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Gary's Story

ghigbee@speedfactory.com

My name is Gary and my story starts on 2/98 with a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It came on real quick right after a hernia operation. I started off taking Lodine and though it did help some the first 4 months were pure hell. I made some nutrition changes and i improved enough to return to working. I continued to improve and even went into remission from march 1999 until December 1999. I didn't take any drugs or even a Advil during this period and felt great.&nbsP;

But of course, all good things must come to an end and had a severe flare in January 2000. I was so bad off i could barley walk or move, so it was time for drugs and I found someone to drive me to the doctor. This was my first visit to this rheumatologist and i had some tests done and left with a script for Prednisone and Vioxx. I returned two weeks later still barley moving and having to be driven to the doctor, where i was diagnosed with RA (Duh, i already had a diagnosis for two years). I left this time with a prescription for Arava to go with my Prednisone and Vioxx and upon my insistence a prescription for Minocycline. Of course the doctor insisted this was for early RA and it wouldn't work, but to me it was a no brainer. I had nothing to loose if it didn't work except for a couple bucks. I continued doing poorly for a couple months i began noticing i had a strange smell and taste in my mouth. I recalled this same smell and taste when i took the loading dose of Arava. It got so bad i couldn't stand it and so i discontinued the Arava. A couple weeks later the bad smell and taste went away. I don't think the Arava was working anyway because i didn't notice any changes.&nbsP;

I guess i noticed some noticable improvement around the 4th month that i was on Minocycline (july/2000) so I started dropping my prednisone dose from 10mg to completely off within six weeks. A few weeks later i dropped Vioxx and took Advil as needed which was usually 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM. About this time i noticed that my left knee which was always swollen, hot, and fluid filled was normal in size for the first time in 2.5 years. My other knee (the good one) was also much better and normal size as well. I guess it was in September or October of 2000 i realized i was awake and the brain fog was lifting. I could drive without worrying about crashing into the back of another car. I was able to stay awake all day and I felt much more alive and energetic. I also didn't need my crutches unless it was a long walk, course i do walk slowly, my left knee is in bad shape.

Today, January 2001, I take Minocin or pelletized time release Minocycline (generic powdered Minocycline may not be as effective according to many people) 200mg Mon./Wed/Fri. and that's it. My RA seems almost gone. I have a twinge here and there but that's probably from damage and isn't really painful. I also am not as strong as I need to be, but I am working with weights and stretching excercises and that's helping. Also my joints are not warm all the time, once in awhile i will feel a little warmth in my wrists but its becoming less and less. This indicates to me that that disease has slowed way down and I am hoping future damage as well. Some joints have improved, my neck, which for awhile wouldn't turn and made weird sounds works correctly now and is pain free, and also my right elbow wouldn't straiten out and was
painful, but now works normally and pain free, my wrists are troublesome but have improve quite a bit. I also don't need crutches at all now and people notice my improved gimpy speed.

Since Minocin/Minocyclene is rarely used I will update this in a couple months. Feel free to e-mail me higgy@asus.net&nbsP;

April 2, 2001