Re: New diagnosis - now on Plaquinil - Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori:

Just wanted you to know that when I was first dx with

RA, I was begun on Plaquenil, 400 mg. twice a day, and

did very well on it for almost 2-1/2 years. I had no

side effects. You do need to get the baseline eye

exam done, and then re-exam every 6 months while on it

for the possible rare side effect of retinal damage.

I was also initially on Prednisone for about 2 months,

weaned off, but also was taking Motrin as my

anti-inflammatory. The only reason I had to stop the

Plaquenil was that my RA became more aggressive, and

the Plaquenil was not working as well any longer.

My feet are also one of the worst areas as far as the

RA is concerned - the tops of my feet and into the

ankles are constantly hot, aching, and it's quite

painful to walk for any length of time. I have a foot

bath with a massage feature which is quite soothing.

I have some OA in my big toes and thumbs, and right

knee, too. That sort of arthritis was something that

I always knew I would get, as most people do as they

age. However, RA was quite a shock, even though I do

have a family history of it. I had a bone scan a

couple of years back, and was told that I have the

bones of a 30 year old. Unfortunately, my joints are

those of a 90 year old lol. I am only 51, and it is

upsetting to have all these problems, I have FM and

Raynaud's too, especially when all of my friends are

still enjoying activities I used to do too.

Even though some are older than me, I feel older than

them most of the time.

I hope that you have good results with the Plaquenil -

just give the med time to kick in - it took me about

2-3 months before I began to experience benefit from

it. Best of luck -

Kathe in CA

--- loriginsberg@... wrote:

> Good Morning:

>

> I went back to my rheumatologist on Monday after

> being on 10mg prednisone

> for two weeks. While on the prednisone, the pain in

> my hands went away,

> but my feet got worse. It is very uncomfortable to

> walk. It's like

> there in gravel or something inside the balls of my

> feet and it can be

> painful. When I described this to my doctor along

> with the fact that my

> hands seemed to get better from the prednisone, he

> felt very confident

> that I have RA. I am now on Plaquinil two times a

> day and am being

> weaned slowly off the prednisone. He has also

> referred me to a

> podiatrist to be fitted for orthotics to ease the

> discomfort in my feet.

> Each day it seems my feet get a little worse. Just

> wondering about

> other's experience with Plaquinil and with wearing

> orthotics. Oh, I also

> heard from my internist with the results of a bone

> scan I had several

> weeks ago. It seems that I have osteoporosis in my

> spine. I'm only 52

> so he wants me to go on fosomax. How did all this

> happen? I've always

> been so healthy. I'm just taking one day at a time

> and very grateful

> that I have doctors who took me seriously when I

> initially described my

> symptoms since my blood work continues to come back

> normal.

>

> Thanks in advance for your encouragement and

> suggestions.

>

> Lori in Southern California

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

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