Hey all. I'm currently on Relafen, Plaquenil and MTX for my RA. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble staying on the MTX for any period of time due to repeated infections. I was started on 12.5 mg MTX (6) months ago. Out of those (6) months I've only been able to actually take the MTX for less than 3 months total due to repeated strep, chest colds and sinus infections. Any of these infections have caused my glands to swell, feaver, etc.,. For the past 1.5 years I've been getting strep fairly easily but the repeated sinus infections and chest colds were not this bad or reoccurent until I started the MTX. I didn't get these infections near as much when I was just on Plaquenil and Relafen. My GP is encouraging me to have a Tonsillectomy to help deal with the repeated strep and sinus infections but I hate to undergo a major surgery when I feel that the MTX is the culprit by weakening my immune system so much. I go back to see my Rheumy next week for my (3) month check-up and I'm thinking about asking him if I can stop the MTX due to these repeated sicknesses that are causing me to miss work. However, I just know that he's going to go into his speach of "You need to be on the MTX to stop or slow the progression, and Plaquenil alone won't do that".
My question is, are there any other RA drugs that will help slow the progression, yet won't bring my immune system down as much as the MTX seems to be doing? Maybe less MTX, like decreasing my dose from 12.5 mg to 7.5 mg would help, yet still provide me some protection. I haven't yet asked my Rheumy about AP Therapy but I have done a search through Roadback and the closest AP doc is approx. 8 - 10 hours away which is further than I want to travel, especially if a RA related emergency were to happen.
Hi there. You stated that you've been getting strep fairly easy for the last 1.5 years but you've been on MXT for only 6 months and your doctor is suggesting that you have your tonsils out. Why would you want to continue with strep and sinus infections on a regular basis if a tonsillectomy would alleviate those problems? Strep and sinus infections deplete our bodies and can be dangerous and can also cause a weakened immune system making you more suseptible to getting colds. Talk more with your doctor about this. It sounds like a good plan.
I was on AP therapy 10 years ago for a year and it was prescribed by my rheumatologist. I didn't go to an "AP doctor" just a regular RD. Talk to your RD or see if there is one in your area who has experience with AP. Good luck and keep us posted. Lindy
[QUOTE=LinB]Hi there. You stated that you've been getting strep fairly easy for the last 1.5 years but you've been on MXT for only 6 months and your doctor is suggesting that you have your tonsils out. Why would you want to continue with strep and sinus infections on a regular basis if a tonsillectomy would alleviate those problems? Strep and sinus infections deplete our bodies and can be dangerous and can also cause a weakened immune system making you more suseptible to getting colds. Talk more with your doctor about this. It sounds like a good plan.
I was on AP therapy 10 years ago for a year and it was prescribed by my rheumatologist. I didn't go to an "AP doctor" just a regular RD. Talk to your RD or see if there is one in your area who has experience with AP. Good luck and keep us posted. Lindy
[/QUOTE]
LinB,
If it was a guarantee that a tonsillectomy would remedy my repeated strep and sinus problems then I'd be all for it. The problem is that according to the ENT that I saw, there is no guarantee that a tonsillectomy will decrease my bouts of strep and or sinus infections. Actually, the ENT advised against a tonsillectomy solely based on repeated bouts of strep. He said that only "I" can make the decision to have the tonsillectomy but that he had performed many tonsillectomy's and that a great percentage of the patients still developed repeated strep infections.
I may persue this in the future if these bouts persist, but at this point I hate to go under the knife for something that I've been advised by an ENT that most likely won't completey rectify my problem.
Ryan
Hey Ta2d, I'm on AP without an AP doctor. I just did a lot of research and recruited my GP and RD to monitor me (my RD has several patients on it). It's not ideal but it's okay for now. When I need to twig I ask the good people on the Road Back Bulliten board (not Doctors and I never do anything radical without discussing it with my Dr)---they have a wealth of experience!All I remember about tonsillectomies was that you were encouraged to keep them as long as possible because they protected you from illness, like the first responder. I never had mine removed, but I can remember having small white ulcers on them when I was young and got ill, and my mother said except for scarlet fever, I would only get a mild flu-like illness while everyone else caught chicken pox, measles, etc. But I distinctly remember the kids who had theirs removed, alot of them, because they got sick all the time.
Almost 20 months ago, when I developed this bad intubation/fungal/whatever happened during back surgery which finally culminated in the sudden explosion of spitting up blood and jawbone, I realized that those two things in the back of my throat are my poor shriveled-up tonsils. I hadn't looked at my own mouth and throat by flashlight with such scrunity since childhood, and it's been such a slow process, I hadn't noticed they had receded to almost nothing. But I am 51. This could be a good new thread: what shape are your tonsils in? or Out?
Good luck with your decision. You are your best doctor and only you have to live with the medical decisions you make. Take care and we are all pulling for you.