Re: Remicade ... Need Support warning loooooooog post!

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Hi :

Don't apologize for a long post - this is something

that is weighing heavily on your mind and heart, and

you can't express it in just a sentence or two. This

will be a long answer too, so bear with me! I have

never taken Remicade, I am on Enbrel, so I can't

really talk with you about that on a personal level.

I have had RA for 8 years, though, and want to talk to

you about your other issues.

You might be right about the reality of the disease

really hitting home. When it's taking a pill, it's one

thing, but thinking about injecting yourself or having

an infusion, that is scary. I completely understand,

it is scary, believe me thinking about giving myself

injections was the last thing I wanted to do to treat

my RA, but when the other meds are not helping, you

have to take that leap of faith sometimes to get some

relief, to get back your life, a quality of life.

No, RA is not going to go away, it is a forever

disease, but is different for everybody. No one can

tell you what your RA future holds. I take meds for

not only myself but for my family because I can't be

the kind of mom and wife I want to be without them. I

would be in too much pain to give them what they need

from me. What good would that do anybody? I have

enough days when I am pretty much down and out, I

don't want to be like that 24/7. Yes, they do have

side effects, and you are taking a chance with your

future health in a way, but what about your health and

quality of life, here and now? That is important to

me - I could be hit by a car tomorrow, and I don't

want to waste my time left in my life - I want to

enjoy now as much as possible, and if it means taking

scary meds, well, that is my choice. I keep my

fingers crossed lol.

Yes, I do live my life pretty much as I want to - and

my meds are what lets me do that. There is hope that

with the right medications we can get to feeling

better, and maybe even remission. That is what keeps

us all trying these medications - hope that this will

be the " one " . I hope Remicade is the " one " for you.

I hope that my words have helped you a little bit.

Just know that we are all here for you, wishing and

praying for good results for you, and keeping our

fingers crossed, and supporting you 100%. Let us know

how Monday goes -

Kathe in CA

> Hello,

>

> I posted asking if anyone had used Remicade and how

> they felt after the infusions etc. because I get my

first infusion Monday. I think > maybe the reality of

this disease is really hitting> me for the first >

time. sometimes I start to feel good like it is

going> away. I never think > of it as something that

will always be here now and> progressively > effect my

life.

Are their people out there who are able to lead their

> lives fairly > normally ... that have long term

remissions (years> or at least > months)? > Is there

hope of> not needing to do a > joint/pain assessment

each morning before I try to> stand up?

>

> Sorry this is so long. I don't want to worry my

> hubby or kids with > this and yet I feel like I am

going to be enveloped> by saddness and > fear.

>

> in St. Louis

>

>

>

>

>

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