I worked myself into a frenzy about starting Remicade. Talked to the infusion nurse a half dozen times and finally made it for my appt. After what I put myself through I'm almost ashamed to tell you that I slept through the whole 3 hour process!! I think that I was so relieved that the process was starting that I just slept. Haven't had a whole lot of sleep lately.
It's been 3 days since the 1st infusion and I actually see some relief in pain and swelling of some of my joints. I have had no side effects and feel good. Hoping to start tapering Pred. this week. Am going to taper by 1mg per week. Seems if I try to taper by 5mg or 2.5 mg. the pain and inflamm. increase. Will try to taper slower and at a less dosage.
I'm almost afraid to get too excited about Remicade....we'll see. I did lie back in the infusion chair for a while and visualized the Remicade globules attacking the RA cells. After about 10 minutes of that I fell asleep. At this point I'll try anything.
A lot of people sleep through the infusions. They do tend to make you really tired. Plus, initially they are giving you Bendryl in case you have an allergic reaction. That's part of the reason you are so sleepy.
When I first started, I saw some immediate relief. I love that drug. Wish I could go back on it.
Awfully glad to hear you are starting it. Why are you starting so soon to taper the Prednisone? Is this something your doc is wanting you to do or that you are wanting to do on your own. If the doc's not telling you to do it yet, I wouldn't because the Remicade needs more time to work and tapering too soon could bring on a flare.
My doc will only let me taper at 1 mg a month. Would hate to see you hit a flare after all you've been through lately.
LindyMy doc wants me to slowly get off pred as well, i'm now on like 6.5mg a day. It's not easy. I'm also scared cuz i know how much prednisone does for me.
I guess one reason to get off is to see how well the other meds do for me since they don't want pred long term due to how bad it is.
It just feels so much better with it :) I want to keep it, why does it have to have bad side effects? :(
I have a lot of trouble getting off the prednisone. It helps me more than anything else. But it is so scary. I can really relate. But you should be congratulated to getting down to 6.5. I think that is great. I'm still at 14 and I have lots of side effects.
It's hard to choose between functioning enough to work and taking it. But I keep trying.