I went to see the RD today and he said that I am not improving to where I need to be. My knee is visibly swollen, I have thickening of the synovium in the balls of my feet and he said we need to really get aggressive. He is going to try adding Arava to the mix for six weeks and if I don't show improvement then he wants to start me on Enbrel. I know I should be gratefult but I am petrified that I am moving so fast so early. He also said he wasn't going to up my MTX at this time.
We also discussed the prednisone because I argued that I felt it would mask whether or not the meds were working. He said that it really doesn't and that I am not to taper myself lower than 2.5 mg twice a day. I told him I was at 5mg in the a.m. and 2.5 in the p.m. and he said great if it is working but I can up it back to 5mg twice a day if I need to.
He is a really good doctor and I know he cares but he does not mess around and he has told me so. So, I am praying that the Arava does the trick and eventually I can get off the prednisone. Oh and yes he did the full blood work so we can see where all my levels are.
Connie
Connie -
Hugs, sweetie!
Pip
I know it sounds scary Connie; but you are lucky to have a doctor that "Does not mess around". There are so many doctors out there that stand around scratching their heads while this disease eats away at the joints of other wise healthy people.
I think your doctor's intentions are good and in the long run you'll be grateful for his aggressive approach.
Good Luck! Try to stay positive; it does make a difference.
It's probably very scary for you right now but be thankful that you have an RD that cares enough about you to want to go after this disease aggressively. I hope you're able to get you're RA under control and get off of the prednisone and still be on a minimal amount of meds. Having some fear is very normal but try not to get discouraged. In most cases, it takes a lot of patience to get to where you need to be. Hang in there!Hi Connie, I take Arava. When I first started over 12 months ago it was fantastic. Compared to how I was , it was like a miracle drug. I have had no side effects from them . The last 6 mths though I have had a lot more pain and swelling so I am starting on Embrel.
I wish you all the best and hope that Arava will be your miracle drug.
Hi Connie, Don't think of this doctor's appointment as being depressing; it's just the opposite. It took me years to find an aggressive doctor who would treat me. I was much older and I think the doctors had a hands off policy with me. Who wants to start biologics and dmards on a 60 year old? Finally I had relief after years of Pred. use thanks to an aggressive doctor who saw past my age and saw the person I was before RA came along. Be thankful and follow his advice. Don't follow it blindly. Question everything and research all the medications. You're on the right track. It's taken me a year to get down to 7.5 mg. of Pred. but it's possible to get off it. I'm positive that I'll be tapered off by Christmas and hopefully you'll be off Pred. also. Take care and keep us posted. LindyI always think it s a bit scary when starting a new drug
I hope all works out of you and you find a big improvement
My consultant put me on an Arava-Plaquenil mix after MTX and Sulfasalazine didn't work. This is my last stop before biologics. This combo has literally been my miracle. Starting new drugs is always scary - Funnily enough Arava is the one I was most scared of when this whole RA malarky started, and yet it has been the one to work the best. After 6 weeks on the combo I felt the most well I had in over a year. The swelling in my hands has all but gone and I feel good. As long I don't push too hard and think I'm superwoman I feel great most of the time.
I hope this is the one for you!
Connie- I am sorry you are having such a bad time but your doctor sounds like he will take good care of you and get you the treatment you need. It is scary but the more aggressive this disease is treated the better the outcomeYeah it does all move too fast doesn't it? I think too it is nice to have an aggressive doc as well who is willing to move as fast as IT is!
I am just horrified that someone such as Lindy here (hugs to YOU Lindy!) has actually had to deal with age related resistance to aggressive treatment...Isn't 60 the new 50 or 40 as "they" are always saying these days anyway??? That notion should apply to our health as well as just our fashion etc!!!
Good Luck!
Well... I can tell ya this... for that 6 months I did not have anything but 5mg of pred to treat my VERY out of control RA, I now have a whole lot more damage, and way more problems and joints destroyed because I could not get on meds to help with all the swelling and to control my J/RA.
Who would have thought within 6 months I would have had soo much visible damage because of meds not being strong enough or even on meds I needed to be on? Not me.
You might feel like he is going to fast, but in actuality, he is trying to keep you from having deformities and more problems caused by RA before it happens. And with swelling in your knee like you said you had, and being on 7.5mg of pred, you are not on the right med combo.
I know it is scary to go on Arava, but you have to think of your body first and if you want to keep what is left of your body or do you want to let it deterioate before its time?
Huggs and keep us posted!Connie, I'm sorry you aren't doing better. The good news is you sound like you have a rheumy who isn't gonna sit back and wait. It is good that he is moving on to the next med to get you to feeling better. Hugs sweetie, hopefully this will do it.I know how scary it can be but I agree, try to look at the appt as a positive. It really stinks that the disease is progressing so fast but you sound like you have a great doctor who is going to get things under control as quickly as possible! Love and hugs
Thank you guys for all your support!!! I picked up the Arava and the pharmacist questioned if I was still on MTX weekly. He said that is a potent combination
Connie
Good Luck Connie, sorry about the stressful day; am glad that your daughter is ok. I don't take Arava with MXT but I do know that some on the forum do. Take care and keep us posted on how you're doing. I'm especially interested because if I need to stop MXT then my RD would prescribe Arava. Lindy
Hi Connie,