Information and opinions on health from Lenora Taylor at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/36931/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/36931/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/36931/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/41829/feel Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:37:14 -0400 Lenora Taylor My first infusion was August 27th, 2008.  Almost immediately the pain was gone for several weeks.  A few days before my second infusion, I started to get some mild pain back, but nothing to write home about.  I seem to get tired (some days more than others), so I take a lot of naps and I seem to not be able to take heat very well---but I don't think is due to the Remicade, but to the fact that I have RA. I've also gained about 6... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/41829/feel http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/41819/remi Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:51:53 -0400 Lenora Taylor I got my second infusion of Remicade this past Friday-- September 19.  It went great.  This time I made sure I took my ipod so I could listen to relaxing music.  Time flew by very quickly.   On this day I made sure I had a lot of water so my veins could be nice and plump....and noticeable.  I don't like drinking water before 10am, so it wasn't easy...I had to force myself to drink it.  I didn't want to have the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/41819/remi http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/40998/expe Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:47:44 -0400 Lenora Taylor I've been holding off on the Ramicade infusion because of all the bad stories I read about it.  My doctor finally convinced me.  After taking two necessary vaccines 2 weeks apart (vaccine for shingles and for pneumonia), my appointment was set for Aug. 27 at 9am. I started getting a little nervous the night before the infusion.  But I had a restful night. The next morning, I woke up and had a big breakfast.  I was told by... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/40998/expe http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/35791/mask Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:39:45 -0400 Lenora Taylor Has anyone considered using a face mask while on Remicade?  I start my infusion soon and I'm considering using a mask in a daily basis just to prevent any type of infection.  I know it will look silly, but when it come to my health, who cares about looking silly. http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/35791/mask http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/35424/infu Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:35:38 -0400 Lenora Taylor I never went on the Orencia study as I had posted previously because I had to take MTX with it....so I decided not to do that study.  I refuse to take MTX. I just came back from the Doctor office and set up an appointment to start the Remicade infusion on Aug. 27.  I was given a Shingles Vaccine today and will be give the Pneumonia Vaccine on Aug. 12.  This is very scary for me....Remicade may be the answer for now, but it can... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/35424/infu http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/28033/bad Fri, 16 May 2008 08:43:09 -0400 Lenora Taylor   I'm having a bad day.  So far, for the last several weeks haven't been that bad, but this morning the pain's pretty intense.  The main areas of pain are my wrist and hands....Taking a shower this morning was not easy and driving to work was very difficult.  What a horrible illness this is! I still have a couple of weeks before I start treatment----I hope I can manage the pain. http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/28033/bad http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/27858/site Wed, 14 May 2008 15:31:21 -0400 Lenora Taylor   I'm 42 years old and I was officially diagnosed with RA in January 2008, buthad slight symptoms since 2006.  Once I was diagnosed, I started reading asmuch as possible about this disease and was very disappointed to find outthat the medications out there are very harmful to your body.  SinceJanuary I've had two cortisone shots---the first one didn't make adifference, but the second one made me feel like a new person.... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/36931/27858/site