Re: Almost official, and some questions

[Guest guest]

,

It is my understanding that predisone is not going to stop erosion caused by

RA... using predisone alone is " old school " . Usually Methotrexate at the least

or a combination of methotrexate and something as Enbrel or humira are

prescribed. Maybe I missed something in your previous posts..maybe you are

already taking these drugs as well as the predisone.

Good luck

Faith

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

Well, Dr. Jerk has gone from " you may have rheumatoid arthritis "

to " you probably have rheumatoid arthritis, but this isn't a normal

presentation " . I guess that's progress from two months ago when he

swore up and down I just needed more sleep .

In any case, the x-rays show calcification in at least one foot,

possibly both. It also didn't indicate WHERE it was located, so I

don't know if these are bone growths or arterial calcification or...???

I did not see the x-rays, and neither did the doctor. Seems like the

radiology department is a little lax at this office. Has anyone else

had any experience with this? I'm not finding much on the internet

about calcification in the foot as it relates to RA. It would explain

some of the persistent swelling around my ankle joints and the top of

my right foot even while on prednisone, though.

I'm back on prednisone for the next six weeks. I'm also starting

hydroxychlor. I'm wondering if anyone else has had success with this

medication, and how long before you saw a change? I'm also wondering

why he prescribed this and not something specifically for RA? This

guy isn't much for explaining anything, and doesn't really want to

hear answers to his questions, either. I may be rheumy shopping in

the near future, but I want to see what my bloodwork says in a couple

of months, so I'll stick with him until then, anyway. I don't want to

have it processed by another lab, since they may have different ways

of processing some of the tests, and I wouldn't get an accurate result.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

,

It is my understanding that predisone is not going to stop erosion caused by

RA... using predisone alone is " old school " . Usually Methotrexate at the least

or a combination of methotrexate and something as Enbrel or humira are

prescribed. Maybe I missed something in your previous posts..maybe you are

already taking these drugs as well as the predisone.

Good luck

Faith

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

Well, Dr. Jerk has gone from " you may have rheumatoid arthritis "

to " you probably have rheumatoid arthritis, but this isn't a normal

presentation " . I guess that's progress from two months ago when he

swore up and down I just needed more sleep .

In any case, the x-rays show calcification in at least one foot,

possibly both. It also didn't indicate WHERE it was located, so I

don't know if these are bone growths or arterial calcification or...???

I did not see the x-rays, and neither did the doctor. Seems like the

radiology department is a little lax at this office. Has anyone else

had any experience with this? I'm not finding much on the internet

about calcification in the foot as it relates to RA. It would explain

some of the persistent swelling around my ankle joints and the top of

my right foot even while on prednisone, though.

I'm back on prednisone for the next six weeks. I'm also starting

hydroxychlor. I'm wondering if anyone else has had success with this

medication, and how long before you saw a change? I'm also wondering

why he prescribed this and not something specifically for RA? This

guy isn't much for explaining anything, and doesn't really want to

hear answers to his questions, either. I may be rheumy shopping in

the near future, but I want to see what my bloodwork says in a couple

of months, so I'll stick with him until then, anyway. I don't want to

have it processed by another lab, since they may have different ways

of processing some of the tests, and I wouldn't get an accurate result.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Actually, he put me on prednisone for 20 days to see if it would

work. It was like a miracle...no pain after only 6 hours. As the

dosage was reduced (I was on 20mg, 15, 10, and 5 mg, each for 5

days) the pain crept back, to the point it was worse (as was the

swelling in my feet and ankles, plus my wrists and knuckles began to

swell, which had only happened once before, and not this bad). He

has now put me on hydroxychlor, and is using the prednisone only to

control the pain and swelling until it kicks in. He told me that it

could take as little as 3 weeks, or as long as 3 months or more. He

is hoping it kicks in earlier so he can wean me of the pred as soon

as possible. His one plus is that he is not a fan of prednisone,

and does not want to use it long term. I have to have SOMETHING,

since the fatigue right now is horrible, and I have an 18-month-old

at home. I've been catching myself dozing off while she's awake and

running around, and even when I am awake, I don't have the energy to

keep up with her, much less the mess she leaves as she wreaks havoc

on the house. Since I have no family close by, and all my potential

babysitters are pregnant (not to mention we don't have the money for

a " real " babysitter...), I'm stuck. I'm terrified of falling asleep

and something happening to her, so I really need SOMETHING to help

get me through this.

I'm mostly wondering if anyone else has had experience with

hydroxychlor, and what his reasoning might be to use it instead of

something like methotrexate. He's rather tight-lipped about what he

prescribes and why, which is one of the reasons I'm doctor

shopping. I just want one more blood panel run to see where I am,

using this lab, so I have a baseline when I go to a new doctor (and,

presumably, a different lab). I'd also really like to know if the

calcification in my foot could be related to RA, or if it is more

likely caused by something else. I've been looking online, and

can't find much on the subject. I've found mostly information on

calcification as it relates to plantar fascitis and diabetes.

>

> ,

> It is my understanding that predisone is not going to stop erosion

caused by RA... using predisone alone is " old school " . Usually

Methotrexate at the least or a combination of methotrexate and

something as Enbrel or humira are prescribed. Maybe I missed

something in your previous posts..maybe you are already taking these

drugs as well as the predisone.

>

> Good luck

> Faith

> -------------- Original message --------------

> Well, Dr. Jerk has gone from " you may have rheumatoid arthritis "

> to " you probably have rheumatoid arthritis, but this isn't a

normal

> presentation " . I guess that's progress from two months ago when

he

> swore up and down I just needed more sleep .

>

> In any case, the x-rays show calcification in at least one foot,

> possibly both. It also didn't indicate WHERE it was located, so I

> don't know if these are bone growths or arterial calcification

or...???

> I did not see the x-rays, and neither did the doctor. Seems like

the

> radiology department is a little lax at this office. Has anyone

else

> had any experience with this? I'm not finding much on the

internet

> about calcification in the foot as it relates to RA. It would

explain

> some of the persistent swelling around my ankle joints and the top

of

> my right foot even while on prednisone, though.

>

> I'm back on prednisone for the next six weeks. I'm also starting

> hydroxychlor. I'm wondering if anyone else has had success with

this

> medication, and how long before you saw a change? I'm also

wondering

> why he prescribed this and not something specifically for RA?

This

> guy isn't much for explaining anything, and doesn't really want to

> hear answers to his questions, either. I may be rheumy shopping

in

> the near future, but I want to see what my bloodwork says in a

couple

> of months, so I'll stick with him until then, anyway. I don't

want to

> have it processed by another lab, since they may have different

ways

> of processing some of the tests, and I wouldn't get an accurate

result.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Actually, he put me on prednisone for 20 days to see if it would

work. It was like a miracle...no pain after only 6 hours. As the

dosage was reduced (I was on 20mg, 15, 10, and 5 mg, each for 5

days) the pain crept back, to the point it was worse (as was the

swelling in my feet and ankles, plus my wrists and knuckles began to

swell, which had only happened once before, and not this bad). He

has now put me on hydroxychlor, and is using the prednisone only to

control the pain and swelling until it kicks in. He told me that it

could take as little as 3 weeks, or as long as 3 months or more. He

is hoping it kicks in earlier so he can wean me of the pred as soon

as possible. His one plus is that he is not a fan of prednisone,

and does not want to use it long term. I have to have SOMETHING,

since the fatigue right now is horrible, and I have an 18-month-old

at home. I've been catching myself dozing off while she's awake and

running around, and even when I am awake, I don't have the energy to

keep up with her, much less the mess she leaves as she wreaks havoc

on the house. Since I have no family close by, and all my potential

babysitters are pregnant (not to mention we don't have the money for

a " real " babysitter...), I'm stuck. I'm terrified of falling asleep

and something happening to her, so I really need SOMETHING to help

get me through this.

I'm mostly wondering if anyone else has had experience with

hydroxychlor, and what his reasoning might be to use it instead of

something like methotrexate. He's rather tight-lipped about what he

prescribes and why, which is one of the reasons I'm doctor

shopping. I just want one more blood panel run to see where I am,

using this lab, so I have a baseline when I go to a new doctor (and,

presumably, a different lab). I'd also really like to know if the

calcification in my foot could be related to RA, or if it is more

likely caused by something else. I've been looking online, and

can't find much on the subject. I've found mostly information on

calcification as it relates to plantar fascitis and diabetes.

>

> ,

> It is my understanding that predisone is not going to stop erosion

caused by RA... using predisone alone is " old school " . Usually

Methotrexate at the least or a combination of methotrexate and

something as Enbrel or humira are prescribed. Maybe I missed

something in your previous posts..maybe you are already taking these

drugs as well as the predisone.

>

> Good luck

> Faith

> -------------- Original message --------------

> Well, Dr. Jerk has gone from " you may have rheumatoid arthritis "

> to " you probably have rheumatoid arthritis, but this isn't a

normal

> presentation " . I guess that's progress from two months ago when

he

> swore up and down I just needed more sleep .

>

> In any case, the x-rays show calcification in at least one foot,

> possibly both. It also didn't indicate WHERE it was located, so I

> don't know if these are bone growths or arterial calcification

or...???

> I did not see the x-rays, and neither did the doctor. Seems like

the

> radiology department is a little lax at this office. Has anyone

else

> had any experience with this? I'm not finding much on the

internet

> about calcification in the foot as it relates to RA. It would

explain

> some of the persistent swelling around my ankle joints and the top

of

> my right foot even while on prednisone, though.

>

> I'm back on prednisone for the next six weeks. I'm also starting

> hydroxychlor. I'm wondering if anyone else has had success with

this

> medication, and how long before you saw a change? I'm also

wondering

> why he prescribed this and not something specifically for RA?

This

> guy isn't much for explaining anything, and doesn't really want to

> hear answers to his questions, either. I may be rheumy shopping

in

> the near future, but I want to see what my bloodwork says in a

couple

> of months, so I'll stick with him until then, anyway. I don't

want to

> have it processed by another lab, since they may have different

ways

> of processing some of the tests, and I wouldn't get an accurate

result.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>