Hello All, it's been a while since I've posted here.  I think around late July 2011 was the last post.  Well, its been nasty out there.  I was stuck in what I call the
"Crash Zone". Sometime first of August I started with a slight sore throat, you know the kind that is annoying but really doesn't hurt.  That continued for the entire month, saw my doc about week three and we cultured it, nothing grew, but we decided to treat with antibiotics anyway, because I was on the MTX and Enbrel.  My medication regimen was causing my body havoc as well and was being treated for side effect symptoms, changing meds to try and find the right combination and to take as little as possible. 

Early September 2011, car accident left me with some blurry vison and a concusion, let alone in the hospital and off my meds for 10 days or so. So, off all of my medications when I finally was released still was quite foggy and not able to work yet. Saw my rheumy and slowly was going to restart my regimen, starting with my MTX and Pristiq only, then every month adjust and tweak to find that magical combination again.  Well, I was on the MTX for only about 8 days and Ta-Da... sore throat returned with a vengance!  Within another 2 days I was in the hospital again, with a raging infectionand what is called peri tonsilar abscesses. I had two in my throat. Unable to swallow anything even my own saliva, place on IV therapy for 14 days and surgically drained the abscesses, finally started to feel better, but off my meds again and was in pain, alot of pain. So, went home with antibiotics for additional two weeks, then had my tonsils removed at the age of 44.  OUCH! I think the tonsils hurt much worse than my RA pain at that time.  finally sometime mid December was recovered enough to get back to work.  First day back was 12/26/11.  Restarted only MTX by 12/30/11 and guess what... ? Back in the Hospital by 1/4/12 with another infection by the same bug, Strep.  Everytime I was getting better, I got knocked down, crashed into over and over... I really thought I was not going to get through this, but fortunately I had my family / friends praying and God on my side. Finally, by the end of January I wass back to work, but still in a lot of pain. Not taking anything at this point, which was not good, but it was better than being very ill.  Begining in February, had a very long discussion with my primary and Rheumy at my Rheumy's office, yep both of them together in one place!  how awesome is that? ! Together we devised an aggressive plan to get me back on track and it was goining ok, until wham another flare, OMG! Still taking medications, but am now working from home and having to keep my stress level down to a minimum, changing the way and what I eat as well I go to my docs just about every other day (minus weekends of course).  Now, I am on Orencia, Plaquenil, Melixocam, Pristiq, Elavil, Tramadol, and a multi vitamin. I am still having pain, but somewhat better.  My lab work is all of whack, I just pray I can get back to my life at some point. I am praying that the Orencia will help eventually, If not not sure what my options are... We shall see.  I have been reading some posts and that is what brought me back.  I am struggling, but one thing I will not do is to live with taking medications that cause me more problems.  Just thought I'd share my recent experiences, It's been quite crazy... Hope everyone else's is going better! Take care, have a magical day, Barb.