Hi Everyone
I am still pretty new hear and really am still struggling to understand it all... could really use your knowledge and advice.
Mr DR won't say it's RA for sure....my blood work always comes back negative BUT the MRI my GP ordered came back saying early RA. Why doesn't the Rhuemy diagnose me with RA - he says I have "inflammatory arthritis". What is the difference? I have pain - OMG
He took blood and said after the results are in he is going to try me on Azatioprine (IMURAN). Everything I read here and from other sources seems to point to MTX being the best.....Why doesn't he put me on MTX?
My GP (thank God for that woman) gave me Celebrex too, my Rhuemy wasn't overly pleased she gave me Celebrex....What should I be using for pain control? What should I ask the Rhuemy for?
That's enough questions for now....there are SO many....I thank God for this support group. You all are holding me together.... Any help, advice or experience you can pass on is greatly appreciated....
Thank you,
Jody
p.s. I take Plaquinal now, but it is causing my hair to fall out (and no new ones are growing...) and was on pred for 8 months then weened off - been off the pred for 1 1/2 months. I really want off the Plaquial..... Anyone else lose hair from Plaquinal?
I've only been on the plaq for about five/six weeks. I haven't noticed my hair falling out, but have noticed that within five minutes of being in the sun, even in the car, my arms start to itch horribly.
Thanks Terinski.... My Mother has RA, she's been on Plaquinel for 15 years or so and never had a problem. I guess the hair falling out from it doesn't happen from it often but it can happen.
I am so scared that I will end up like my Mom....she quit going to a Rhuemy for 5 years - now she is so bad, it just breaks my heart....nothing can help her now and she doesn't want the help either (she is just drugged all the time).
Thank you for your reply.....Jody
Jody, I am new to all of this as well, but I can tell you that everyone reacts differently to the same meds. I was too afraid in the beginning to take the meds because of the side effects, but RA is MUCH worse than the side effects, so now I'll take anything to slow down the disease. I'm sorry to hear about your mom, but you have a real chance of living a new life and slowing the process of RA,. 15 years ago it was very bleak to say the least, and there are people on this forum that have suffered through the years to be in a healthier place now. It is possible, read as much as you can, educate yourself to everything that is out there to help you. Then discuss your options with your RD..I hope this helps, RainI've been on plaquenil for about 14 years and have had no problem with it. Make sure you get your eyes checked regularly while taking plaquenil.
Have you asked your doctor why he wants to try imuran over the mtx?
Kelstev - I am wondering the same thing.....would prefer the mtx....from everything I read here and read online - mtx is the better of the two. Thanks, Jody
Hi Trixie,
Some RDs, such as mine, like to start their patients off on the least toxic drugs as possible instead of jumping right to the "big guns" such as MTX or Remicade, etc. This is a trial and error period and sometimes we have to suffer through this but it helps our RD to determine the proper medication or "mix" that is right for us. I was on Plaquenil and Imuran for many years before jumping up to MTX and found that the 2 were suited for the amount of progression of RA I had at the time. You too might find this to be the case.
As far as the pain, I like to stay away from "pain" medications as much as possible and treat the inflammation which is most commonly the cause of the pain. I will tell you though, sometimes the pain pills for me can't be avoided. I am fortunate now that it's been a while since I've been in that kind of pain, as my "mix" seems to be working well.
Hope this helped some.
Hey Jody...
I have been on Imuran for about 1-1/2 yeard now. Started at 100mg and now I am at 225mg-the maximum dose for my size. The only side effect I had was some very mild intestinal problems that went away quickly.
MTX is a very dangerous drug and even I never wanted to be on it. There are so many newer drugs (DMARD's and BRM"s) that do better than MTX without the nausea and sick feeling most have with MTX.
Your rheumy reminds me of my first fheumy---very cautious. He probably doesn't want you on Celebrex until you tried the over-the-counter NSAID's like Advil, Orudis KT or Aleve. Some patients with "inflammatory arthritis" do wonderfully on these without the need for a prescription. I know that my insurance didn't want to pay for Celebrex until my rheumy told them I have been on the max dosage of Ibuprofen with no appreciable results. Even then my co-pay is still !
Don't worry and get hung-up on a name for what you have. There are over 100 forms of arthritis! Concentrate on what works for you. Start at the smallest and work towards the maximum. Most of all be patient. It has taken almost three years for me to find the right combination of drugs that work for me.
Hope you find relief soon,
Joe