Friday, August 14, 2009 cbrown asks

Q: Weight Gain w/Remicade

I started taking Enbrel about 6 weeks ago. I noticed that pants I could fit in prior to taking the meds are now too tight. Today when I went to my Rheumy, I learned that I've gained 15 lbs. in 6 weeks. As we all know, weight gain is not good for people w/RA so I definitely can't have this. As it turns out, the drug didn't work for me because I'm still in a great deal of pain. I can't stand for more then 5 mins before my ankles and hips hurt so bad that I want to cry. MY Rheumy is now trying to get approval from my insurance company to put me on Remicade. My question is this, has anyone experienced weight gain w/Remicade?

Also, I curious about prednisone. Can someone share some light on the benefits of taking the prednisone? My Rheumy has never mentioned it, but I've been diagnosed over 3-1/2 yrs. and I'm still in pain & stiff daily. I can deal with the achiness, however, I'm talking pain that when I get up from a 30 mins lunch, I have to stand for 2 mins before walking because I will resemble someone 90+. Also, my ankles, hips and back hurt so bad that I spend most my time during in the evening in bed or on the couch. I've been forcing myself the past couple of weeks to workout regardless to how I feel, but when I finish I feel cripple.

Has anyone else had similar experiences where it took quite some time to find the right mix of drugs and if so, what is that mix? Today while at my Rheumy, I requested a copy of my medical records be sent to a new doctor to evaluate. I am scheduling an appointment with her in the next couple of weeks to see if she has some miracle trick she can pull from her bag because I just don't feel my doc is taking me or my pain serious. In fact, he told me my tolerance level for pain is just low and that's why I'm not have any success. That really made me mad in that I won't take pain meds until I'm almost in tears. I played a whole softball game about 7-8 weeks ago after rolling my ankle warming up and never complained. I got hit in the head by a man throwing a softball to throw me out at a very high speed and after recovering from the dizziness, I contineud to play ball. I even tore my ACL and continued to play softball for the remainder of the summer before having surgery, so to me, that was a insult to basically say I'm a cry baby. His solution to my pain is to just keep increasing my methotrexate. I was diagnosed 3-1/2 yrs ago and started at 3 a week and within 3 months was at 9 a week. Today he suggested I go to 10 or 11...NOT!!! My hair has thinned emough.

Looking for support!

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Answers (1)

Hope

8/15/09 12:40pm

I"ve been on enbrel for almost three years and not gained any weight, but it works for me and exercise daily. However prednisone will make you gain weight taken long term. Heck I take it for 12 day runs and I gain 5 pound with it but lose it in less than a week of being of it. It however works (for me at least) As far as not finding the right mix, it took 4 and half years for me to find the right mix. Enbrel works not completely, not with meth but with arava it works great. My grandmother describes it as playing russian ruoulette with drugs. They never found anything that worked for her befor she died. It will happen, getting stressed about it will make it worse though, so relax,the drs do know what they are talking about.

tatagrn

8/17/09 5:36pm

Hi I took Enbrel for about four months, it worked at first and then my levels went back up. I didn't nitice weight gain with Enbrel. They just finally got Remicaide to go throu my insurance and I have had two infusions. I have noticed a little wieght gain.. BUt I am also off work for now with a stress fracture of the left foot so i am not as active as I should be. I also take MTX. But I went to injections once a week about a yea ago. The pills did not work for me. I also take folice acid,neurontin, Ultram, Lortab as needed. I still don't think I have the right combo om meds. My rheumy says we have to get my RA undercontrol and then work on my fibro, but damn it is a long road hurting everymoring when you wake up. I think everyone is different with which drugs work and it seems to take a long time for everyone to find the right combo for them. But stress is worse for you so try to relax and ask questions. Hope things work for you..

cbrown

8/20/09 3:06am

See my dr is not even offering injections for the metho. He just keeps saying increase the dose. To me, 11 sounds like a lot of metho to take p/week, especially when I keep hearing people say they take 3 or 4. Also, I'm getting back to having difficulty sleeping at night which makes me late to work everyday (like 2 hrs.) or I'm so stiff and in so much pain that I'm late. I get 5-1/2 weeks vacation a year plus like 15 sick days. I rarely have one day of vacation available so I can just relax. I have to save all my time to deal with the disease which pretty much exhausts my time.

There's a 12 yr difference between my kids. I did so much with my son. We went skating every week, had season passes to Six Flags and often went to the zoo and hung out. A feel like I'm neglecting my daughter. Prior to her birth, I was fine. She's eight and I just feel like she's not getting her fair share and it makes me angry! I keep saying that I'm not going to let this thing get the best of me, but it's winning. The more I realize I can't do, the more angry I get. Then to have a dr who doesn't seem to be sensitive, wow what a downer. My husband tries to relate, but still not having to deal with this issue or be as active as I've always been, he really doesn't understand. A lot of times when I'm hurting he'll try to rub whichever joint is aching but he doesn't understand when I pull away because he's adding additional pressure. he thinks I'm being mean and that what he's doing should make me feel better. I hate holding hands because my hands are swollen and hurt EVERYDAY of my life. Here lately, my hips and ankles are hurting daily too. I rolled my ankle about 4 weeks ago and it just doesn't seem to want to heal. I'm dealing, but because it was injured it hurts even worst. I can't stand in line or walk around the mall because after 5 mins I'm in so much pain.

I don't mean to rant, but I guess I'm tired and just want some relief. I wish my disease would allow me a little more freedom and ability to do things. I'm okay, I'll continue to deal with this thing until I find the right dr w/the right answers. Thanks for listening.

Q: Weight Gain w/Remicade

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