Today proved that I need to do something as I have had a wonderful painfree month, just as if I had no RA at all.
But today, one wrist is very sore and swollen and I have a bad pain in one knee. Last time this happened, I ended up with Bakers cysts in both and nearly unable to walk due to severe inflammation.
I recently read that RA will break thru Pred at some time, I just hoped it would be like...10 years away??
A reality check for me.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.
And 2 months after DX I accept I need to help myself and take my medicine. I am scared to do that, but more scared not to. Is there a 12 step plan for this disease?? If so direct me there please.
OK peeps, thanks for listening and I thank you once again for all that I read here. Invaluable stuff.
Cheers....Lyn
Lynn - good luck with starting your medications and I hope you get quick results. As far as I can tell there is no plan for RA - every patient is different and every rheumatologist/physician has a different style of treatment, as there seems to not be a consistency to our disease or the treatment. Read and educate yourself, study your own blood work and learn what it means, and create a diet, vitamin and exercise routine that works for you as your doctor usually only prescribes drugs and doesn't help with this part. Take care ~~ CathyBest of luck for a quick response to the meds! Be proud that you are brave!Hi Lynn, glad to hear you're starting treatment. I'm a firm believer in early, aggressive treatment and your chances for clinical remission are good. Take care. LindyMan, if there is a 12 step program....I'm clearly still in step one. Oh well. We all move through this disease in different ways. Good luck Lynn with your meds. If you don't mind sharing, which meds did you start?Me too. I've been on Enbrel for almost a year (plus lodine) and the last time I went to the RD (two months ago) she added Arava. After reading about it, I didn't want to have to take it, and started a grain-free, sugar-free 'paleo' diet instead. While the diet has been great for my weight and my IBS (wow! first normal 'digestion' in years!), I haven't had any noticeable change in pain/swelling. I'm starting Arava this weekend because I'm worried about long term joint damage; my disease is visibly (and painfully) progressing too fast on Enbrel by itself, and even though I think the diet will help, I don't feel ok about putting all my eggs in that basket.
Good luck to you. Wish there was a twelve step program! Thank goodness there are places like AI for support!
Lyn, I hope it works quickly for you.Hi Lyn,
That sounds like me. I have my prescription of MTX on the table...It took me weeks to start it. I just as you said "eyed it " for a while. I did start it, didnt have a good reaction and dr told me to stop for now. I did take plaquenil , seemed to be great for me, pain started going away, then he increased it on me several months later and this week I'm as sick as a dog. Now he's said to stop that extra dose.
I know you're a little scared and dont want to take these strong meds, but as others have said everyone reacts differently to all the meds out there and it's important to treat it aggresively in the beginning so it doesnt get so out of control that it's hard to get it back under control later. I've heard that so many times and from my doctor as well.
Sorry you're feeling bad today, I hope you feel better soon!!! Let us know how the new meds go this week. Take care
Kelly
You'll be glad you have taken this step. Chances are good that you'll respond really well and your only regret will be that you waited so long.
Wishing you great results!!
12 step plan
Well done Lyndee. I hope you have a quick response to your meds. Keep us posted!Thanks everyone! I took my Plaq this morning and it was the pits as I had to have breakfast with it. lolol, I dont do breakfast. Until now.
Got the Sulfasalazine (sp?) to take tonight with dinner. I do dinner well.
All will be well and thanks for your support, it means a lot to this scaredy cat!
Lyn
I used to eat a pudding cup when I needed to take meds first thing and I was not up for breakfast. Can you tolerate one of those?Ive not heard of a pudding cup but it sounds yummy!! lolol...anything to do with pudding/dessert would go down well with me thats a fact.
Glad you decided to move forward - much better to get it under control now vs later. I wish there was a 12-step program as well. On second thought, maybe not - it's too many steps and my mind couldn't remember it all. I like Boney's program - it's simple, direct and to the point. Hope you have great success with your treatment plan.
Do you have to do breakfast and dinner? Could you do lunch and dinner or both at dinner?Good luck with this very important first step. We all know how hard it is to start the meds that we may be on for the rest of our lives, but we're so lucky to have them.
As for the Plaquenil, you can take it at lunch or dinner time, it doesn't have to be breakfast. I take Plaq. twice a day so I take it at breakfast and dinner, but my sister takes both of hers at one time and has for years. I've heard of others that do that too, so even if you have to take it twice, you can split or combine the doses any way you want as long as you get your full dosage each day.
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