Retirement at 45 may be my only option!

By Lindsey Monday, September 22, 2008

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Hi, My name is Lindsey,

I think I have just about had enough of all of this pain and discomfort. Nothing is really getting on top of it. I am on methotrexate, celebrex and panadeine forte. I do also take folic acid 6 days per week, a multi B and C, Omega3 and Muscleze (Mag). I am at 17.5mgs per week now on the metho and it's still not taking a hold. I am hanging in at work. I reduced my hours, but was hoping to maintain that and then increase them up again once things improved, but it seems I just get sore and so tired all the time.

I am persisting though. Just.

Has anyone else out there found that anything in particular really works for them.

I react to a lot of medications hence am only just getting to a decent dose with methotrexate and reacted to two other meds beforehand. Panadeine Forte helps the pain, but puts me off food and makes me dizzy. I only take one with one regular panadol when at work for this reason. But cannot do without it.

I was not diagnosed for years due to being sero-negative, and due to having an array of odd symptoms, but now that I have been I am glad to be under the guides of a nice and understanding rheumatologist. I will be seeing him again soon and asking if there is anything else I could do, but wondered it anyone had any thoughts.

Best wishes to all,

Lindsey :)

Young adults with JIA can achieve educational and occupational goals

Comments (9) | Add comment

snixy32

9/22/08 12:57pm

Nothing for me works sure fire so far. I am on methotrexate 6 once a week, folic acid, enbrel 50mg, multivitamins and 800mg Ibuprofen. I try to walk and do moderate excercise buy my feet are the worst part that hurts for me so it makes it difficult. Today my fingers are acting up with stiffness and aching and I am generally stiff all the time. Ibuprofen works, but only for a while...nothing really takes it all away. All you can do is tell your doctor how you feel most times and try to get him/her to help you find the right meds and keep on top of it, that's what I do. I am so thnkfull that I have such a nice and understanding rheumatologist. I can just show up at the office with comkplaints and he always takes time to see me. I am lucky also to have this website among others to help with my syptoms and understanding family that I can vent too. Hope you feel better soon Lindsay.

Lindsey

9/23/08 9:03am

Thanx heaps. I do have a great rheumatologist, but it is just getting to see him sometimes is the problem.

I do think it will take a while to get the right dose of methotrexate. Hopefully that is all. Celebrex seems to be working a bit. I just have to do some yoga I think. I need to find the time to learn a bit and use it on those horrid days.

take care...

suzanne

9/22/08 10:03pm

I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, but function with no problems or pain. My doctor has me on humera, 7 pills of methotrexate, folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D. I get a shot every 2 weeks of the humera and take the methotrexate weekly. In the beginning, when first discovered, I was on Remicaid but it was too expensive. The Humera is covered by my health insurance and worked just as well.

I have a full time job, get exercise, and no issues. It's almost like it's not there. If I miss the medication or don't time it correctly, I really can't function at all and I'm in alot of pain.

Hope this helps.

Suzanne

Lindsey

9/23/08 9:20am

Hi Suzanne,

Sorry to hear your arthritis is severe, but good to hear it is responding to the medications. I reacted to the plaquenil and the sulfasalazine, but the methotrexate is okay. I am now on 17.5mgs per week and this has just been recently put up, so I am hoping it will help. I also take the celebrex when I am sore, I bleed easy though, so if I have to take it long term then I need esomeprazole. I try to drink lots of water too as I have had regular bladder bleeding, my bladder gets inflammed and there has been no indication of bacterial infections. I don't like to take the celebrex unless I really need to as I think this doesn't help.

I will be asking my rheumatologist if there are other medications that might complement methotrexate though. I have wondered whether I should try something else as well.

Thanx Suzanne, it is interesting especially to know that the pain can be treated and helped by medications. Sometimes I wonder when this might occur effectively.

Lindsey :)

Anonymous

9/23/08 11:56am

Hi Lindsey

I have had RA approximately 8 years and I am 64 years old. I have been through several of the meds for RA with not a lot of results until my rheumatologist put me on the combination of methotrexate and Enbrel. This seems to give me the most relief plus I take an occasional Advil when necessary. I walk on a treadmill everyday from 1 mile to 1&1/2 miles and do various other stretchig and bending. I walk stairs daily.

Needless to say this is not all without pain. In fact I don't remember a day in a long time that I do not have some pain but my RA seems to be in a remission. I take potassium, folic acid, Vitamin D, Multiple vitamin and Calcium. I have recently been diagnosed as being a borderline diabetic. Of course this is just one more think to add to the "bunch". I have good days and I have bad days but I know if I just sit down and quite I will never get back up. Life moves along and we have to do our best to move along with it. I am still working but will be retiring at the end of the year and will be spend a lot of time with two very active grandchildren ( ages 6 and 2) and that will definitely keep you going.

I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you will soon hit on the "right" combination of meds to give you relief. Take care.

Jean

Lindsey

9/24/08 4:57am

Hi Jean,

Wow, you show me up with all that exercise. I did used to be able to do that, I am hoping to work back up to it again though. At the moment the cold weather is my worst enemy. I ache so much and my motivation is knocked to smitherines. I figure it is good however that I can still just make work at this stage, as I often don't feel up to it. So tired and sore.

Well, thanx for your input Jean, I have an appointment to see my Rheumatologist next week, so am hoping to talk more about dosage and other medications then.

bye for now,

Lindsey :)

Anonymous

9/27/08 12:23am

I just read a book called "what the doctor's don't tell you about autoimmune diseases".

It addressed various disorders including this type of arthritis. It was very insightful and I was wondering if you had considered how other health care professionals approach autoimmunity. Its worth a look.

Carol

10/ 2/08 12:45pm

Hi Lindsey,

I have had RA for three years (probably longer) and on methotrexate by needle that I squirt into a cup and drink. This is because I have no insurance and it is the cheapest way. Luckily it has no taste. I also take 5mg. folic acid,caltrate,fish oil,ginger root,and arthritis tylenol. I get some relief, but the pain is always there in some shape or form. Nobody but RA sufferers can understand the total head to toe involvement. People think that it should or will "clear up". It's good to talk to others who understand. You are in my prayers!

Tammy

3/ 4/09 4:32pm

Hi Lindsey,

If you really want to get well and not just mask the symptoms go to http://roadback.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/community.sub/subgroup_id/3.html

AP Therapy. You will find answers, solutions and an unbeatable support group. It is working for me and my 21 year old daughter. Most Rheumys say its a hoax but me and over 2000 other people that are getting better without toxic drugs beg to differ. They will even help you find an experienced doctor. I could write paragraphs in support of the treatment but urge anyone that truly wants to beat this disease to learn more about what it is starting at roadback.com.

Tammy

Retirement at 45 may be my only option!

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