Question on meds | Arthritis Information

I was diagnosed with RA in the summer and I'm now on Methotrexate and Plaquenil and managed to wean myself off prednisone. In the beginning the mtx and plaq seemed to help and I wasn't "in agony" by any means like the living hell I went through the last time I tried to wean off prednisone which ironically had a silver lining in that it caused me to actually get diagnosed because I couldn't move. So the mtx and plaq meant I was geting just a few twinges. But now the twinges are in more places (I handle with ibuprophen) and the FATIGUE is KILLING ME! I don't know how you're supposed to exercise when it takes everything to crawl mournfully out of bed every day to face the dishes that weren't done yesterday... Anyway, that's not my question, just my rant.

My question is, if and when I go into some sort of remission, can I stop all these freakin' medications? Is that what normally happens? Tell me it is so!

Okay, my second question is do these "increasing of pain twinges" in new joints mean that I will have to "up" the medications now? Is that what normally happens? Tell me it isn't so.

I haven't a clue and I'm too tired to try and figure it out anymore from websites... I see the rheumy next week so I need to ask intelligent questions. None of which I can think of right now other than... pain and pills...

Miserable Hen

Forgot another question...

I had anemia when I was diagnosed but no one gave me any iron or anything. Is the mtx and plaq supposed to handle that? And how do you know if you're anemic tired as opposed to ra tired?

Hello Hen....I am sorry to read you are so fatigued...something that has not happened to me in my journey with RA. So far. You ask in your 2nd post here about RA fatigue and anaemia fatigue. Blood tests will tell you the difference. I am assuming your Doctor has done them but feels you dont need supplementary iron?

When I was on Pred, it was wonderful, absolutely no pain at all. Coming off it, I got ' twinges' also and I was expecting them as the Pred pretty much masked everything. Now, nearly 12 months after coming off Pred, Im doing pretty well and my Rheumy considers I am in remission. I still have some small issues like numb fingers, sore shoulders/wrists on occasion but nothing I cant live with. BUT....I continue with the meds and most likely always will. So far I have not needed MTX or any biologic so Sulfasalazine and Plaquenil did it for me, with the Pred giving me some space from that Godawful pain for a while.

Hope you achieve the same, and soon. Hen, I too was diagnosed this summer and am now on MTX only, 15 mg each week with daily folic acid.

Yes, the godawful tiredness will diminish and I was told I would never be off some type of RX. RA will alwys be in your system, just lying low. I also have twinges all over but they are just that, often gone in an hour or even less.

Do not take yourself off the meds! Talk to the doc first. Make list of your questions and get your answers. I can tell you that acupuncture has been a tremendous help, as has the tart cherry juice. My knees and shoulders rarely hurt now, and we are working on the left wrist.

Keep your spirits up, start with slow walks and reward yourself for doing them. Yoga stretches first thing in the morning help too. And don't let sore days get you down, tomorrow will be better.

I've had fatigue with RA. I've also remember how tired I was when I was told (after blood work for mtx) I was anemic (due to something else going on). I felt exhausted while I was anemic. I would suggest that you have more blood work done and if still anemic ask your doctor what he/she suggests. Her/she should have told you the last time.

Good luck

I was diagnosed in 2007. Prednisone and MTX got rid of the pain. Got off prednisone quickly. MTX worked well. After awhile I had some more problems and added Plaquenil. That worked well so long as I wasn't working...working caused a lot of pain. Now the MTX and Plaquenil seem to have stopped working. Fingers turning. Hip pain, shoulder pain. Fatigue is very bad. I'm back on Prednisone and soon I will begin something else, maybe Enbrel. To the best of my limited understanding, those of us with RA will always be on some type of medication.

Once I got over the original pain, I thought I was going to be home free with MTX. I sure was wrong. I'm learning it is a very confusing disease.

Hope your doctor can answer your questions.

I've been on MTX fo r 17 yeaers or more. Went into major flare mode, and was given Pred - just a one week dose pack at low dose. It worked like heaven.....for the one week I was on it.

When I went off the Pred I rebounded into the worst pain ever. Never again.

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate it.
I'll let you all know how it goes with that rheumie guy!

Hen

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