Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Greetings. My name's Connie. I've been following you guys for a few months now. I'm learning a lot about RA and what a nice group you are. I always imagined my first post would be on a positive note, but I need to get some opinions about the direction I'm going in the RA treatment. I usually have a positive attitude, but today has turned out to be confounding. I've been seeing a Rheumy who is very conservative, since last winter. He calls this a difficult diagnosis, probably RA, treated as RA. Previously, my Neourosurgeon had diagnosed RA, thus the referral to a Rheumy. We've done Celebrex, Plaquinel, Sulfasalozine, Metholtrexate. My condition continues to worsen. I can not work now. I'm a middle school art teacher. I haven't even been able to start school this fall. ..It's a physically demanding job, especially with the fatigue and bad hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders/hips. I feel like I've been very patient. Most information I've found says that one should seek agressive treatment. I'm really interested in trying one of the newer drugs. The Rheumy wants to continue with the Celebrex, Plaquinel, Metholtrexate for 6 more weeks (I've already been on Meth. for 8 weeks and am nauseous, with mouth sores and bleeding gums) I don't want to take the Meth. any more. So I saw a new Rheumy today. He thinks its not RA. He thinks the hip/lower back pain, and the hand/arm/shoulder pain are unrelated. He said everyone has fatigue. He thinks I have sleep apnea (though I have no problems sleeping) and I probably clench my fists at night. He wants me to stop all meds (scares the poop out of me! I can barely tolerate the pain as it is) and instead, take a valium/sleeping meds. Even though I wish it wasn't true, I think the RA diagnosis is right, especially since I have 2 other autoimmune diseases (has anyone heard of the triplet autoimmune diseases- Hoshimoto's, Colitis, RA?). I'm in a quandry. I'd appreciate any opinions or thoughts. I'm wandering aimlessly......Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Greetings. My name's Connie. I've been following you guys for a few months now. I'm learning a lot about RA and what a nice group you are. I always imagined my first post would be on a positive note, but I need to get some opinions about the direction I'm going in the RA treatment. I usually have a positive attitude, but today has turned out to be confounding. I've been seeing a Rheumy who is very conservative, since last winter. He calls this a difficult diagnosis, probably RA, treated as RA. Previously, my Neourosurgeon had diagnosed RA, thus the referral to a Rheumy. We've done Celebrex, Plaquinel, Sulfasalozine, Metholtrexate. My condition continues to worsen. I can not work now. I'm a middle school art teacher. I haven't even been able to start school this fall. ..It's a physically demanding job, especially with the fatigue and bad hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders/hips. I feel like I've been very patient. Most information I've found says that one should seek agressive treatment. I'm really interested in trying one of the newer drugs. The Rheumy wants to continue with the Celebrex, Plaquinel, Metholtrexate for 6 more weeks (I've already been on Meth. for 8 weeks and am nauseous, with mouth sores and bleeding gums) I don't want to take the Meth. any more. So I saw a new Rheumy today. He thinks its not RA. He thinks the hip/lower back pain, and the hand/arm/shoulder pain are unrelated. He said everyone has fatigue. He thinks I have sleep apnea (though I have no problems sleeping) and I probably clench my fists at night. He wants me to stop all meds (scares the poop out of me! I can barely tolerate the pain as it is) and instead, take a valium/sleeping meds. Even though I wish it wasn't true, I think the RA diagnosis is right, especially since I have 2 other autoimmune diseases (has anyone heard of the triplet autoimmune diseases- Hoshimoto's, Colitis, RA?). I'm in a quandry. I'd appreciate any opinions or thoughts. I'm wandering aimlessly......Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 > > Greetings. My name's Connie. .. ... Even though I wish it wasn't true, I think the RA diagnosis is right, especially since I have 2 other autoimmune diseases (has anyone heard of the triplet autoimmune diseases- Hoshimoto's, Colitis, RA?). I'm in a quandry. I'd appreciate any opinions or thoughts. .> Hi Connie, I have the triplet autoimmune diseases, collegeous colitis, Hoshimoto's and RA and most recently hypertension. My hands would wake me up at night, I fell down stairs a couple times a week and at times I felt I had the flu as all my joints just hurt. My first Rhemy didn't do much but put me on mobic and ordered tests. My second Rhemy did way too much, however she did get me on Humira, but she also became my Gastro and endocrinologist and she was lousy at that. My third Rhemy and my current one for the last 1 1/2 years added Methotrexate to the Humira and that did the trick for me as far as pain goes. I did increase the Humira to weekly injections last Feb. after a flare of the colitis which caused my RA to flare as well. Was on Pred for 3 weeks and had some pain after it was all over, so he increased the Humira. The side effects from Methotrexate are probably because your taking it orally. The injections are easy and because they bypass the intestional track, few if any side effects. I also take 2 folic acid tablets daily to try and combat any side effects from the Methotrexate. I work as a Vet Tech which is also a demanding job. The FATIGUE IS REAL!! So real that it has completely changed my life. Please don't let anyone tell you that this kind of fatigue is normal. I haven't found any solution for the fatigue, I just get alot of sleep, concentrate on my health and my work. After fixing dinner or lunch, that's about all I can do. I quit socilizing during the week, then I stopped doing much of anything on the weekends because I take the Humira and Methotrexate on Friday evenings and that pretty much does me in. When I do something else outside of that, I usually end up paying for it for a few days. Welcome to the group, it is a wonderful place to learn and vent. I think you need a new Rhemy, but see what kind of feedback you get from the others. Gentle hugs, Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2005 Report Share Posted November 9, 2005 > > Greetings. My name's Connie. .. ... Even though I wish it wasn't true, I think the RA diagnosis is right, especially since I have 2 other autoimmune diseases (has anyone heard of the triplet autoimmune diseases- Hoshimoto's, Colitis, RA?). I'm in a quandry. I'd appreciate any opinions or thoughts. .> Hi Connie, I have the triplet autoimmune diseases, collegeous colitis, Hoshimoto's and RA and most recently hypertension. My hands would wake me up at night, I fell down stairs a couple times a week and at times I felt I had the flu as all my joints just hurt. My first Rhemy didn't do much but put me on mobic and ordered tests. My second Rhemy did way too much, however she did get me on Humira, but she also became my Gastro and endocrinologist and she was lousy at that. My third Rhemy and my current one for the last 1 1/2 years added Methotrexate to the Humira and that did the trick for me as far as pain goes. I did increase the Humira to weekly injections last Feb. after a flare of the colitis which caused my RA to flare as well. Was on Pred for 3 weeks and had some pain after it was all over, so he increased the Humira. The side effects from Methotrexate are probably because your taking it orally. The injections are easy and because they bypass the intestional track, few if any side effects. I also take 2 folic acid tablets daily to try and combat any side effects from the Methotrexate. I work as a Vet Tech which is also a demanding job. The FATIGUE IS REAL!! So real that it has completely changed my life. Please don't let anyone tell you that this kind of fatigue is normal. I haven't found any solution for the fatigue, I just get alot of sleep, concentrate on my health and my work. After fixing dinner or lunch, that's about all I can do. I quit socilizing during the week, then I stopped doing much of anything on the weekends because I take the Humira and Methotrexate on Friday evenings and that pretty much does me in. When I do something else outside of that, I usually end up paying for it for a few days. Welcome to the group, it is a wonderful place to learn and vent. I think you need a new Rhemy, but see what kind of feedback you get from the others. Gentle hugs, Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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