Hey Everyone...It has been awhile again/Update

[Guest guest]

For those who don't know me, I've been with the group about two years...I

don't get to contribute a lot due to my lifestyle (My wife and I have nine

kids)..but do enjoy reading the posts when I am able and putting my 2 cents

in when I can...

Update on my progress:

You may recall I stopped taking Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine and

Chloriquim nearly a year ago (believe it was last Feb or March....I noticed

no real change in my symptoms...still had a knuckle or two steadily

inflammed....I have not yet started taking them again.

Until about a month ago I was taking 100 mg of Minocin twice a day and

5mg of Prednizone daily....I had been on Prednizone for nearly two years and

have grown increasingly fearful of the longterm side effects (including the

weight gain I've experienced...about 30-40 pounds so far). SO.....I decided

to wean myself off Prednizone and actually haven't taken Minocin for the

last month either...I know I should probably continue the Minocin but I am

just tired of filling my body with a bunch of drugs....I'll be starting it

up again in about a week...I'm just enjoying my drug vacation...

I have not had any major flares as a result of the cut backs...I DO have

one knuckle which refuses to stop being inflammed...one RD I saw told me my

hands give me the most trouble because I type so much....if her theory is

correct then my finger is inflammed because it is my index finger and I am

constantly using my mouse buttons.

I do have misc tenderness in various joints from time to time but

consider this fairly normal for my condition....I know many of you can

relate, I haven't had a painless day in a couple of years now but you kind

of learn to live with it....

One item which concerns me is the is that my doctor recently noticed my

blood pressure has increased and is marginally high....I've NEVER had a

problem like this before...it has always been perfect....Does anyone know if

any of the many drugs I've taken could have caused this?

One ending note, had an interesting conversation with the last doc I

saw....I discussed my frustration with the weight gain cause by the

prednizone...he told me that NO DOCTOR would attribute my weight gain to the

prednizone....it is just my age...I'm 41 now and it is

normal.....interesting, that's not what I seem to read everywhere else OR

what my RDs have said?.....

For those just starting the AP know that there is hope...I have gotten

better since starting on the AP and as I mentioned I have even stopped

taking all the other meds...

Blessings and Health to All!!!!

Tony Milligan