Newbie... | Arthritis Information

 

I have lived with RA for 5 years now and it has progressed a little.  I was on NSAIDs for a while but they upset my stomach severely and had to stop.  For a while, I was on nothing and just bore the pain.  A year ago, I decided to go the natural route and was doing okay with it but it was and is hard to taking all the supplements everyday...at least I know they don't have side effects. 

Hi Dramaso, I have had ra going on 3 years. After trying many drugs, some didn't work, most I was allergic to, my dr put me on enbrel in Dec. It's been amazing for me. I have energy again and morning stiffness has been a thing of the past. I haven't had any (*knocking on wood*) sickness or side effects....just make sure to not touch your eyes or your nose and wash your hands often. Give it a try, it just might work

Hi Drama, It sounds like you need to start one of the RA meds.  You have joint damage and believe me it won't go away but will only get worse.  There are many people on the forum who have damage because of denial and/or fear.  I have more fear of the disease than I do the medications because I'm one of the people that have damage in my fingers, elbows, ankles, and toes from fear of the meds and denial. 

If you wash your hands routinely and use common sense regarding hygiene you'll probably be fine.  I wouldn't get in the face of a runny nosed, coughing 6 year old and I'd wash my hands frequently. 

I have had RA for over 10 years.  I am 31 now.  During that time I stopped meds for a short while to have my son.  I also teach middle school science.  I don't find that I get sick anymore than my coworkers.  Basically, I have been exposed to so much by now that unless it is a new virus floating around, I have already had it.  I do tend to head to the dr. more often than I did in the past.  If I have any sort of nasty respiratory stuff or fever, I try to get in as soon as possible just to make sure nothing progresses.

What do you teach??

Hi Dramaso, catchy name! Don't know much about the natural approach but if you like it and feel better about taking those meds is it possible to change to some other natural meds? Like I said, I don't know much about them but maybe there is another therapy of them you could try. If you do decide to try Enbrel, I wish you the best of luck with it. I have never had any trouble with catching any more colds or infections than I did before I started taking it. LIke someone said, I wash my hands a lot more! I am post menapausal so I can't tell you anything about  the pregancy issue but I know there are some people here who can give you some good advice. Take care and good luck no matter what you decide. The best advice i can give you is not to sweat the side effects if you  have aggressive RA.  There are some natural items out there, but they don't seem to work alone when people use them, but they do seem to help with RA meds. Welcome to the board! The support and advice you will find here will help you so much. I am newly dxed myself and I am set to start mtx and placquenil. I am a little scared but I think I am more scared of what the RA will do to me if I don't start the meds.
Take care.
mom2

Straight to Enbrel?  That's kind of odd - most, if only for insurance purposes, they start you on the more mild meds like Plaq, MTX or Avara.  Or you could ask for Minocycline. 

Thanks everyone for so much support and advice!  I feel so much better now and I think all you are right, the meds (as scary as they maybe) are not as scary as allowing my disease progressing.  I think I will be start Enbrel in a month or so, I have to get cleared on my lungs, etc.).  I would like to continue all my natural supplements.  I don't have any experience with Enbrel but wanted to say hi & welcome to the board. [QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]I don't have any experience with Enbrel but wanted to say hi & welcome to the board.[/QUOTE]

I  don't either but also wanted you welcome you , I am new here myself and have found the people here to be sincere and caring and very knowledgeable about RA it's effects on the body and the pros and cons of the meds we are prescribed.
Pip, if there's joint damage (and Drama is showing damage) they're going to go straight to a mix of a dmard and a biologic.  At least an aggressive RD will go in that direction.  If there's damage most likely her insurance will approve and not want to play around for another 6 months to a year.  Lindy[QUOTE=LinB]Pip, if there's joint damage (and Drama is showing damage) they're going to go straight to a mix of a dmard and a biologic.  At least an aggressive RD will go in that direction.  If there's damage most likely her insurance will approve and not want to play around for another 6 months to a year.  Lindy[/QUOTE]