AP Treatment | Arthritis Information

I am interested in the AP treatment, I have just glossed over some info that was sent to me from the website roadback, and will read more in depth later in the week. I am currently taken meds methotrexate,sulpasalizine, pred, celebrex and just started with orencia.

Do you usually wean off all these meds before starting AP or does your doctor wean you off after starting AP? I know the info and websites will have this answer somewhere....but so much info to get through, I thought I might get an answer quicker through you guys thanks for help!

Every doctor and every patient is different, but in general what I see is that people do not go 'cold turkey'. Some people might, due to strong personal feelings they have about a med or its side effects they are experiencing. That would be a decision between you and your doctor.

In our case, my daughter's first AP doctor said she needed to START mtx with AP! He said we couldn't wait to see if AP would work (but it did; she never could stay well long enough on mtx to stay on it, so we had to stop it anyway).
Strong personal feelings - that would be me - LOL

I'm what they call an AP purist - Antibiotics and pain pills and just pray. If you read the book, the New Arthritis Breakthrough by Henry Scammell and you'll see Dr. Browns reasons etc from the years he was the only one doing this.

I understand now why people wean off the other meds but I think I'm seeing a disturbing pattern of people giving up or quitting AP and not getting to the part where they are OK and only need the antibiotics because once the pain lets up they do not continue to wean. Then, eventually, the microbes regroup and they quit AP.

Only you can decide how you want to do this but AP is an oxymoron in our 'feel good now' culture. You have to get worse to get better and most people don't want the pain involved with herxing etc. They don't see it as killing microbes, they see it as pain. It's really hard to stay the course and learn to 'manage a herx' and identify what is happening to your body when you have the other meds doing work (even if its suppressing the bodies response to the microbes which is the exact opposite of what AP is trying to do).

Hugs,

Pip

PS - you might search here on AI for the 'requesting new APer's' thread.

Annie, I'm also researching AP and was wondering how long I'd have to stay on the RA meds. Some of my reading indicates it's best to stay on the RA drugs for a while before weaning the other drugs, but they don't (or can't) say how long that process takes. It will be different for everyone and some people seem to be on AP for years. I have to admit that worries me a bit because antibiotics are another assault on the liver and since MTX is already hard on it, I (and I bet you too), would want to get off the MTX as soon as possible.

Thanks, Jesse, Pip and Suzanne for your replies, I just had a quick look to see if I had any replies, my hubby has been at the computer since getting up, its so funny we both rush to get here first, since finding this forum. Yes its a bit scary and I will do lots of homework and read the book you suggested Pip, and haven't yet gone right through that thread you talked about, and then make up my mind, I need some backup treatment just incase the Orencia dosen't work, which I don't think it is, but will give it 3 more months. I will also talk to my Doctors. I certainly good that there are a couple of AP Doctors here in Cairns, Aust. My hubby is hounding me to get off, so he can do his work but I will be back when he goes to work. Thanks again....I just love being able to ask questions and you guys are so up with everything.

Milk thistle will help support your liver. Go to Pubmed and do a smidge of research - ton of info on it's liver protection abilities.

That being said - I had 3 elevated LFT prior to starting AP and was terrified they would take me off because I would spike with the Mino. Due to a screw up - the deciding test was only 2 1/2 months after starting AP and I was back to normal. My AP doc credits the milk thistle.

GoGo was weaning the MTX first. Don't know where she left off before her trip.

The pattern I've noticed is the pain really starts letting up on AP and you're still on the other meds. So, you do to wean down a bit and the pain starts up again and you get scared and go back up on the meds again. It's really hard to wrap your head around - damn - I felt good for a bit so maybe I should still feel good because that means its 'under control'. Its not undercontrol - your response to lowing the suppressants is normal. You have to keep going.

Weaning is harder IMHO.

Pip

Gee its hard trying to get my head around all this information, I am going to get copies of my blood tests every month, so I know what you are refering too eg. LFT. I have been leaving it up to the doctors to explain everything and now I realize I should be doing my own research. Thankyou Pip and all you others for you replies, it will take a little time but I will get there. PS it took me ages to finally find where to reply on this forum.

RockinAnnie -

Get everything every time you see them. You'll be amazed at what you find in those labs that they didn't think was important. That's how I found out about my mineral panels being low. When I worked on those my pain levels dropped. And my RLS went away. There's a place to check it all out www.labtestsonline.org that's really helpful.

Hugs,

Pip who still can't upload a picture

Thanks guys, I will check, and thanks for the website
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