I'm on Plaquenil/5mg. of prednisone, and want to know how to tell? Also, what's the best meds to take in addition to what I'm on? The past few days I've felt like I have a cold coming on, sleepy, etc.
Q: How do you recognize the difference between the RA kicking up, or a cold coming on??
Answers (1)
9/26/09 8:04pm
I'd need to know more about what the "etc" would be before I can tell you. Fatigue accompanies an awful lot of things, including an RA flare, a cold or flu, but it's the other symptoms that you have that will be able to make me take a better guess at what's going on. Red and swollen joints probably mean RA, stuffy nose, sneezing and a sore throat would indicate a cold. Sometimes, you have to wait a couple of days to see which way it goes, but over time, you learn which symptoms mean what.
9/27/09 11:34am
Triggers for flares.... all of the above and many more? Stress can definitely trigger a flare, which is why stress management is an important part of managing your disease. Changes in barometric pressure affects some people, diet can also be a trigger - especially tomatoes, potatoes, fried foods and sugar - overdoing it, which is why it's important to do less than what you can in a day to make sure you can do more tomorrow. Illness, such as catching a flu or cold can also do it and there are times where I think that changing the channel on the TV and trigger a flare, as well. To find out what your personal triggers are, try keeping a diary with a brief list of the weather, food, your symptoms, etc. for about 3-4 weeks. That should give you enough information to start seeing a pattern and will help you manage RA and pain.
If your RA is well-managed by whatever DMARD (disease modifying antirheumatic drug) you're on, the flares should be milder or perhaps not there at all. I see from your profile that you're on prednisone and Paquinil - since you have a flare, perhaps that indicates that you need to have a discussion with your rheumatologist about treatment options. You may need to increase the dose of Paquinil, supplement with another DMARDs such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine or one of the Biologics or switch altogether.
9/27/09 12:55pm
Thank you again.... My Rheumie wants to keep me on the dose of plaquinil for a couple more months, as he feels it needs to get into mys system more, as I've started it in June. Of course, if I keep getting these so-called flares, something else will have be done. I was just wondering if the oncoming of a cold/virus could be a trigger. It seems awfully coincidental, that my cold symptoms disappeared when the flare came on. I will again as you suggested, keep a record of that. I will be getting a flu shot tomorrow, and hopefully a swine flu shot when it becomes available. As you can well imagine, when working w/children, your life becomes consumed w/germs!
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By Tennisgram— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 09/21/09
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Thanks for your reply. As it turned out, my "cold and feeling rundown" symptoms actually went away; only to be followed immediately by significant wrist/foot swelling, which then went for the very first time, to my other foot and wrist as well. I called the rheumie, and was told to up to 20 mg. prednisone from the 5mg. I was on. This is supposed to be for 5 days, then revert to the 5. I noticed some improvement, but I still get the occasional swelling, burning feeling. They said I was having a big "flare". What triggers these things?? Food? Fatique? Stress? Temperature? I know the week before this happened, I had a very stressful time @ school where I teach. Any insight is always apprciated. Thank you!