~ & Remicade Update

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In a message dated 3/24/00 7:20:30 AM Pacific Standard Time,

ruf-caimi@... writes:

<< I am on predisone, it is okay to take. I'm not happy I have to be on it,

but I already suffer so much, so I know without it, the pain would be so

much worse. I hate taking the drugs, but my life has been turned upside

down by this thing. So for a little better quality life, I take it and it

helps. Just read about and know what the side effects are, so you can know

what will happen. Most drugs do not agree with me, but this one is okay.

My face is a little puffy from it, what that's okay and so far that is the

worst of what has happened. I realize this can change but you do what you

have to do.

Welcome to the group this a great people.

>>

Hi ,

How ya doing? I wanted to ask you how much prednisone you are on daily? You

probably told me, but I can't keep track of everyone. =) I take 10 mg a day.

I will be cutting back on that soon. I plan to start dropping 1 mg at a time

and wait for my body to adjust. Esp since I know the Remicade is working.

(doing a little arthritic dance!)

But what I wanted to say is, when my mom came over Monday to take me to my

Remicade appointment, she made a comment about my face. Since we all know

about getting the " moon " face due to prednisone. She said, " Wow, your face

even looks different! " I had noticed that, too. And it occurred to me, the

Remicade must have decreased the swelling in my jaw! I never even thought

about having swelling on my face due to the RA in my jaw, until Mom made a

comment on it. But it has gone down. I actually look like I have an *adult*

looking face. Rather than a round baby face due to prednisone and swelling.

, if you can *possibly*, in *any* way, get your infections under

control, you *have* to try this Remicade. In the 18 days that I have been on

it, I can't tell you how drastically my life has changed. My quality of like

has improved BIG time. I was even doing stretching and dancing moves

yesterday while standing in front of the mirror! And when Ryder got home, I

was standing and wiggling about dancing. The look on his face was priceless!

And I can stand longer with less pain! AND, get this, I don't hurt that much

this morning, after doing all that up and down and exercising! I will stretch

again today! Woo~Hoo! , I told my nurse about you Monday and that you

couldn't take the Remicade bcs of so many infections. She saw no reason why

you couldn't go on it once your infections clear up. I did tell her you get

them all the time. But she still didn't see any reason why not. Maybe you

should talk with your doctor some more about it. My idea is, if you could get

your infections cleared up just long enough to get ONE treatment, you will

(hopefully) see dramatic results, like I did. And if you are feeling better,

with less pain, maybe that will ward off more infection. After seeing first

hand what this has done to me, it breaks my heart to see you suffer. NEVER in

my 18 years has a drug worked so well! I can't say enough good about it.

In fact, if I could talk those who are on Enbrel into trying the Remicade, I

would. But I know you all are happy with what Enbrel does for you. Not only

that, your results may be similar to mine with Remicade. But if ever the

Enbrel doesn't work quite how you want it to, keep the Remicade in mind. I am

in awe!

If I didn't have bone and joint damage, I could go jogging! I could go

dancing!

I am truly amazed! Can't say enough good about it after being in so much pain

all my RA days.

" Jig " " Jig " " Jig "

Hugs & Kisses!

~