Re: too late?

September 7, 1999

Micki,

I still think AP (antibiotic protocol) is worth trying for your mother,

particularly since the doctors have seemed to give up on her. The only

thing is, you need to become more educated about what this treatment is

and how it works because expecting results in only 2 weeks is completely

unrealistic. I'd highly recommend that you read The New Arthritis

Breakthrough as it explains in normal English the theory behind the

treatment, as well as giving a number of case studies that are more than

interesting. I'd also recommend you check out this group's web site at

www.rheumatic.org and go through it thoroughly, paying particular

attention to the protocol section. This is a treatment that is long

term and requires patience and diligence, it is not an overnight quick

fix but I truly believe it holds out the best chance for improvement or

remission with the least amount of risk. So, do the reading, see what

you think and hopefully you and your mother will decide to give it a

try. It's never too late in my books.

Good luck,

a Peden

> MICKI L LEPLA wrote:

>

> Hello my name is Micki and my mother has severe RA. We are in the

> process of looking for a doctor who will administer the antibiotic

> treatments as soon as we can. My question is...can it be too late in

> some cases. My mother has 1 to 2 years to live according to her

> doctors. She is basically bed ridden only getting up to hobble to the

> bathroom or to take a shower which she does as infrequently as

> possible...my mom was always a very tidy lady. She is so weak that

> after only a few steps her legs feel like led. She seems to be

> deteriorating on a daily bases instead of yearly like at the

> beginning. She is 67 years old but looks at least 20 years beyond

> that. She was told she had Ra about 5 years ago so we have felt this

> has all happened very fast, but after reading about it some more I

> more or less convinced that she has had it much longer she just didn't

> know it. I wish I had looked at this info sooner about the antibiotic

> therapy, but I kept passing it up because I thought she had already

> tried it. She was only on minocycline for 2 weeks and then went off

> because she didn't think it worked. I made the mistake and thought

> her doctor knew what he was doing, but he only tried it because she

> asked him to. She has been on most of the meds that are out there for

> RA except the gold treatments. Nothing is working anymore. She is

> still taking 10 mg. of prednisone but it doesn't seem to be helping

> anymore either. Thankyou in advance for any answers you can give me.

> This information has given our family the first hope we have had since

> this monster showed up and we thank you we only hope it isn't too late

> for my mom. We don't want to put her through any more pain if there

> isn't a chance it will help. Has anyone been as sick as my mom and

> recovered? We sure hope so. Thanks, Micki

September 7, 1999

Micki,

I whole heartedly agree with a's message to you. Never say die and neve

give up.

Best to you and your mom.

Skip

PS ask all the questions of this group that you need to.

rheumatic too late?

Hello my name is Micki and my mother has severe RA. We are in the process

of looking for a doctor who will administer the antibiotic treatments as soon as

we can. My question is...can it be too late in some cases. My mother has 1 to

2 years to live according to her doctors. She is basically bed ridden only

getting up to hobble to the bathroom or to take a shower which she does as

infrequently as possible...my mom was always a very tidy lady. She is so weak

that after only a few steps her legs feel like led. She seems to be

deteriorating on a daily bases instead of yearly like at the beginning. She is

67 years old but looks at least 20 years beyond that. She was told she had Ra

about 5 years ago so we have felt this has all happened very fast, but after

reading about it some more I more or less convinced that she has had it much

longer she just didn't know it. I wish I had looked at this info sooner about

the antibiotic therapy, but I kept passing it up because I thought she had

already tried it. She was only on minocycline for 2 weeks and then went off

because she didn't think it worked. I made the mistake and thought her doctor

knew what he was doing, but he only tried it because she asked him to. She has

been on most of the meds that are out there for RA except the gold treatments.

Nothing is working anymore. She is still taking 10 mg. of prednisone but it

doesn't seem to be helping anymore either. Thankyou in advance for any answers

you can give me. This information has given our family the first hope we have

had since this monster showed up and we thank you we only hope it isn't too late

for my mom. We don't want to put her through any more pain if there isn't a

chance it will help. Has anyone been as sick as my mom and recovered? We sure

hope so. Thanks, Micki

September 8, 1999

Dear Micki,

No, it's never too late. Ethel Snooks, the founder of this group, had severe RA

and polymyositis for 17 years before recovering on the antibiotics. She was 71

when she started antibiotic therapy.

I'll send you our doctors' list - there might be an experienced doctor in your

area. If not, we can give you the names and phone numbers of experienced doctors

and perhaps one of your local doctors could consult?

As your mum has been ill for so long and has been on all the drugs usually

prescribed, the antibiotic would need to be introduced very gradually. She would

almost certainly need clindamycin as well as oral minocycline or doxycycline.

Let us know how we can help you. You might like to read some of the medical

histories of long-term RA patients on our web page at

www.rheumatic.org/medhist.htm - one member of this group had severe RA for 43

years and her story is on the web page.

Your mother's medical history is very familiar to people in this group. Give the

antibiotics a try - the therapy won't hurt her and she has absolutely nothing to

lose. This group will help you every step of the way.

Chris.

Hello my name is Micki and my mother has severe RA. We are in the process of

looking for a doctor who will administer the antibiotic treatments as soon as we

can. My question is...can it be too late in some cases. My mother has 1 to 2

years to live according to her doctors. She is basically bed ridden only