Re: Going off Arava

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I've been off the Arava for a week, and I'm feeling good! I'm very

surprised. I've been taking one OTC ibuprofin tab at noon to help

with a swollen tendon in my hand, and that's all. Even that feels

optional. The " R " word (remission) has crossed my mind a couple of

times...

Perhaps I still have enough DMARD in my system to be helping me.

Don't know; time will tell. But I'm very grateful.

Sierra

> >

> > Oh no, I am so sorry Sierra. I also took Arava and had wonderful

> results then for the same reason as yours, had to come off it.

> Itwas at that point I was offered Enbrel which was a lifesaver for

> me. How are you feeling without taking Arava?

> >

> > Hugs

> > June

> > [ ] Sierra

> >

> >

> > >>Oh, my. Just got a call from my rheumatologist saying that my

> liver

> > >>enzymes are elevated and I must stop the Arava. Too soon to

> talk about

> > >>other treatments as my liver must heal first.

> >

> > Ouch, sorry I hope your liver will heal soon and you can

> > go back on meds...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I sure hope I do as well as you have. My doc just called me this

morning. My liver values have continued to rise, and I ahve to

stop taking the Arava. This is the first time I've felt pretty good

in 6 months, and now I have to stop. I'm supposed to keep taking

the Mtx, but that alone didn't do much before.

We are leaving Sunday on our 25th anniversary trip to Costa Rica

too, and I really don't want to spend the week curled up in bed.

She did tell me that if I start feeling worse, I can increase my

prednisone AGAIN. (not that I've gotten it down very far... every

time we begin to taper, something happens again... I'm still on 12.5

mg) She thinks that will hold me until I get back, because she says

it will take several days before the Arava levels even start to drop

in my blood. Then I have to go see her again and have more blood

work again as soon as we get back.

Bummer. This disease sucks. The minute you think you're getting

the upper hand, it turns around and socks you again.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I DIDN'T want to hear this.

> > >

> > > Oh no, I am so sorry Sierra. I also took Arava and had

wonderful

> > results then for the same reason as yours, had to come off it.

> > Itwas at that point I was offered Enbrel which was a lifesaver

for

> > me. How are you feeling without taking Arava?

> > >

> > > Hugs

> > > June

> > > [ ] Sierra

> > >

> > >

> > > >>Oh, my. Just got a call from my rheumatologist saying that

my

> > liver

> > > >>enzymes are elevated and I must stop the Arava. Too soon

to

> > talk about

> > > >>other treatments as my liver must heal first.

> > >

> > > Ouch, sorry I hope your liver will heal soon and you can

> > > go back on meds...

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I am so very sorry that you have to stop the Arava. I

also was unable to continue taking Arava, for

different reasons, but darn, it was working! I

continued on with just Mtx which did not control the

RA very well at all, until my insurance changed and I

was able to get ahold of Enbrel. That has been a big

change in my RA, and it may just be where you might be

headed too, my friend. If you do, I can only hope

that it helps you as much as it does me, or better!

I hope that you are able to enjoy your vacation with

your hubby - take the extra pred if that means you

will be able to do the things you had planned! It

actually takes quite a while for Arava to be cleaned

out of your system, and some doctors even prescribe

medication to get it out quicker, don't know the name

of it, but I am sure or a does. I did not do

that because my liver was good, but with elevated

enzymes you might want to consider that when you

return.

I completely understand your frustration that

something which was helping your RA having to be

discontinued. It's one of the problems we all face

when we decide to take these meds - the possible side

effects that sometimes can cause problems worse than

what you began with. Take Milk Thistle too (find it

in the vitamin/herbal section of your store - Wal Mart

for me) - I have for probably six years now - and it

does help your liver function - at least it has worked

for me in keeping my enzymes good. Just another

thought for you.

Anyway, remember that song " Don't worry, be happy " ?

That is what you need to do on your vacation - take a

break from all of this - take your Pred - and enjoy

your husband and Costa Rica. Sounds so romantic!

Happy 25th! Take care -

Kathe in CA

--- Randall <krandall@...> wrote:

> My liver values have continued to rise,

> and I ahve to stop taking the Arava. This is the

first time I've> felt pretty good > in 6 months, and

now I have to stop. > We are leaving Sunday on our

25th anniversary trip> to Costa Rica > too, I start

feeling worse, I can> increase my > prednisone AGAIN.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathe,

The rheumatologist wants to see me again as soon as I get back.

She'll repeat the blood work again, and if my ALT hasn't started

going down, I may have to take the stuff that removes the Arava rom

your system.

She's talking about putting me on Orencia as the next option. She

says there are less problems with compromised immune system with

that than some of the others. I'll try anything, I guess!<g>

The trouble is that I'm pretty sure I'm going to go down hill again,

even if I increase the prednisone. Even with 15mg of prednisone,

the Mtx just didn't cut it. She doesn't want me to increase the

pred past 15mg, and I understand why. But I'm not looking forward

to it.

I'm going to try not to even think about it for the next week, and

if my fingers and toes don't hurt too much, I'll keep them crossed

that the Arava will at least keep working until I get back!

>

> > My liver values have continued to rise,

> > and I ahve to stop taking the Arava. This is the

> first time I've> felt pretty good > in 6 months, and

> now I have to stop. > We are leaving Sunday on our

> 25th anniversary trip> to Costa Rica > too, I start

> feeling worse, I can> increase my > prednisone AGAIN.

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>