Greetings! I've had some form of P my whole life...behind my ears when
I was a kids (then that went away), then my scalp and back for past 10
years or so.
In
the past 4 months (just after turning 30), my psoriasis went nuts all over my body (in a 2
month period) and I developed PA, and it hurt like a motha'! I would
hurt all day, all over my body, all major joints. I spend 12-14 hours
a day at the computer for work, and that became almost unbearable. I
started taking Diclofenac twice a day, which helped the pain, but it
would still hurt real bad at night and I couldnt sleep, and could
barely even walk. I actually became very fearful for my life and
family, I am the sole provider and work for myself....if I can't
provide, who will.
I am actually really against medicine, and
wanted to find herbal treatment. So I tried fish oils, flax,
Zyflamend, Centrum, coconut oil, you name it. It was hard to tell if
any worked, because the Diclofenac made it hard to determine what did
what.
In the end, I caved in and am now on Enbrel, little over 2
weeks now. It's absolutely amazing! I still hate that I'm on these
drugs, but I feel almost 100% better and can now work normally and spend quality time with my family (when previously I worked from bed
and isolated myself because I couldn't move without pain). So, if this
is what it takes to be "normal", then so freakin' be it...I'm off the
Diclofenac, and just taking Enbrel (and the supplements, they can't
really hurt). I'm still hoping for better results with my P, but maybe
some UV therapy will help.
All in all, Enbrel has saved my
life. But, talk to me in 10 years, and we'll see what kind of side
effects come up :)!
Regards.
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This is a repost of my first post to this forum, and just wanted to created a dialogue of similar cases. Thanks.
These are results of Enbrel, in that my body cannot fight these infections by itself anymore. Pretty scary feeling, knowing how at risk I am.
I just started UVB therapy too. Now we'll see if any conflict with UVB and Enbrel. Someone should pay me for being a lab rat.
Hee Hee - just imagining you as a little rat running around the hospital
Anyway I can sympathise that you feel frustrated at being on meds and the increased risks if infection etc. I am on infliximab (remicade) and have had a flare in my knees recently caused by an infection in my wisdom teeth (in turn caused by immune suppression by meds). Oh the list goes on and on and on... But despite the problems I could never give up on the infliximab. Being able to get on with my life most of the time or even some of the time is so much better than none of the time.
Hope you're feeling better soon.
KT
Hi Acer,
Good to hear you having such great results with Enbrel. I take 50mg a week and the day after am worthless with fatigue. I took my 9th injection last week and so far I am getting about 3 to 4 good days on it. My rheumy definately switched/added PA at my last appt. He is not sure if it is a switch from RA or an added disease but both of them are treated with the same meds.
Take care
Well, I'm down to 50mg a week, but on the 7th day...I'm feeling it pretty bad. Even right now (which made me think of this forum) my neck and back are burning with ache.
acer, i wanna hear more about your goverment theory . how do they decide to chose who will be there guinny pigs? And by what means,shots,food,medicine? why some and not others? Just curious :)
kel
Just like any disease (ie. cancer), some are susceptible, some are not. It's that simple. How else could you get away with a disease that has no cause nor a cure...just cost 00 to manage. Hmmm, where does that money go?