Question?  Did your doctor take you off because of an infection your children had passed to you? Or because the Enbrel had actually caused you side affects? 

If they had not, then have your bloodwork done and get back on it.  before your RA flares too badly for your doctor to do anything..All of our bio drugs have warnings and precautions.. But they work in most cases without them.

In my case I was on Enbrel for 6 years before my body stopped responding to it.  I was at a point where i could almost run again. 

After Enbrel, i was put on Humira..unfortunately i was taken off because i caught a horrible case of the flu after which I went immediately into a flareup.  Months later, the flare is still having a hayday and I have nothing except prednisone and NSAIDs.

Be thankful for your remission..we all have them and we pray for them..The reality is there is no cure..

Infections are really not caused by Enbrel, or even germs. They are caused by not supporting the immune system.  Do you take zinc?  Vitamin A? Vitamin D?  I take handfuls of vitamins and minerals (no herbs), and I never get sick.  Before I did that, even before I got RA, I was sick constantly - pneumonia and bronchitis, which developed into asthma.  It cost money to buy all these vitamins, but do some research. Even my 80 year old mother has noticed what a difference zinc esp. can make.  Don't know what the mechanism is, just that our food is depleted, and our bodies are compromised, so you really need the supplements.

Regardless of how little pain you are in - you need med support if you are diagnosed. This disease always progresses, whether you feel it or not. My cousin had RA for 55 years (since age 1).  She was only taking prednisone, and is very deformed.  Two years ago, she had an RA flare in her throat, almost died from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) from a heart attack, and now has a permanent trach - a hole in her throat for breathing.  I suggested she get on at least methotrexate, and the swelling went down, and she was able to get out of the hospital, at least.

Enbrel didn't work for me - headaches. I am on Kineret, and it has been great. It clears through the kidneys, no infection worries, but a daily shot. There are many biologics - Remember flares mean damage.  You want to slow that to a minimum, because over your life, you will become severely disabled.  Slow and steady deterioration is as bad as hard, fast flares.  Side effects from drugs are not as big an issue.  Even if the drug stops working, you can always switch to another.  As someone else said, there is no cure - you have to take care of yourself. 

kristina

1/25/12 2:28pm

This is a really stupid post.  Of course it is important to take vitamins and eat healthy.  But you clearly do not have children or are not around small children.  I was never sick before my son started bringing home things.  And of course Enbrel is the main culprit...it lowers your immune system.  

Angela53510

1/25/12 11:27pm

Four children, actually!  Plus I used to teach elementary school as a specialist with over 250 students daily from Kindergarten to grade 5 before RA. My kids were in a multitude of sports and activities. I don't think you could be exposed to more germs than I was. I was sick when I didn't take vitamins, and healthy when I did. Nothing to do with who I was exposed to.  I also teach kids in the summer in VBS and Sunday School at the current time.

 

My theory is that the numerous autoimmune diseases I have, or some genetic factor make it difficult for me to actually utilize the nutrients in food. So macro nutrients in the form of supplements turn that around the ability to fight germs naturally. Besides most people eat food that is grown on depleted soils, and eat more junk food than real food. And we wonder why we are sick, and blame it on biologics? I am on Rituxan now, and the same story, except Rituxan is much stronger and kills all the B cells.     

Angela53510

1/25/12 11:27pm

Four children, actually!  Plus I used to teach elementary school as a specialist with over 250 students daily from Kindergarten to grade 5 before RA. My kids were in a multitude of sports and activities. I don't think you could be exposed to more germs than I was. I was sick when I didn't take vitamins, and healthy when I did. Nothing to do with who I was exposed to.  I also teach kids in the summer in VBS and Sunday School at the current time.

 

My theory is that the numerous autoimmune diseases I have, or some genetic factor make it difficult for me to actually utilize the nutrients in food. So macro nutrients in the form of supplements turn that around the ability to fight germs naturally. Besides most people eat food that is grown on depleted soils, and eat more junk food than real food. And we wonder why we are sick, and blame it on biologics? I am on Rituxan now, and the same story, except Rituxan is much stronger and kills all the B cells.     

kristina

1/26/12 1:11pm

I might be convinced and am certainly willing to try a natural vitamin regimen.

 

Please clarify if you are around children while on biologics?  I also was always able to stay healthy before my immune system was suppressed.  

Angela53510

2/29/12 8:40pm

Let's put it this way, it is not going to hurt to take vitamins. I had severe asthma before RA, as a teacher I was always sick, till I started the vitamin regime. I have been on a biologic for 7 years now, and always teach Sunday School and VBS, although not in the classroom full time any more, plus having a daughter at home. The biologic was never the determining factor in constant infections for me, but whether I was supplementing. Of course, everyone is different, so it might not work. I just know how much it helped me.

 

Of course, suppressing the immune system with these biologics has got to be a factor in getting sick. But that means all the more reason to feed the body with the extra vitamins and minerals that the body uses to fight disease. It really is hard having to take biologics, but better than RA pain and damage, is the way I look at it. Good luck and let me know what happens if you try the vitamins.