Three of my docs, Urologist, Pulmonologist, and Rheumy, and I have been discussing quality verses quanity of life. We are all in agreement. I asked them would I more than likely die from the effects of RA meds. Their replies were yes. Have any of you had this discussion with your docs?
4/29/09 1:22pm
Hi Vickie,
I've not had this conversation with my doctors. It's more the opposite, that the medications will both increased Quality of life and Quantity of life. RA is a serious, chronic illness which can attack more than just the joints. One goal in treatment is to halt the attack.
Lene, one of the experts here, wrote an excellent post recently which addresses the use of RA medications and Quality of life. You can read that here. The drugs she discusses may not be the same ones you are thinking of, but the idea of LIVING well is universal.
I hope that you are doing well despite your fears of the future. Thanks for your question.
4/30/09 1:30pm
I felt pretty scared reading up on Methotrexate (I started it last Friday). However, it has really improved how I feel- I feel HUMAN again! So is it nerve-wracking thinking about all the things that could go wrong in my body because of the medication? Sure. But it doesn't bother me enough to stop taking the medicine because I've felt the best since I started taking it. I don't want to go back to what I felt like before, that's for sure!
For me, keeping a positive attitude and working closely with my Rheumatologist are the most important things!
My doctor went over the side effects with me, very thoroughly. But she said the instances of the side effects were minimal compared to the good the medication can do for me.
So I chose the medication because I want to feel well and have good quality of life
5/ 1/09 8:17am
I have heard it both ways. My p/c doc. said...That every patient he has ever had-who has been on the `Rejection" drugs...(that is what he called them)-have gotten cancer. He said this b/c...he knew that my Rheuma wanted me to start on the Remicade-and i had an infection at the time, and i told him that i was having second thoughts on taking the remicade, and he told me the above, and also said that i was making the right choise! And when i told my Rheuma this...what he had said. She told me...You have to think of the Quality Of Life....Not the Quantity!!!!
So, it has made it hard really hard for me-to make that decission.
5/ 2/09 12:40am
Hi Vickie,
I have been down that road, and talked at length about it with my wife. My answer to the question is that I would rather live a higher quality of life, however shortened it may be. When I am in severe pain, staying in bed, missing out on everything, feeling sorry for myself, that is not life the way I see it. I take the meds the RA doc suggests (and I DO trust him 100%), I take the heavy pain pills, and I enjoy life! Will it be shorter than it might have been? Maybe, but I will enjoy it and my wife is fine with that as well. It's really a question you have to ask yourself, are you willing to suffer for a few extra years, or enjoy what God has given you. Yes, RA drugs are not subtle, but are you willing to weigh the benefits vs the side effects you may or may not be subjected to?
Brad
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By Vickie— Last Modified: 12/23/10, First Published: 04/28/09
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