Information and opinions on health from Daina 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/80732/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/80732/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/80732/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/73155/else Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:59:29 -0400 Daina After being on Remicade for nearly a year, I'm really seeing the benefits. I'm still getting the infusion every five weeks and I'm at 700 mg an infusion. I usually have about a week of pretty bad pain throughout that five weeks, but that's doable and I know when it's going to happen. I recently had another kidney stone pass, I was in and out of the emergency room four time because no one could control the pain. Because of the meds I'm on, I got... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/73155/else http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/45019/work Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:09:40 -0400 Daina OK, so with Remicade, MTX, Prednisone, Meloxicam and the occasional hydrocodone, I think we finally got the right "cocktail"! It seems to be taking forever, but it's getting better. The problem is, my liver enzymes are doubled (as of a month ago). So the MTX was lowered, we'll see. For right now, I'm finally able to exercise a little more and play with my kid a little more and generally feeling a little better! Even if I do feel like a bit of a... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/45019/work http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/35712/remi Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:02:08 -0400 Daina OK, so I started the infusions about 1 and 1/2 months ago and all seems to be going. That's it , just going. I have no side effects, no allergic reactions and it really feels almost like a spa day at the infusion center. But......I feel worse than I did when they started. more joint pain, more fatigue, more stiffness. I understand that right now I'm probably just having a horrible flare up - but that doesn't make me feel much better. Today at... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/35712/remi http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/30935/remi Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:32:23 -0400 Daina I start Remicade Infusions on Thursday the 19th. This is the first time I've ever been scared of and Arthritis Treatment. I've now been on Mobic for nearly a month and have seen no results whatsoever, so while I'm scared of the drug, I'm also a little excited.   Now, I won't have to give myself two shots of 50mg Enbrel a week. I won't miss doing that, it always hurts! I do have to stay on the Methotrexate, and I don't know about the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/30935/remi http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/29382/visit Fri, 30 May 2008 07:03:53 -0400 Daina OK. Went to the new rheumy yesterday. He was fine, He agreed that I probably have developed a tolerance to Enbrel, so it's time to find something new. We're trying remicade first, rituxin will come after remicade, if we have bad results. He also put be on Mobic (which, surprisingly, I had never even heard of). So we'll see. I'm waking up with a couple hours of morning stiffness and waking in the middle of the night because I am in pain. I... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/29382/visit http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/29040/loss Tue, 27 May 2008 11:49:37 -0400 Daina OK, so I see the new rheumy on Thursday (the 29th). I know I will get told to lose weight, that's what the last one said, and now I've gained 10 pounds. My problem is the snack foods, and I don't like veggies. Uggghhh. Any suggestions on this are also helpful:) Before, the doc said 20 pounds to lose, now I'm sure it will be 30......No one tells me how though:( http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/29040/loss http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/28343/sugg Tue, 20 May 2008 07:52:24 -0400 Daina Hi, I have a rheumy appointment on May 29th. This will be my first with this one. I moved to Syracuse from Chicago and am extremely worried about the change in doctors. It took me 5 years to find one that I connected with in Chicago.   Anyway, I've been on Enbrel for a little over a year, and I think my body is already rejecting it. At first, I woke up feeling great. Now, I can barely make it down the stairs, let alone take care of my... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/28343/sugg http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/16610/provocraf Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:36:00 -0500 Daina I just got a set of the Provocraft Ergonomic Crochet Hooks, and I love them!. I had been hearing how much crochet and knitting help with RA in the hands, to give more exercise, but I was never able to do it because my hands got so stiff so fast. I saw these online and talked to a couple of people who had used them and bought them. I've had great luck, so if you want to crochet, but have trouble, these might be a good option. There kinda... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/80732/16610/provocraf