New Members

[Guest guest]

Wow, there seems to be a bunch of new people lately. I hope this doesn't

mean there's an epidemic of new RA patients.

Anyway, hi to all the new members.

To , on the meds.

I'm new to RA myself, but lived with my Dad suffering for years. The best

they could offer him, was gold shots,. and that never seemed to do much

good. I saw his hands and feet twist, watched him unable to turn his head,

and pretty much be housebound for the last 10 years of his life. He was

complicated by emphysema, which may or may not have been made worse by the

RA, which can cause lung problems too.

I want to be able to live and do things as long as I can. It's a matter of

quality of life. I would make the best of it, no matter what my health

turns out like, but if there is something out there that has a chance of

making my life better, why not take it? Side effects always have to be

weighed, but I know for sure what the effects of RA are. If I have to try

different things before one works, OK, but it's worth trying.

I started on a mild one, minocyline, which didn't do a thing, except make me

loopy, so I moved up.

I have been on methyltrexate now since about April. I'm getting the shots,

so no stomach problems, and I'm on folate daily. So far no side effects, but

I really am feeling better. (Almost makes me feel sheepish to tell people

here that, since so many are so much worse off.) I too have thin hair, and

have worried about hair loss, but I'll keep taking the folate and do what I

can.

Methyltrexate is chemo drug and has side effects, but I think every drug out

there has potential side effects. (Note the commercials on TV) Whether or

not you get them depends on your individual system, and if you do have

problems, you can stop taking it (with your doctor's help of course)

The treatments may be scary, but the realities of RA are scarier.

Noreen

[Guest guest]

>

> Seems like we've had a lot of new members join recently, and I just

want to

> welcome you all once more, Please feel free to post any question

you may

> have or any request for information; that is why we are all here,

to learn

> from each other and to share and support. I know it took me awhile,

> waaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1999, to start posting, but it is simple,

and we

> care. We are on this journey together and all learn new things

every day.

> There is a wealth of information out there now, much different from

back in

> 1995 when I was finally diagnosed with the first AI liver disease.

It helps

> others both when you post something you learn and when you ask a

question

> that may have been in someone else's mind. We like to help. We

want to

> help. In turn, we all are helped.

>

> Kay, TX, AIH 1995/PBC 1999

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would truly like to

welcome [laughingwillow09] to the group!!There is an extensive variety of experiences with the dragon here, so please, get

comfortable and perhaps let us know a little bit of the history of your HepC. We are here to give help, support or just hear plain old

venting.Gloria