saw the rd yesterday (actually his nurse practicioner, boy is she wonderful) and as I walked into the exam room, she said, "what's up with all those bruises sweetie?" We sat down and had a long talk about how all these bruises seem to come out of nowhere. My bloodwork was fine, except some anemia... She gave me an order for more blood work next week, and told me to cut back to 17.5 mg of MTX instead of 20...
She's afraid the MTX may be responsible for the bruising, and is worried that even though we doubled the MTX, the results of the Humira really aren't what we would hope. Soooooooo, first she will see if I can get approval for weekly Humira.
The flare that started Feb '04 has subsided, but I am still getting flares that last 3 and 4 days, even with the doubled MTX and the Humira. I took my Humira Saturday, and am in a flare today... either its wearing off within a few days, or I'm flaring... I dunno. We discussed Remicade again, and while I have heard great things about it, I want to exhaust the Humira options first. She sent me home with info about Arava, which I will read later.
I really really want the Humira to work. I HATE HATE HATE IV's. all too often it takes several tries to insert one, and all too often my veins just blow after its looked like the IV is fine...
This could begin to be annoying. Oh Kathy. I so hope the Humira works for you. I know it made a huge difference for Lovie to change to every week. Maybe that is all you need. Do you take pred? I am covered in bruises. It is the pred. but then I read that Enbrel can also cause it. Oh well, bruises are the least of our worries right? I hate IVs too. Somthing has to work for you. Have your blood tests changed? I know my rd doesn't want to change anything if my blood tests don't change
The only change in the blood work is the anemia, but they are doing a bunch more next week.
The bruises are bad. Some are the size of my hand, others are like someone hit me hard with a pencil eraser. All over my arms, legs, torso..even on my face.
Be careful - don't get hurt.
I think the Humira is just wearing off early. Hope you get approval.
Kathy~Like Roxy said, switiching to weekly made a big difference in my results with Humira. I take 22.5mg of MTX as well....and I think that's an important part of my treatment. You might want to mention it. I had some results with bi-weekly...but it wasn't "Quite what we'd hoped for" either. It's worth a shot before you change.
And Rox~The 10 days I was on predisone this last time I noticed a lot of brusing too...just now realizing that's what it was from probable.
I have a problem with bruising too...any little pinch or bump I get
bruised up bad...I've noticed it worse since my MTX was pushed up to
20mgs a week.
Maybe that's my problem too....but I don't notice it that often.
Since i've been on MTX I bruise very easily. One day driving along going somewhere, my wife gave me a little love tap on my upper arm. The next day it was all purple and yellow like I had really gotten hit hard. The papers that I get from the pharmacy that come along with my MTX say to aviod contact sports and activities that could cause bruising. Now I see why.
Mike
I call mine "mystery bruises" because I have no idea where they come from most of the time. I have always bruised easily. Just slightly bumping into something will cause a bruise. I'm not on pred though. I think it's just another lovely side effect of RA. I take enbrel, arava, and naprosyn (sometimes).
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