I finally got in this morning, SO glad!!
I got a shot (not sure what...) that he said should make me feel
considerably better in the next couple days. Woo Hoo! I also got a
serious load of pills(Hydroxychlor and Sulfasalazin), etc to take ever day and a shot (Methotrexate) I have to give
myself once a week. Not exciting! But, I successfully gave
myself my first shot this afternoon, it was unpleasant but not as bad
as I thought it would be.
The Dr. said I should start noticing an improvement soon, but it
could take up to 3 months to take full effect if this treatment is
going to work, which it does on about half the people that use it. If
it doesn't then I can get a shot once a month that is guaranteed to
work, the downside, ,000/month! I'm not sure how much insurance would
cover, but the one I'm on now only cost for 3 months worth. So I'm
hoping the cheap one works!!
Who else is on these? Or has been, and the success rate? Also, when did you start feeling relief if it did work for you?
Thanks!!
Glad you had a good appointment! Good luck with everything.
Your doctor is right about it taking up to 3 months to start to feel the effects. You might feel good after a month. It's different with all of us. Your chances of responding well to the meds is higher because you've just been diagnosed. It's really important to start meds early on in the disease process. Am glad you had no problem with giving yourself the MXT injection. I don't like it and I'm a nurse!!! I'd much rather inject someone else.
Don't ever leave the doctor's office without knowing what meds you've been given. Call his office and find out the name of the injection that he gave you. It's really important to keep a journal of visits and lists of meds. You may have to make a reference to a med. and not remember. Also, if you have a medical emergency it's important that the ER knows exactly what meds you're on or have taken recently. Just a hint for you, because a journal will make life easier. It's also good to write down pain levels and inflammation. Jasminerain had a really great journal page that she used. You might want to pm here and have her email or post the page.
I've been on dozens of med cocktails including denial over the years with little success until recently. I'm on MXT, Humira injections, Sulfasalzine and am in clinical remission. Take care. Lindy
"Guaranteed to work?" Sorry, but there are no drugs that are guaranteed to work. I wish you all the luck in the world with your new meds.