New Rheumy-MTX withdrawn | Arthritis Information

The RN in my PCP's office has a mom with RA and she was telling me about how great her mom's Rheumy was and that she had referrred several of the clinic's RA patients to him and they were all pleased with his care.

At that point, I was 6 weeks into the MTX and nothing was happening except pain, pain, stiffness, swelling and more pain. In addition, I wasn't too thrilled with the care I was receiving from Rheumy #2 (have had 2 since Dx.), so I figured, what the hell do I have to loose? Maybe #3's the charm.

I got a 45 min. consult appt. with this guy within a week (astonished!) and the minute he looked at my pulmonary med records, he said "I would never be treating you with MTX, no matter how minimal your ILD is". Well....long story short.....he did every test in the book and my RF has gone up from 1092 at DX to 1284. CRP and SED also doubled from just six months ago.

I had a very specific ANA profile done which came back neg. for everything except RA.

This guy appears to be one sharp cookie and I'm gonna go along with his plan to begin Orencia infusions. Waiting now for word from my insurance co. In the mean time, I'm schleppin' along with the pred and the ibup.

I was given the option of Remicade and chose the Orencia but am curious about others who have tried both; which worked best for you and why? I've got to get this inflammation under control before my arteries turn to rope. Not crazy about SE profiles of either of these meds but the MTX just isn't doing it for me. As some of you know, I never wanted to take it to begin with, so Rheumy #3 got extra points right off the bat when he said to stop it. :)

And as long as I'm rambling here, I would like to hear from anyone who has had chondrocalcinosis in the knee relative to RA/OA. I could barely walk for about three weeks the pain was so bad, so I went in and begged for an injection. I've had one other, in the same knee, which was a piece of cake, but this one was extremely painful. I'm lying on the exam table. The doc is sitting on the exam table with her back to me, injecting my knee. I had a split second reflex urge to grab her by the hair and fling her AND her long needle across the room. She said that the reason it hurt so bad was because I had so much calcification in that knee. okay....Wendy Whiner here, closing the vent for now.

Can't help but wanted to say 'hugs'.

Pip

Are you not going to continue the MTX with the new med? I have always been on MTX even while taking the biologics. I was under the assumption the two were paired together. No, Rebecca, I am not going to continue the MTX. I am going to try the Orencia (abatacept) as monotherapy and see what it does for me. If by "paired together", you mean MTX & Orencia must be used together, the answer is, no, they do not have to be used together. I've gone into some old posts looking for info on Orencia from real, everyday people (as opposed to clinical statitics) and, I must say, I was surprised to read that many of the posters weren't that impressed with the efficacy of Orencia. Hope to hear more on experiences with this drug from other posters.

Wendy - sounds like you have been given the gift of a fabulous rheumy. I hadn't realized there were certain conditions where MTX was not to be used, especially reading the ACR guidelines' 1st line of treatment about MTX and the other one (lefutwhever) having to be taken for life, as my fired rheumy informed me. Best of luck and huggles ~~ Cathy

Orenica worked for me intially, but then the effects began to wear off. But, there were patients there who said they were feeling the best they had ever felt.

I start Rituxan tomorrow....