HELP NEW DIAGNOSIS | Arthritis Information

Hello,

My name is Jeanne and I've recently been tentatively diagnosed with Spondyloarthropahy or RA---It all began at the end of December with a red, swollen third toe on my left foot.  Within a few weeks it had spread to my right thumb, right shoulder and left knee.  The docs had initially treated it with prednisone and NSAID's...no luck, it kept going.  So quick, so bad that my left knee cap is torn away from the tendons.  I was an active, exercising type 46 year old otherwise healthy lady.  This has been absolutely devastating.  I now have a rheumy I trust and it working with me.  I just took my second dose (50 mg) of Enbrel and am on MTX (5), Prednisone 10 mg. daily, Azulfidine - 500 mg. 2X a day, Dolobid - 500 mg. 2X a day, Diovan - 160 mg. 1x a day (this was the ONLY drug I was on prior to this tornado that hit me-as I've had HBP for a few years), Prilosec - 20 mg. X1 day, Calcium 500mgX3 a day, Xanax (to ease the stress of the diagnosis:)....5mgX2 day, Folic Acid - 800 mcg daily...and that's all folks.  I feel like a walking medicine cabinet!  The doc said that if the Enbrel continues to work well (and it is so far) he will wean me off the MTX, Azul and Dolobid.  He is leaning towards the Spondo diagnosis because this all started in a digit (my toe) and I have a positive HLA B27 test.  I've also, for several years now, had a high C-Reactive Protein.  I sometimes feel like I have "hot" spots popping up on my body -- various locations and my face and neck get terribly flushed.  Has anyone else had this type of odd reaction--my doc and the Enbrel reps are puzzled.

 

Any suggestions or support would be greatly appreciated.  Is there life after this diagnosis?

 

With kind regards,

 

Jeanne