eh no remission i guess | Arthritis Information
ha i am such an optimist! i started feeling less and less joint pain so i bugged my dr to let me wean down slowly from the prednisone and he said i could try and see what happened, and he said that i would either stay pain free or have a flare from hell. soooo i tried and two days clear of teh prednisone i had some swelling and discomfort in the ball of my foot and in my wrist, that same stiff, swollen hurts to move it kind of pain i was having before that will lead into the next day being full on excruciating pain. so i in the most disgruntled fashion took all of my meds last night hoping i could stave off the full amount of pain. i was so hoping that i would stay pain free for a while since i am in the early stages, but i guess i need to let the plaquenil really work and get into my system before i start screwing with reducing the prednisone. maybe once the plaq takes full effect i can try again. i had it in my head that since i was so early in my ra that it would be easy, HA! not so! i am still hating the plaq and dr told me to take it and th eprilosec for a couple of weeks and then we will switch...gah meds
I've been trying to get off pred for over two years now.....currently at 8.5mg....but never stop trying!
Good luck!
Erica everything take (alot) of time with this crappy disease try and be patient.
Try to get the 1mg. pills and just go down a mg, or 1/2 mg. at a time per week. Try to get an okay to go up and down when you want (need) to.
I was on 15, got down to 5, then had a heck of a time getting off of it. Kept going up and down, then when I completely got off of it I felt awful for a week, took pain pills for a while, then off!! It is hard, good luck. Lynda
Should I be worried about my sister who has been on prednisone for eight years? She said it's a low dose, I think 5 mg. but it may have been bumped up because she was starting to get stiff in the morning again.
Edited to add: Sorry, I don't mean to hijack this post. You can PM me if you have an answer for me. Thanks.
Jesse8839401.7472453704I just went off of Pred for 2 weeks and got the worst flare of my life. Went to the Dr today and she told me to get back on it and I'll have to stay on it!Good luck erica! WIsh I could contribute more, but I have never been on it. Erica, from what I've read I know why you don't want to be on the pred, but why do you hate the plaq? I've never taken it and only took pred for a few months till the mtx and enbrel started working. Was on a pretty high dose though, 60mg.the plaq gives me really intense painful stomach cramps, and nausea. we have tried splitting up the dose, taking it with a full meal and now i am on prilosec to try and lower the stomach discomfort. within and hour or so of taking it i was curled up in a fetal position and my tummy felt like a dish rag being rung out. it was horrible. i didnt take it for a whole day at the drs request and i felt fine. i know everyone says the side effect diminish after a while so i am hoping that will happen soon! i am taking 400 mg of the plaq
erica3347,
How long have you been on the Plaquenil?
ive been on the plaquenil for a lil over a month now. i just got the second refill.
jesse no worries, hijack away;)
i guess i hate the pred for the wrong reasons, vanity maybe. i have gained a lot of weight (ahem 30 lbs) and also its taking its toll on my mood and agitation levels. i am very moody and easily iritated and the people i love are suffering bc of it. my kids need my old patient laid back self to return! the new iritable mom is wearing on them! i had the wrong impression that the early RA might be easier or les stubborn to treat and maybe i could have longer symptom free periods. but i have palindromic rheumatism and its so unpredictable in when and where and how severe and stuff that maybe that is why i am having a tough time weaning down off the pred.
i am slowly getting acclimated to the plaq. maybe i just dont notice the side effects as much or maybe they have lessened. idk...i got tired of complaining about it so maybe i just found my big girl panties
It may get better. Remember, these meds take a long time to kick in. I was told plaquenil took up to 3 months to start working. You still have room for improvement!
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