Re: Arava making me worse-anyone else? -

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for your response. I am sorry to hear you are having a

difficult time with your RA and treatments. You sound a lot like me

in that respect. MTX makes my anxiety unbearable and also so terribly

sick. Arava doesn't give me any side effects except more pain. LOL

My doc said we need to try it for a bit for insurance purposes. I am

on pain meds as well. Today I started yet another prednisone pack to

help me function. Gotta love the disease.

>

> :

>  

> Of course, each of us is different and what works for one, doesn't

necessarily work for another.  Having said that, my history is 4

years since RA diagnosis (+ Fibro & Sjogren's).  My RA has been quite

aggressive.  Currently on Methotrexate (1.0 cc by injection),

Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine and I'm in dose #4 of Humira.  Before trying

Humira, I tried Arava, the last pill left for me to try.  In order to

get on it, I had to get off the Mtx.  Biggest mistake I've made to

date.  I missed several weeks of work and landed in the hospital

before it was all said and done.  Needless to say, the Arava did

nothing for me and the mtx DOES.  After that fiasco, I went back on

mtx and then started Humira.  Although, to date, I am still not back

to " pre-Arava trial " as far as my flares go, I am doing better now. 

Humira does not seem to be doing me any good thus far, although dr.

said it may take a longer trial because my RA has been so

aggressive.  I'm 38

> and still trying to work full time. 

>  

> I did not have success with Arava, but I know some folks do.  I've

tried Enbrel in the past, but too many bad side effects for me to

function.  If Humira doesn't work, I'm only left with 3 infusion-

style drugs, I believe - I've already tried everything else out

there.  It's very disheartening, but I keep hoping that my " miracle "

drug is right around the corner.  I wish you best of luck.

>  

> April does seem far, but most of these drugs can take 3-6 months

before you know if they are working.  Meanwhile, you gotta be able to

LIVE!!!  If you decide to take your dr.'s advice and stay on the

trial, you might want to talk with him/her about pain management to

get you through it.  Also, although it has its own problems, you

might want to consider steroid therapy temporarily to help you get

through until the Arava has time to kick in.  There are many pros and

cons, so talk with your dr. 

>  

> I have to tell you that I hate being on steroids, (the high doses

have cause me to have high blood pressure, so now I get to take

another pill for that!) but it's better than being in excruciating

pain and not being able to work or function.  Like most everything

used to treat RA and its symptoms, temporary steroid use might be

the " lesser of two evils " . 

>  

> Praying you have a pain free, mobile day!

>  

> in Texas