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BretNis waiting on the Lord: "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isiah 40:31
- Location: Middleburg, FL, United States
- Gender: Male
- Birthday: April 23, 1963
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HEALTH INTERESTS:
Latest medical developments for RA and any alternative therapies that others find helpfulDRUGS I AM TAKING:
Humira, prednisoneABOUT ME:
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 44, in May 2007 (9 months after a minor motorcycle accident that injured my left wrist). The symptoms began with a general feeling of fatigue. The only thing I wanted to do at the gym was set in the hot-tub! Then a few months later, morning numbness in the front balls of both feet that lasted for a few hours. After I was diagnosed, I began taking "Plaquenil" and "Naproxin" for pain and swelling. My RA symptoms persisted with primarily sore, stiff hands in the mornings (3-4 hrs), sore ankles, a swollen elbow and muscle fatigue. After about 4 months, we added "Methotrexate" for 3 months with some success (no more swollen elbow or sharp shoulder pains and less sore hands), however, my liver enzyme count became elevated too high, so I stopped taking that. I'm now taking "Humira" (began 10/08) with "Plaquenil" (400 mg/day). Some days are better than others. I stopped working (6 months after my diagnosis) because the medicine didn't eliminate the pain, fatigue and swelling. I'm hopeful that my symptoms will go away one day or at least be controlled with medication. I take one day at a time and try to do the things that I enjoy doing as much as possible to minimize stress and encourage a positive outlook. I go swimming and use the hot-tub at the gym a couple times each week. My youngest son gives me foot and hand massages, which seems to reduce pain and swelling. I take short walks and sometimes bicycle and kayak too. Updates: 7/1/08 My Family and I have relocated from Northern California to North-East Florida; to be closer to Family and have a lower cost of living for future retirement. 3/27/08 I participated in a clinical trial, double-blind study that compares 80mg dosing of Humira, once/month VS. normal 40mg dosing every 2 weeks or a placebo dose. I had no negative side-effects during this trial. The study lasted for 24 weeks (10/1/08 - 3/30/08). Hopefully, they will find no disadvantages for a single dosing each month instead of the currently approved bi-weekly dosage.PHOTOS:
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Living With It in Rheumatoid Arthritis
RECENT ACTIVITY Notify me when there are new posts
06/24/09
04/30/09
BretN answered Are there many men out there with RA?
04/04/09
BretN commented on Lainey22
12/19/08
BretN answered Positive for RA, how soon to start getting treatment????
11/13/08
BretN answered what can i do for the pain?
10/30/08
09/25/08
09/23/08
09/23/08
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