Hi,
I am new on this site and this is the first time I have ever posted a message. July of 05 I was finally diagnosed with RA. I say finally because symptoms and elevated labs showed up in 04 but none of the multiple physicians I was sent to were able to make a diagnosis. In June of 05 symptoms and labs were worse so I was sent back to see the Rheumatologist. Based mostly on symptoms and seeing two small subacute bone errosions in one of my wrists the Rheumatologist decided that I did have RA. My RH factor, CRP and Anti CPP antibodies are elevated, all indicating RA. Fortunately for me it was caught in the beginning stages. The protocal nowadays is to start agressive treatment right away. I was put on Plaquenil after being cleared by an Dr of Opthalmology. The medication has reduced joint pains but oh those flare ups. Nothing seems to relieve that pain. I have Nambutone but it only takes the edge off and takes almost two hours to take effect. I have Ultracet but am not sure if I can take that with the Plaquenil. Have any of you fellow RA suffers found a pain med that can quickly stop the agony of joint flare up? Also have any of you experienced that communication between multiple physicians seems rather poor? I have worked in the medical system for many years. Until 04 though I was never a patient within that system. I have been rather appalled at the lack of communication between physicians that a person is seeing. Lab results are not shared, I had to see that each Dr got copies. It is very evident that when I have my office visits the physician has not looked at my record before he walks into the exam room. The only person I saw who did was a nurse practitioner. Have any of you had similar experiences? How do people who have no medical knowledge survive? I do and have still encounterd problems. Thank you all for "listening." BA
Welcome to AI, tmir,
Hope those flares are easing off for you.
I was on Placquenil for almost a year, along with Tramadol. It was prescribed for me right after Vioxx went off the market...Needless to say not as good as vioxx and I am not so sure if any safer but it did seem to work a little bit.
Until they get the RA under control, all you may get form all the meds is "take the edge off" results. It takes a long time to get the right combination that will work best for you. I never used Nambutone, so I can't help you with that.
I was originally put on MTX at 10 mg., Prednisone, along with Naproxen...In the beginning that combo worked rather well but like most drugs, they can be short lived so I was then put on Clelibrex, a no go there, then Vioxx...Most definitely a wonder drug for me. Then put on Azulfidine and then Bextra and then they upped my MTX to 15 mg, still not helping... then they added Tramadol. Upped my MTX to 20 mg... added Placquenil and then WHAM...I was going on Enbrel or Humira but needed a PPD test. Didn't pass that. So now I am on INH & Vit B6 and Hydrocodone...while waiting to go on Enbrel and to be quite honest...I don't feel all that bad. Seems my OA is acting up more than my RA since they removed the MTX, Azulfidine and the Placquenil... Go figure...LoL.
I can not for the life of me figure out why these doctors do not want to work together. It seems to me it would keep everything less confusing not to mention keeping the patient in a better safety net.....I am lucky, so far, as mine are all in the same building and they look over everything that goes on with me, through the computer but not everyone has that plus.
I always tell everyone. Take notes and more notes...Print them out and give them to all the other doctors who are treating you, along with the names of all the medications you are on and all the test you have had taken.
Good luck with your RA. I hope the drugs that they have you on will work for you and you can manage to have more and more pain free days.
Keep us posted as to how you are doing.
Toni
Also tmir,
You need to go to the Rheumatoid Arthritis side.
When you log in... scroll down until you see Rheumatoid Arthritis...Click that on and it will bring you to the Rheumatoid Arthritis side.... That is where we all are hiding out...Come on in and join us. We are a great bunch of Nutz...
I am going to copy your post and put it in there for you....so the other members can get to meet you... I will see you over there...
Hi Waddles,
Thank you for sending my letter to the correct section. I realized after I posted it that I should have done it in the RA section but had no idea how to get it there.
I am only on Plaquenil and was fortunate in that it started helping two weeks after I started. The drug information said as much as two,three months before seeing any benefits. The Nambutone is a NASID and it helps relieve the minor aches and pains. Like I said nothing not even the Ultracet stops the severe joint flare up discomfort. I hope you are right when you say when I achieve the full benefit from the Plaquenil the joint flares will not be as bad. I am definitely have fewer of those. I read about these other drugs that many of you are on and they scare me to death. I do so hope I never have to take anything but what I am on now.
I had not thought about the word "practice" in the sense you mentioned it. Sometime it does seem like you are only a practice body. Well, we will get it right after we practice a few more times. :):):) Actually the Rheumatologist I am seeing has been the most detailed and has given me good care. Still even he has missed some things, Your lab work is all normal - I get home and read the copies and the Anti CCP Antibody is certainly not. The patient is the one who has to take responsibility these days to see that things are followed up. Like I said in my initial letter that takes some medical knowledge to do. It should not be that way.
Thanks for your answers to my questions. I promise my next letter will be posted in the correct section.
Tmir