Re: Re:low white blood cell count AGAIN

[Guest guest]

My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next for me...

He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did you have low wbc on

the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

Faith

-------------- Original message --------------

In a message dated 3/30/2005 7:59:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sue writes:

When your doctor stops one med, he should try another one. Enbrel is a

good one to try. It's working very well for me and has had no effect on

the WBC count. Why don't you ask your doctor about it?

Hi Sue, Faith, and Judith! Thanks for your comments -- it's nice to know I

am not alone in this. Sue, I suppose I am heading down the path of

stronger meds like Enbrel, but I know insurance is making me " pay my dues and

really

suffer " a little more before the biologicals. My rheumy is re-evaluating

and will likely add the Methotrexate at our next visit in late April.

On a new note, I am in a major flare and my shoulder locked up last night.

Owwww! Geez, I think I am starting to experience the major pain I see you

guys writing about. It really sucked but the cortisone shot is helping some --

at least I can move now!

I felt like my doctor should know so I saw my rheumy again today(even though

I was just there last week) and she gave me a cortisone shot as well as

Darvocet and a prednizone pack (the 21 pill pack for 6 days). I have never

taken

prednizone and am a little concerned about it based on things I have read

here. I realize most of the discussion was around long-term use and side

effects, but does anyone have any thoughts on the short-term use before I begin

it

tomorrow?

BTW, after a day like today, tomorrow is EXTREME SELF-CARE DAY for me!

Naps, baths, tea, chocolate, drugs, and good reading! :-) I am good at that

stuff.

Love and Prayers,

Beth

PS. Thank you and a for all the articles!

[Guest guest]

My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next for me...

He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did you have low wbc on

the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

Faith

-------------- Original message --------------

In a message dated 3/30/2005 7:59:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sue writes:

When your doctor stops one med, he should try another one. Enbrel is a

good one to try. It's working very well for me and has had no effect on

the WBC count. Why don't you ask your doctor about it?

Hi Sue, Faith, and Judith! Thanks for your comments -- it's nice to know I

am not alone in this. Sue, I suppose I am heading down the path of

stronger meds like Enbrel, but I know insurance is making me " pay my dues and

really

suffer " a little more before the biologicals. My rheumy is re-evaluating

and will likely add the Methotrexate at our next visit in late April.

On a new note, I am in a major flare and my shoulder locked up last night.

Owwww! Geez, I think I am starting to experience the major pain I see you

guys writing about. It really sucked but the cortisone shot is helping some --

at least I can move now!

I felt like my doctor should know so I saw my rheumy again today(even though

I was just there last week) and she gave me a cortisone shot as well as

Darvocet and a prednizone pack (the 21 pill pack for 6 days). I have never

taken

prednizone and am a little concerned about it based on things I have read

here. I realize most of the discussion was around long-term use and side

effects, but does anyone have any thoughts on the short-term use before I begin

it

tomorrow?

BTW, after a day like today, tomorrow is EXTREME SELF-CARE DAY for me!

Naps, baths, tea, chocolate, drugs, and good reading! :-) I am good at that

stuff.

Love and Prayers,

Beth

PS. Thank you and a for all the articles!

[Guest guest]

oops i am sorry I meant to say did you have low WBC on methotrexate before

starting Enbrel?

-------------- Original message --------------

In a message dated 3/30/2005 7:59:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sue writes:

When your doctor stops one med, he should try another one. Enbrel is a

good one to try. It's working very well for me and has had no effect on

the WBC count. Why don't you ask your doctor about it?

Hi Sue, Faith, and Judith! Thanks for your comments -- it's nice to know I

am not alone in this. Sue, I suppose I am heading down the path of

stronger meds like Enbrel, but I know insurance is making me " pay my dues and

really

suffer " a little more before the biologicals. My rheumy is re-evaluating

and will likely add the Methotrexate at our next visit in late April.

On a new note, I am in a major flare and my shoulder locked up last night.

Owwww! Geez, I think I am starting to experience the major pain I see you

guys writing about. It really sucked but the cortisone shot is helping some --

at least I can move now!

I felt like my doctor should know so I saw my rheumy again today(even though

I was just there last week) and she gave me a cortisone shot as well as

Darvocet and a prednizone pack (the 21 pill pack for 6 days). I have never

taken

prednizone and am a little concerned about it based on things I have read

here. I realize most of the discussion was around long-term use and side

effects, but does anyone have any thoughts on the short-term use before I begin

it

tomorrow?

BTW, after a day like today, tomorrow is EXTREME SELF-CARE DAY for me!

Naps, baths, tea, chocolate, drugs, and good reading! :-) I am good at that

stuff.

Love and Prayers,

Beth

PS. Thank you and a for all the articles!

[Guest guest]

oops i am sorry I meant to say did you have low WBC on methotrexate before

starting Enbrel?

-------------- Original message --------------

In a message dated 3/30/2005 7:59:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sue writes:

When your doctor stops one med, he should try another one. Enbrel is a

good one to try. It's working very well for me and has had no effect on

the WBC count. Why don't you ask your doctor about it?

Hi Sue, Faith, and Judith! Thanks for your comments -- it's nice to know I

am not alone in this. Sue, I suppose I am heading down the path of

stronger meds like Enbrel, but I know insurance is making me " pay my dues and

really

suffer " a little more before the biologicals. My rheumy is re-evaluating

and will likely add the Methotrexate at our next visit in late April.

On a new note, I am in a major flare and my shoulder locked up last night.

Owwww! Geez, I think I am starting to experience the major pain I see you

guys writing about. It really sucked but the cortisone shot is helping some --

at least I can move now!

I felt like my doctor should know so I saw my rheumy again today(even though

I was just there last week) and she gave me a cortisone shot as well as

Darvocet and a prednizone pack (the 21 pill pack for 6 days). I have never

taken

prednizone and am a little concerned about it based on things I have read

here. I realize most of the discussion was around long-term use and side

effects, but does anyone have any thoughts on the short-term use before I begin

it

tomorrow?

BTW, after a day like today, tomorrow is EXTREME SELF-CARE DAY for me!

Naps, baths, tea, chocolate, drugs, and good reading! :-) I am good at that

stuff.

Love and Prayers,

Beth

PS. Thank you and a for all the articles!

[Guest guest]

Faith, I don't know whom you're asking here, but as no one has

answered, I will. Methotrexate was the first drug I was prescribed

after my diagnosis of RA. My WBC count was fine before that; it was my

red blood cells in trouble. I had a bleeding ulcer from simple Aleve.

The mtx gradually decreased the WBC count, then when I was switched to

Arava, it continued to decline until it was 2.2 (normal range

4.0-10.5). Now, after a little over a year, it's up to 3.3. Sue

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at 09:37 PM, fmt2002@... wrote:

>

> My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next

> for me... He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did

> you have low wbc on the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

> Faith

[Guest guest]

Faith, I don't know whom you're asking here, but as no one has

answered, I will. Methotrexate was the first drug I was prescribed

after my diagnosis of RA. My WBC count was fine before that; it was my

red blood cells in trouble. I had a bleeding ulcer from simple Aleve.

The mtx gradually decreased the WBC count, then when I was switched to

Arava, it continued to decline until it was 2.2 (normal range

4.0-10.5). Now, after a little over a year, it's up to 3.3. Sue

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at 09:37 PM, fmt2002@... wrote:

>

> My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next

> for me... He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did

> you have low wbc on the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

> Faith

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sue... I am not sure what my numbers are the doc said it is below normal

will do another test in about 10 days.

-------------- Original message --------------

Faith, I don't know whom you're asking here, but as no one has

answered, I will. Methotrexate was the first drug I was prescribed

after my diagnosis of RA. My WBC count was fine before that; it was my

red blood cells in trouble. I had a bleeding ulcer from simple Aleve.

The mtx gradually decreased the WBC count, then when I was switched to

Arava, it continued to decline until it was 2.2 (normal range

4.0-10.5). Now, after a little over a year, it's up to 3.3. Sue

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at 09:37 PM, fmt2002@... wrote:

>

> My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next

> for me... He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did

> you have low wbc on the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

> Faith

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sue... I am not sure what my numbers are the doc said it is below normal

will do another test in about 10 days.

-------------- Original message --------------

Faith, I don't know whom you're asking here, but as no one has

answered, I will. Methotrexate was the first drug I was prescribed

after my diagnosis of RA. My WBC count was fine before that; it was my

red blood cells in trouble. I had a bleeding ulcer from simple Aleve.

The mtx gradually decreased the WBC count, then when I was switched to

Arava, it continued to decline until it was 2.2 (normal range

4.0-10.5). Now, after a little over a year, it's up to 3.3. Sue

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at 09:37 PM, fmt2002@... wrote:

>

> My doctor already told me in an email today he thinks enbrel is next

> for me... He wants another CBC and more testing in the SLE realm. Did

> you have low wbc on the other drugs before you tried methotrexate?

> Faith