Hello all,
I had my 4th infusion yesterday of Actemra (or placebo). That means I have been on it for 12 weeks. I am also taking Methotrexate once a week (or placebo). Because of the trial I can't say for sure which medicines are real or placebo, but all the evidence very strongly suggests I am getting the real Actemra.
It is really amazing, essentially all symptoms/pain and everything is gone. You might recall I wrote before that it started helping at about the 6 week point, or after the 2nd infusion. Four weeks ago they did the joint tests, where they squeeze and fiddle all the joints to measure the pain level, I had a couple that were severe, and a few with mild or medium pain. Yesterday for that test, I had 2 spots where there was barely any perceptible pain, and all other joints no pain at all.
Last summer my whole day and night was driven around the RA. I would pre-plan my walks through the house to minimize walking. Often I wanted to get up out of the chair, but just said forget-it, I'll wait an hour, because I just didn't want to deal with the trauma of getting out of a chair. Getting out of bed required a pre-planned sequenced set of movements, then clench teeth and do it; then balance for 10 seconds before taking a step.
I realized yesterday that for a few weeks, maybe for the last 3-4 I have been living without concern for how had the RA is. I've just been doing the normal stuff, 3 hours yard work without pain or even thinking about RA, medium distance walks, it all seems back to normal.
There could be other reasons I am better -- but highly unlikely. It's gotta be some kind of miracle drug as far as I can see.
Roland
That's wonderful news! It's always so good to hear the success stories!That's wonderful.