Re: need advice-

[Guest guest]

Your regular MD should be able to find one for you. I do know one in Louisville,

Dr. June. She is very good and very nice; she is the one who diagnosed me a bit

over a year ago.

As for prednisone, I have been taking it, I admit a tiny dose --2.5mg-- since

I was diagnosed and I never gained any weight.

<melissahancock@...> wrote:

Hi, my name is and i'm married with 3 sons. I was diagnosed with RA

about 2 years ago. My reg. doc has tried to get me referred to a rheumatologist,

but there are none in the state of Kentucky that will accept my insurance. I am

disabled and have medicare and medicaid. So my reg. doc has tried me on

sulfasalazine, which didn't work and methotrexate pills. the methotrexate worked

really well for my arthritis, but tore my stomach up so bad that I stayed sick

all of the time. I had to stop taking it for that reason. Now my RA is alot

worse because I haven't been taking anything. I'm afraid of prednisone because I

have heard that it causes weight gain and I am already 100 pds. overweight

because of meds for other illnesses and a bad back that keeps me from being able

to be very active. My reg doc mentioned plaquenil and I'm going to see her

tonight. Does anyone know anything about this med and it's side affects. Does

anyone have any suggestions about meds or how I can get a

rheumatologist to see me? I am desperate. My RA affects me worse in my hands,

knees and ankles. I have gotten to the point where I Can't do stairs. I also

feel like there is a huge weight on my chest all of the time, which is scary. I

know next to nothing about this disease except that I just turned 37 yrs. old

and feel like I am 100. I would appreciate any responses. I truly need help.

Thank You