Saturday, March 27, 2010
I'm getting ready to go back to PM on monday. Last month when I wsa there he said he thought I need to go back to the rhummy since I'm not getting much in PM, & maybe I needed the "stronger meds". I'm not sure how I feel about this. So I'm looking to the only experts I have available. You. Those who have tried these meds. What do you think? What are your experinces? What have been the side effects? Good & Bad. Please let me know how these class of drugs have worked for you. I don't think I'm making a major decision on Monday but I need the info that only those who have taken these meds can give so I can make an informed decision.
I love this drug called Humira Have been on it for over a year it is a wonder drug for me along with Methotrexate shot,hydroxychlor 200mg,folic acid 1mg ,trazodone ,and alprazolam and no other pain meds I think that they have finally found the right coctail of meds for me after 2 1/2 yrs . I am working 4 full days of work now had it really rough at first . but I think the humira has been GREAT so far Gloria Wichita KS
For many of us who live with RA, the Biologics have been miracle drugs. Personally, that has definitely been the case. The Biologics - first Enbrel for two years, now Humira for three - have suppressed my disease and have made me more healthy in general. For instance, I've had RA for over 40 years and in all that time, I've been very anemic About nine months after starting Humira, we did my blood test and I was no longer anemic, in fact, my doctor said that if you just looked at my blood results, you'd think I was a completely healthy woman (hearing that after 40 years with this disease, 30 of them using a wheelchair, was... well, there really are no words to describe that level of joy). What this means is that I'm able to work again, able to be involved with my friends and family again, both for the love part and actually helping them instead of them helping me and I laugh every day.
Yes, there are side effects, but for many of us, they are manageable. You'll need to be more careful about being around people who are sick and you will likely experience sinus issues, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a small price to pay (that link unmanageable will take you to post I did on managing your side effects and there are some very easy tricks to getting through that).
Please let us know how things go?
Hi Lene,
I never know what to expect when I go to the Dr. I'm one of those who needs to be prepared for the worst. I went back to PM this am & they're changing/adding everything they can. What a difference a month makes. Today he spent time with me, answered my questions & was helpfull. Last month wants to send me to someone else. My biggest fear with most of the RA drugs is that I don't have RA. I have OA in every joint in my body & fibro. It concerns me how they may affect me more cause I'm not a "classic case" . As the Dr said today, what they have already done works in 95% of the population, with me it has done nothing. So now we need to find a different answer. I'm hurting bad(worse with the rain we're getting) and don't like thinking of myself as a wounded animal, approach with extreme caution, but that is how it is right now.
It's hard to go throught all this & stiil be patient while they keep trying to find the answer.
What do you mean by PM? Is that your primary doctor? If so, why have you not been referred to a specialist?
To be honest, I haven't heard of RA drugs being used for OA before, but that's not to say that it doesn't happen - I work for a MyRACentral, which means that's what I know the most about. However, you may want to check out our osteoarthritis site for more information about OA and connection with people who live with the condition who can give you better advice than I am able to. That said, if what tends to work for others isn't working for you, it might be worth to try to go. You may also consider getting a second opinion - it doesn't have to be an indication that you don't trust your current doctor, but sometimes, a different doctor, who has different experiences may be aware of something than another doctor isn't.
PM= Pain management. My primary doctor has been very supportive through this & I will be seeing him tomorrow for a physical & long chat. I'm concerned that the pain specialist, last month, wanted to send me back to rhumatology for the RA class of meds, although he also thoght I might get some relief out of the "cancer drugs" which really scared me. I have not yet made the decision not to change doctors. It is still under consideration.
I am on the OA site & frankly it leaves a lot to be desired. I check in with this site, the OA site & the cronic pain sections of health central regularly. I have found that this section & the pain section are the most informative & friendly. As an asside I found this site thru your blog, through the yarn harlot.
I love it when doctors throw out really scary statements and then wave goodbye to you... (that was sarcasm, by the way).
Your doctor may have been referring to methotrexate, which is a chemotherapy drug, but is given to people with RA in much lower doses than to people who have cancer. Most people tolerate it well with only manageable side effects. Another drug he may have been talking about is Rituxan, which is an infusion drug given to people who haven't responded to the other types of Biologics - one of our Experts Lisa Emrich has posted about her experience with her first and second infusion. As well, one of our other users, Brad, has also posted about his infusion with Rituxan. Of course, he may have meant something else altogether - I don't know too much about the cancer drugs are used for RA aside from those two. As well, you may want to check out a recent post from a pain specialist from Toronto who links to the website to which he is a contributor that has some really interesting articles about pain management.
I'm glad you're finding our site and the Chronic Pain site helpful to you and hope we can continue to be of assistance. And by the way... I did recognize your name! It was like seeing a friend - nice thing for a Monday morning.