Reply to an Answer

I take methotrexate 25mg weekly injectable. Having just been recently on and off both my meds for surgery, I know know exactly what they do. Methx helps me have energy. I am not exhausted by noon. It attacks the over-activity of the auto-immune system, I presume. I take daily injections of Kineret. It is my magic bullet that stops the flares, about 98-100%. It is very expensive, but my provincial medical plan pays almost all of it - about $18,000 a year. Yikes! The other thing I do is I eat very carefully - mostly vegetarian with a little fish or white meat chicken breast occasionally - lots of fiber, no white sugar, flour. (My husband called it a hippie diet when he first met me, and made me go off of it. Then I got sick, and he "allowed" me to go back on it, which meant cooking two meals to meet the needs of hubbie and kids. Now he is pre-diabetic, and guess what? We are eating only one meal - my tried and true hippie diet of natural foods, nothing processed, low carb, low sugar, fat etc. I guess I won that issue! (My theory is we should eat the food that God made, as close to natural form as possible - not the food than people make in factories, to make money.) I also take loads of vitamins and minerals. I think the food we eat is grown on depleted soils with too many pesticides. Even if you get organic food, the chemicals are so locked up in the ecological cycles.(Like DDT in the Arctic, and it has been banned for at least 40 years!) I also grow an organic garden in summer, with lots of flowers - beauty is important! I don't take any herbs. I worry about interactions. I know the zinc keeps me from getting colds, and the Omega Oils are also anti-inflammatory. It is also necessary to exercise. If you are having an active flare in a joint - then DON'T. Most of the damage I have is because I "pushed" through the pain when I was having bad flares. Joint protection is essential. So if your knee hurts you - do weights and upper body stuff. If one knee doesn't hurt do leg lifts with ankle weights, but leave the bad one alone. Walking doesn't work at all for me, since my feet are so bad, and my knees don't track properly. But I ride a bike year round. I have a trainer and I ride inside in the winter (long and cold where I live) and outside in the beautiful sun, wind and sometimes cold on good days the rest of the year. I also depend totally on God. I have really conquered my depression and fear realizing that God is in control, and whatever happens, He is working things out for my good. Ultimately, He is the healer too - He guides and directs us, and sometimes He uses the doctors, and tells us to live sensibly. Get enough sleep, don't be extreme, don't drink or smoke - not because it is so sinful, but because it is so hard on your body! I also lost a lot of weight, by careful dieting, which the exercise helped, of course. My life is not perfect, it never will be on this earth, but I certainly feel good, and I am able to be very active in my church and community. I also play flute, which really makes me feel good, and I sing, when my voice isn't in rough shape like right now, because of my recent surgery. Whatever happens, I am confident that God will see me through - even if I never talk again. (I have been on Kineret for 4 years now. I understand that some of these biologics stop working after 5 years. So if I have a year left, I will try something else. I understand there is something called rifluximab, which has been very effective. You can google it for more info. I tried Enbrel and it gave me very bad headaches. I have liver issues from too many years of Tylenol and Reactine, so Kineret clears through the kidneys,(most of the TNF's clear through the liver) and other than site inflammation the first year, no side effects!) So that is a long prescription, and self discipline has been a long learning experience. I kept track of everything for a few years - exercise, flute playing, prayer and Bible devotions etc. until it became a habit. It was kind of confining, but now I feel the good results, and I love to exercise, it always makes me feel better, and I feel productive and worthwhile