Mixing Meds | Arthritis Information

Well, I'm still struggling with the ringing in my good ear and will call the RD tomorrow, since the ENT was of no help. I'm also going to go for yet another hearing test to see if the latest one was correct in showing a slight additional hearing loss in my good ear. That may be the reason for the ringing. I can only hope not.

Which brings me to my question. I've chickened out out about cutting back on the Plaq. in case the doctors are right and it's the disease and not the meds causing the problem. I'm having some pain and stiffness, especially around my neck which makes me wonder if that's related to my ear problem. I've taken some Aleve but would like to move up to the naproxen instead which I have a prescription for. I'm really uncomfortable adding this additional med to the mix, especially since today is MTX day. Do you spread out your meds in any way if you are adding a pill you don't take on a daily basis? I'm not even sure if it makes any difference to my liver, stomach, etc. but I feel like if I spread them out a bit, even by just a couple of hours, it's less assault on my body overall. Have your doctors told you anything about timing of extra meds?

Look, no, I have to say I don't in particular.

I suppose you could if it makes you feel better about the whole thing.

Probably the assault on the liver/stomach is going to happen anyway which the meds going through.

This would be a good question for your doctor next time you see them. Be interesting to see what advice they give you.
Well this is very serious about the ear. I hope they can reverse it. I do not no what to tell you about the meds. call the pharmacy if they are open this late on Sunday, that is what i do when adding to the mix. I am praying for your hearing. I was reading up on the ear thing. They said some times the ear specialist and reumotologist have to work together on this. It may take a bit of time. Good luck.

Thanks Cordy. You're probably right about the meds and the liver/stomach anyway. I'm grasping at straws, I guess.

Yes, Milly it is serious and I'm very worried. I'm about to do some research on autoimmune and TMJ because my jaw on that side just started to ache. I seem to remember someone here saying something about a connection with AI disease and TMJ. I wonder if it has anything to do with the ringing.

As for the RD and ENT, I feel like the ENT has handed me over to the RD for any other treatment because he thinks it's AI related. I may just have to find another ENT. Thanks for your post and your prayers.

I am very sorry about your ear problems too, Jesse. I have had very bad ear and jaw pain in the past with RA. It's awful. I have read what you have been going through and it just sounds like it would drive you crazy. I believe your doctors could be right and it could the the disease, in fact, I would bet on it.

Sometimes I think we tie ourselves in knots worrying about stuff to do with meds and RA and the whole thing we can drive ourselves crazy.

Since up until recently I have rattled like a pharmacy, Well at least your Ent is supportive that your disease is causing this. So the RD should have to treat it. I looked some of this up for Katie and myself last week. AI can attack the inner ear in a primary disease of it's own or in a secondary floater way. As in the disease can be attacking something like your jaw or something near your ears and antibodies float to your ears. Has your RD had anything much to say about this? Either way you need proper treatment for your hearing and it sounds like you will get this. If ENT is running more test then he is concerned and you have some back up to take to RD. I mean i think the RD would have be the primary to treat this. Does sound like you are on the right track. Let us know. My doc said the specialist would check me for all of my stuff in January. So i will let you know how i fair at my doctor appiontment. I aready know they will treat mine. Well if my ear drum has been straight throbbing scince September and even the ER doc and my doc said ears are very inflammed i guess they pretty well have to treat it one would think. Sooner would be better I know but that is when my appiontment is.

Hi Cordy, I've been searching past threads and I did find that you, among others have in fact had TMJ pain associated either with RA or FM. I don't know if this qualifies as true TMJ but it sure does hurt and that along with my very sore, stiff neck the past week makes me think there's a connection with my ringing ear. I can't wait to talk to the RD tomorrow. I think I will take a naproxen tonight so I can get some sleep, MTX or not. I think you're right that I can take it and thanks for the help. I'm just overly cautious sometimes and I need a little push from others who have had experience with good results. I probably should have called the pharmacist, but honestly, I didn't even think of it, duh. I always think of this place first because I get good answers from people who have "walked the walk."

Milly, I had asked the ENT if he thought the deafness in my left ear was from AI disease and he said no, but he thinks this problem is. He sort of left me hanging by just telling me not to take the pred. unless the ringing gets louder but didn't offer any help. And that info came via the nurse when I called a week later. He wouldn't even talk to me. So much for him. He did do an exam of my ears and down my throat and everything was normal at that time.

The RD told me once before he's concerned about AI inner ear disease which is why he wants me to stay on the meds. I think maybe now I need something stronger. Damn. Up the medical ladder I go. But if it will save my ear, I'll do it. I just want this to stop.

Gosh, Milly, your ear has been throbbing since September? How can you stand it? Couldn't they do anything for you before this? How awful!

I get extreme neck and jaw pain and paproxen is a godsend and I take mtx tooWell yes i guess they can or they could if i can get my teeth and infection straightened out. I am on prednisone and taking vicoden for pain. I start taking Arava as soon as i get rid of the infection. I mean argggg. I am not just sitting around in pain. Well somedays i guess have been very painful. I can hear at the moment. Well i am in a bit of pain but it is more my back and shoulder that the pain meds are not entirly covering today. I would fight for a sooner appiontment but i have to deal one problem at a time i guess. Dentist tomorrow then I will fight this RA with all of my energy. I am really almost done with the dentist. He wanted to try to fix a tooth instead of pull it and it didn't work other wise i would have been done with it last week.

Jesse, update us tomorrow after talking to dr. I been having ear aches and neck pains off and on for awhile. One time I went to primary dr and she said the ear looked ok. In fact this weekend my jaw and ear both hurt and I have had a very sensitive tooth on the same side for a long time. I had a filling put in when I was 16 and now I'm 41 and the filling has worn down and it is sore. I probably oughta get it taken care of but I keep putting it off and it comes and goes.

I hope you get some good answers tomorrow. Let us all know.

good luck & take care

All of that can be RA, Jesse. RA can cause the weirdest pain in the weirdest places.

The main and only thing you need to think about with taking that NSAID is making sure you have it after a full meal to protect your stomach.

I suppose when you have been on every DMARD, and all combo possible and all the biologics and all the NSAIDS and all sorts of different pain narcotics plus Rituxan one becomes rather relaxed and knowledgeable about the whole drug thing.
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