that are tolerable and not life

threatening. In the end, it could be a matter of life and death. Arthritis

eventually wears your body down. It can attack the organs. It can kill in

some cases. I'd rather be bald than dead.

I stopped the Arava a few months ago to try Methotrexate with Remicade. I

went into a huge flare for 3 months and wanted my Arava back. But instead of

taking it every day like I was, I take Arava every other day, and it works

just as well. I take it every other day bcs I was afraid it was causing some

high blood pressure for me and a rapid pulse. So far, so good.

When I went on the Arava in January 1999, I had impressive results. When I

went back on it the second time at every other day, I again had impressive

results. It is a wonderful drug!

I mentioned Remicade. I have been on it since March 2000 and it also has been

a miracle drug for me.

I was on MTX for 12 or 13 years. I finally stopped taking it a few years back

bcs I was tired of feeling sick all the time. Since all the studies with

Remicade were with MTX, I decided to try the MTX again with it. It did

nothing for me. You don't have to take MTX with the Remicade, but they highly

recommend either MTX, or another DMARD, Arava is a DMARD.

Did I forget anything? Please ask.

And again. welcome to the group! I have been here proudly since January 5,

2000. It was the best thing I did to start my new millennium! Hands down!

This si a wonderful group of people and I am PROUD to know each and every one

of them!

Hugs & Smiles,

Rainy Sue