I was just discharged from the hospital yesterday. I had to have my gallbladder removed. I went to the ER in terrible pain. It was the same pain as I experienced (although not as severe) in the spring when I was first started on Arava. My Rheumy discontinued it after a month because I thought it was giving me an upset stomach. I now know that my gallbladder was the cause (but I think the Arava made my gallbladder worse). I know I sound like a crazy person. When I stopped the Arava back in the spring the stomach pain went away. I restarted it a month ago w/ Protonix (for the stomach). Now a month later I end up in the hospital in terrible pain. I was on Arava a month also in the spring when the pain started. The surgeon says STOP the Arava, but my Rheumy doesn't think I should. I'm so afraid! My joints feel so much better! I don't want to flare again! It does seem wierd that after 31 days of Arava (in the spring and just recently) that I started to have horrible pain. Of course, the gallbladder is history now.......so what do u think? Thanx for listening!If the arava works on your joints, give it one more try. (I like to blame all my woes on the RA drugs too, but I think this time it was coinsidence.) I've been on Arava for 2 months, along with MTX. It's been a wonder drug for me. I had my gall bladder out years ago - so no problems there at all. Arava can affect your liver, so there's a possible connection, but if your gall bladder is out, that problem should be gone. I would say, if it works for you, stick with the Arava until your RD says to quit. Actually, your gallbladder could have been the culprit the whole time. Once a gallbladder quits functioning, it quits, never to start again. So it could have stopped when you first had the pains, and in my opinion, it was probably just a gallstone (probably your first) that you actually felt. Once the stone passes, its hard for anyone to find the cause of the pain. And now, after sitting for so long doing nothing, you gallbladder became inflammed or infected, this time with enough going on for them to see, and diagnose. Your gallbladder holds extra bile for digesting fatty foods, you don't HAVE to have it, but its a nice reserve. So when it stops, it just holds that bile. It's not a bad thing at first, because really your body is used to having bile in the gallbladder. Over time though, it becomes an irritant, or it gets infected. And that's where your pain comes from. Hope that helps ease your mind a little. Your gallbladder is out, and you should be fine now! Just keep an eye on your fat intake! You can gain weight faster now.I have beenon Avara for 2 weeks and no problems..except hair thninning. I hope that you feel better.
I'm scared! I've been off the Arava for a full week now. My feet are beginning to hurt again. My liver enzymes are still elevated. I'm still healing from the surgery. What am I going to do? I don't want to start Arava again. This is the 2nd time I've had trouble with it. My hubby's convinced it's the devil. I'm so sick of hurting! Maybe I should try the Placquenil? It takes soo long to work, though. I hate putting any of this sh*t into my body. I wish I could just forget about it. If the xrays show no damage, maybe I'll just try to live with it. Motrin works great, but it destroys your stomach.......so many questions-so few answers. Sorry to ramble.
emmasa01 you are scared because you are at the mercy of arthritis that causes much pain and depend on drugs to counter the disease. All these treatments your Rheumy unable to control the disease yet progresses and causes side effects to go under the knife.
Many do not know the way out because they choose the only proper treatment is modern medicine.
I have a different experience to relate. The humble formula herbs I have been taking only when flare up for 15 years, stop pain, fight the disease effectively and reverse the severity gradually. I rule the disease not the disease rules me. I know the "culprit" well and its behavious. The formula herbs capable of "disarm" and "neutralize" the "culprit" and dispose it naturally. No drug yet I can do it!
It all lies in belief in natural foods and finding appropriate herbs, the latter is most difficult.
Kokako88 I'm at your mercy. Whaddya got?
I have got Wild Lingzhi (a superb herb known to the Chinese and Japanese more than three thousand years) formula.
As a arthritic myself I can envisage the severe stage you are experiencing. My suggestion is to make your lifestyle change and focus on natural foods to build up your energy level and maintain the equilibrium not to excite constant flares.
It is a decision of individual to change. I believe the herbs more than 15 years ago and I have made changes. My saviour is appropriate herbal formula to control and manage the disease and natural foods to improve my energy level and maintain an equilibrium.
Improvement and reversal of disease is gradual and takes time but the result is positive. Take a step at a time.
uh oh.......................
They are right. For some the herbs work, for others getting rid of toxics in foods work, for others just taking the drugs will work.
Remember, going herbal can have it's side effects so use the internet wisely and research all herbs before you use them. Some can have problems with medications you currently are using.
Being that RA and other immune disorders are of the blood, you would be surprised what can help and what can hurt.
A good organic diet will cut out all toxins that are grown in foods today and will help you to digest better. If your digestion track is having trouble, it will cause "trauma" in your body which makes you flair more as well.
If only the proper information was finally known for these autoimmune diseases, we would know what to do better.
One thing we know for sure is that these immune diseases did not appear in bunches until after people started puting toxic poisons in the food by processing them. It's something they still have to research on but haven't as of yet.
If you do go herbal, make sure your doctor monitors your body with blood tests etc. to make sure they aren't attacking any joints, your liver or any other part as these things are drugs, just natural versions and too can have bad side effects.