Guest guest Posted December 10, 2001 Report Share Posted December 10, 2001 Hi, Sherri: Well, welcome to the club! I was diagnosed a couple of years ago and have had a little experience with medications, but no surgery. Right off the bat I want to wish you a speedy recovery. I was in great pain at the time of diagnosis, and the diagnosis was immediate after the blood test. I was sent immediately to a specialist who treated me with Methotrexate and Arava, coupled in the beginning with 20 Mg Prednisone every day (Methotrexate once a week). I have had no side effects that I know of. As soon as the pain was completely gone (not even morning stiffness) the Prednisone was reduced gradually to 5mg every other day. I am still taking these same drugs and doing really great. Don't be afraid. You are not alone in this disease. You certainly have my sympathetic ear anytime things get hairy (and believe me, it gets that way every now and then). I would love to hear how you are doing and will be thinking of you. Beatrice >From: sedling@... >Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis >Rheumatoid Arthritis >Subject: New to the disease >Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 16:09:54 -0500 (EST) > >I am a 34 yo female who is newly diagnosed with RA. Any and all >information anyone could provide would be appreciated...sherri > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Dear Beatrice...Thanks you soooo very much for your message. I appreciate the info. My doc is talking about putting me on Plaquel(?). I am very nervous about taking this med....but the pain and stiffness-especially in the AM-is just too great. The prednisone is not working like it used to. If anyone out there has taken this drug, I would love to hear from you, specifically: how did the drug work for you?.....any side effects? Thanks again!!!!!!! sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Hi Sherri, I was put on plac when I was first diagnosed with ra. I was on it for a few years, and I never had any side effect. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck, Diane. ----- Original Message ----- From: <sedling@...> <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 7:44 PM Subject: Re: New to the disease > Dear Beatrice...Thanks you soooo very much for your message. I > appreciate the info. My doc is talking about putting me on Plaquel(?). I > am very nervous about taking this med....but the pain and > stiffness-especially in the AM-is just too great. The prednisone is not > working like it used to. If anyone out there has taken this drug, I > would love to hear from you, specifically: how did the drug work for > you?.....any side effects? Thanks again!!!!!!! sherri > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Hi Sherri, I too wish that I did not have to take all of these meds! I am currently on methotrexate injections(once a week),folic acid,mobic, & ultram. I just currently went off of Enbrel( sorry, this drug just wasn't the "miracle" for me that it was for others) and in January will be starting Kineret(an injection that is every day). Fortunately I have not had any bad side effects with any of these meds. I did have a bad allergic reaction to Celebrex & Prednisone I will never take again due to severe side effects. Unfortunately the only way to slow this disease is to take these drugs. Hope this helps. Feel free to continue asking questions-its the only way I ever find things out! Good Luck & God Bless, Barbara sedling@... wrote: Dear Beatrice...Thanks you soooo very much for your message. Iappreciate the info. My doc is talking about putting me on Plaquel(?). Iam very nervous about taking this med....but the pain andstiffness-especially in the AM-is just too great. The prednisone is notworking like it used to. If anyone out there has taken this drug, Iwould love to hear from you, specifically: how did the drug work foryou?.....any side effects? Thanks again!!!!!!! sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Dear Sherri One of the medications I take is plaquenil. I have not noticed any side effects from it except sensitivity to the sun. But I take other medications that have the same side effect. I also take imuran, methotrexate, arava, prednisone, vioxx, folic acid and Remicade. I understand completely how you feel! I started out with just methotrexate and folic acid then prednisone. But they didn't work too good so imuran was added then arava then Remicade. I still have red hot joints...not as often tho. I walk with a walker and can not work at my job and am now drawing social security disability. The RA affects all of my joints...jaws, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and feet...some worse than others. I still have good days and bad days. My rheumatologist is not happy with my progress so he's increasing the Remicade to 7 vials and is looking into a new medication if the Remicade continues to fail. I do not expect to ever have my " old life " back again but I would like to be able to do more than I can now. Good luck!! Carla -----Original Message----- From: sedling@... [mailto:sedling@...] Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 7:45 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: New to the disease Dear Beatrice...Thanks you soooo very much for your message. I appreciate the info. My doc is talking about putting me on Plaquel(?). I am very nervous about taking this med....but the pain and stiffness-especially in the AM-is just too great. The prednisone is not working like it used to. If anyone out there has taken this drug, I would love to hear from you, specifically: how did the drug work for you?.....any side effects? Thanks again!!!!!!! sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2001 Report Share Posted December 11, 2001 Hi Sherri, I'm just new here but not completely new to RA. I was diagnosed 3 years ago. I've been on Plaquenil ever since and it has worked very well for me. The morning stiffness was very bad. It would take me hours to get out of bed each morning. The Plaquenil took about 6 weeks to kick in but it made a big difference. I just recently added Doxycycline to the mix just to see if it might help. I took prednisone at the very begining but have been off of it for at least 2.5 years. Good luck, -------Original Message------- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 09:00:35 AM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: New to the disease Dear Beatrice...Thanks you soooo very much for your message. Iappreciate the info. My doc is talking about putting me on Plaquel(?). Iam very nervous about taking this med....but the pain andstiffness-especially in the AM-is just too great. The prednisone is notworking like it used to. If anyone out there has taken this drug, Iwould love to hear from you, specifically: how did the drug work foryou?.....any side effects? Thanks again!!!!!!! sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.