Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Hi to all, I was diagnosed with A.K. about two years ago. my specialist decided to put me on prednisone 10 ml per day and tramadol 50 ml three times a day. After a while the pain and stiffness began to re-appear so he increased the prednisone dose to an extra 5 ml to be taken later in the day. this seemed to be working quite well but my wife and other relatives were concerned about the length of time I had been getting the prednisone. one other arthritis sufferere in my family said his Dr. would only give him steroids for a maximum of ten days. So, after being on this program for about 18 - 20 months I asked my Doc about the prednisone, he said I had been on it for too long and we would move to another medication. Six weeks ago I began taking Plaquenil as well as my aforementioned dosage of tramadol and it has been a downward spiral since. I now have the same level of pain and stiffness that sent me looking for a specialist in the first place. My questions are, is this normal, can anyone direct me to better medication. I know you will probably tell me to get a second opinion but that isn't easy for me. My situation is that Live on a smallish island and the doctor I see is the only specialist in that field. My medical insurance will not pay for me to travel abroad when they have someone locally. thanks for reading and any help will be appreciated. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 I’m just another board member who is willing to look things up and post my opinions. I am not medically trained but I do read quite a bit and offer opinions that I hope are right but may be wrong. I think you should ask a pharmacist or your doctor instead of taking my word for things. However, as I said I am willing to give opinions. I didn’t know anything about Relafen so I looked it and heart attack up on Google. There are a lot of cautions that prolonged use will lead to an increased risk of heart attack but it doesn’t say whether the risk is changed from 1 in a million to 10 in a million or perhaps from 1 in 100 to 10 in 100. An increased risk of some side effect does not mean much to me unless I know what the risk is without the medication and what the risk is with the medication. I could live with a change from 1 in a million to 2 in a million but not with a change from 1 in 10 to 9 in 10. I would have to dig pretty hard to find out what the real change in risk is but perhaps a pharmacist could find it easier. Also remember that the warnings that come with medications are generally written by lawyers to prevent lawsuits rather than being written by doctors to inform patients. (Have you ever had someone take so many words to say “I don’t know”?) I can’t think of a better recommendation for the dry skin. I use Wool Wax Creme when I get dry skin and that usually comes in the winter when the air is very dry. Maybe using a humidifier in the house would help. I don’t know how generally available Wool Wax Creme is but a cosmetician or a lady clerk in a drug store would have a good idea of how to moisturize skin. I don’t have any idea of what to use for the scalp but usually women know a lot more about things like that than men do. Also a nutritionist may have some ideas on how to get the body to increase the natural oils in the skin. I’m sorry that you drew a blank from me on both of these questions, but keep trying and if you try enough I will be able to help on something. God bless. From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of JJHamilton Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 10:41 AM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: general information Hello Harold.... you seem to know a lot about this disease. May I ask you a couple questions that you may have answers to. Just want some kind of opinion. I received a paper with my meds yesterday cautioning users of NSADs that long time users have a greater risk of stroke or heart attack. I have been taking Relafen for about 10 or more years now. Did you ever hear of that? Also I have been itching on my arms for about 2 years and now my head is also becoming itchy. They say it may be a side effect of the drug. I have been to a dermatologist and they blame dry skin but I changed soaps and use cream and still get itchy. My doctor can't really answer me about that ....He just tells me to go to a derm. What are your thoughts on these subjects?._,___ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Thank-you so much just for answering, weather you know or don't. It is much appreciated that you took the time to look up things and give me an honest opinion. Thank-you again and God Bless you also. Harold Van Tuyl wrote: > > I’m just another board member who is willing to look things up and > post my opinions. I am not medically trained but I do read quite a bit > and offer opinions that I hope are right but may be wrong. I think you > should ask a pharmacist or your doctor instead of taking my word for > things. > > However, as I said I am willing to give opinions. I didn’t know > anything about Relafen so I looked it and heart attack up on Google. > There are a lot of cautions that prolonged use will lead to an > increased risk of heart attack but it doesn’t say whether the risk is > changed from 1 in a million to 10 in a million or perhaps from 1 in > 100 to 10 in 100. An increased risk of some side effect does not mean > much to me unless I know what the risk is without the medication and > what the risk is with the medication. I could live with a change from > 1 in a million to 2 in a million but not with a change from 1 in 10 to > 9 in 10. I would have to dig pretty hard to find out what the real > change in risk is but perhaps a pharmacist could find it easier. Also > remember that the warnings that come with medications are generally > written by lawyers to prevent lawsuits rather than being written by > doctors to inform patients. (Have you ever had someone take so many > words to say “I don’t know”?) > > I can’t think of a better recommendation for the dry skin. I use Wool > Wax Creme when I get dry skin and that usually comes in the winter > when the air is very dry. Maybe using a humidifier in the house would > help. I don’t know how generally available Wool Wax Creme is but a > cosmetician or a lady clerk in a drug store would have a good idea of > how to moisturize skin. I don’t have any idea of what to use for the > scalp but usually women know a lot more about things like that than > men do. Also a nutritionist may have some ideas on how to get the body > to increase the natural oils in the skin. > > I’m sorry that you drew a blank from me on both of these questions, > but keep trying and if you try enough I will be able to help on > something. God bless. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* Rheumatoid Arthritis > [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] *On Behalf Of *JJHamilton > *Sent:* Monday, November 13, 2006 10:41 AM > *To:* Rheumatoid Arthritis > *Subject:* Re: general information > > Hello Harold.... you seem to know a lot about this disease. May I ask > you a couple questions that you may have answers to. Just want some > kind of opinion. I received a paper with my meds yesterday cautioning > users of NSADs that long time users have a greater risk of stroke or > heart attack. I have been taking Relafen for about 10 or more years > now. Did you ever hear of that? Also I have been itching on my arms > for about 2 years and now my head is also becoming itchy. They say it > may be a side effect of the drug. I have been to a dermatologist and > they blame dry skin but I changed soaps and use cream and still get > itchy. My doctor can't really answer me about that ....He just tells > me to go to a derm. What are your thoughts on these subjects?._,___ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2006 Report Share Posted November 15, 2006 Dear JJ- The itchiness might be caused from a medication. Plaquenil can cause it. I get it when on sulfa drugs on any kind. This includes glucosamine sulfate. If anything you are on has sulfa in it, that could be a cause. Also having this disease in the winter is the pits. My skin gets itchy and dry. Having sjogens syndrome might aggravate that. (lacking moisture in eyes, mouth, skin. Be sure to drink gatorade if you dont already and plenty of water. I also use splenda to sweeten water or tea because it contains cellulose which is plant fiber which helps hold water in the body. I am allergic to lanolin so rely on moisturization from other sources. First off, cortizone cream for itchiness works most of the time. Just the generic is fine. Always apply moisturizer after a shower to lock in moisture too. I have a huge bottle of Queen Helene (cosmetic supply store) mango and cocoa butter lotion I would be happy to send you. I stock up for the winter and have so much, I would be happy to send it to you. for immediate relief try something with aloe. Brands like Eucerin, lubriderm, aveeno, goldbond medicated. Check for lanolin because that can cause irritation. I used to work in cosmetics so you can take my word for these brands. I would use a moisturizing liquid body wash non scented as well. Send my your snail mail if youd like the cream. Yours, Deborah On 11/15/06, JJHamilton <hammach3@...> wrote: Thank-you so much just for answering, weather you know or don't. It ismuch appreciated that you took the time to look up things and give me an honest opinion. Thank-you again and God Bless you also.Harold Van Tuyl wrote:>> I'm just another board member who is willing to look things up and> post my opinions. I am not medically trained but I do read quite a bit > and offer opinions that I hope are right but may be wrong. I think you> should ask a pharmacist or your doctor instead of taking my word for> things.>> However, as I said I am willing to give opinions. I didn't know > anything about Relafen so I looked it and heart attack up on Google.> There are a lot of cautions that prolonged use will lead to an> increased risk of heart attack but it doesn't say whether the risk is > changed from 1 in a million to 10 in a million or perhaps from 1 in> 100 to 10 in 100. An increased risk of some side effect does not mean> much to me unless I know what the risk is without the medication and > what the risk is with the medication. I could live with a change from> 1 in a million to 2 in a million but not with a change from 1 in 10 to> 9 in 10. I would have to dig pretty hard to find out what the real > change in risk is but perhaps a pharmacist could find it easier. Also> remember that the warnings that come with medications are generally> written by lawyers to prevent lawsuits rather than being written by > doctors to inform patients. (Have you ever had someone take so many> words to say "I don't know"?)>> I can't think of a better recommendation for the dry skin. I use Wool> Wax Creme when I get dry skin and that usually comes in the winter > when the air is very dry. Maybe using a humidifier in the house would> help. I don't know how generally available Wool Wax Creme is but a> cosmetician or a lady clerk in a drug store would have a good idea of > how to moisturize skin. I don't have any idea of what to use for the> scalp but usually women know a lot more about things like that than> men do. Also a nutritionist may have some ideas on how to get the body > to increase the natural oils in the skin.>> I'm sorry that you drew a blank from me on both of these questions,> but keep trying and if you try enough I will be able to help on> something. God bless. >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------>> *From:* Rheumatoid Arthritis > [mailto: Rheumatoid Arthritis ] *On Behalf Of *JJHamilton> *Sent:* Monday, November 13, 2006 10:41 AM> *To:* Rheumatoid Arthritis > *Subject:* Re: general information>> Hello Harold.... you seem to know a lot about this disease. May I ask> you a couple questions that you may have answers to. Just want some > kind of opinion. I received a paper with my meds yesterday cautioning> users of NSADs that long time users have a greater risk of stroke or> heart attack. I have been taking Relafen for about 10 or more years > now. Did you ever hear of that? Also I have been itching on my arms> for about 2 years and now my head is also becoming itchy. They say it> may be a side effect of the drug. I have been to a dermatologist and > they blame dry skin but I changed soaps and use cream and still get> itchy. My doctor can't really answer me about that ....He just tells> me to go to a derm. What are your thoughts on these subjects?._,___ >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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