Guest guest Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 In a message dated 8/4/2004 2:25:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, emily_twelve@... writes: Thanks for your response and advice. You've confirmed what I was thinking about medication. It seems a bit daft to start on a new course of treatment, only to have to stop again to try to conceive. Plus I don't really want to put off trying for a baby, because of my age. There's plenty of time to try and find the right medication for me once I've finished with pregnancy and breast-feeding Hi ... I am in somewhat of the same situation as you...although I am not yet working on having I child, I would like to and don't want to worry about the meds at the time. I was never as bad as you in terms of the mobility, but I have done more of the " alternative " thing than maybe some of the people here... Initially, I started with Bextra (NSAID) and Effexor (antidepressant, but there is also some evidence it helps with joint pain). I changed my diet (no gluten) because they thought I had a gluten intolerance, I went to physical and aquatic therapy regularly (with a goal of learning how to self-manage my therapy program when the insurance stopped paying), and I stopped working for 2 months to get everything under control. The extra rest really helped. After 2 months off, I went back to work full time (which for me was 55-60 hours)...that didn't work and after a year I was worse than I was when the PA started...so I made a decision to drop back to only working 3 days a week, which has really helped...I never work 2 days in a row so I always have time to " catch up " in between. I also went on Sulfasalazine (sp?), which has helped but is somewhat milder when it comes to things like pregnancy, liver issues, etc. And I started taking folic acid supplements, which has really helped with overall energy level and reducing the fatigue. I also try to get more sleep...at least 10 hours a night...I can tell the difference in pain level between 8 hours or less and 10 hours... I am feeling pretty good these days...the humidity (I live in FL) bothers me a bit now that it is summer, but for the most part I am down to having at most one really bad day a week...the other thing I notice is that if I decide not to exercise when I am feeling bad, I get worse...keeping the joints stretched out and moving seems to really help me, but it is easy to spiral into not exercising if I am tired or not feeling great....:-) So maybe some of these ideas will help you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 rachelviognier@... writes: <<I also went on Sulfasalazine (sp?), which has helped but is somewhat milder when it comes to things like pregnancy, liver issues, etc. >> - It's -would you believe that Azulfidine actually screwed my blood panels up... Liver enzymes went sky high, after a few months, I was anemic, etc. That's when I finally decided I had to go on Enbrel (since I am 100% against MTX due to my age & wanting kids.) You and I have followed a similar path, and Azulfidine did help, but I thought you would find my history with it interesting. I DID feel better on it, but Enbrel has made me 100X better (didn't realize how bad I was until I started feeling better).. and my bloodwork has been normal for 1.5 years now. Unfortunately I am a one person household, so I can't afford to take time off... PLUS I LOVE my job. (I know you have a cool job too!) I know at time taking time off would have kept me from needing meds... just couldn't do it! I am glad Sulfasalazine is working for you... I agree it is the lesser of the evil drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2004 Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 , I'm glad I could help, and if I can be of any more feel free to email me personally any time. Hannah keeps me pretty busy but I try to get online at least once a day. Personally my PA got worse with my pregnancy not better. My rheumy said that it is a fallacy that women with PA get better, that mainly applies to women with RA, I never got one day of relief while pregnant. I did get a bit of a flare after she was born but it kinda started in my 8th month. I think that I avoided a huge flare because I decided to start Enbrel in my 8th month instead of waiting till after Hannah was born. Good luck TTC!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2004 Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 emily_twelve@... writes: <<It's interesting to hear that you took Effexor for joint pain. I was prescribed it a few years ago for a bout of depression, but I can't say that I noticed it helping in pain relief>> Hi ...I tried to go off the Effexor once, that's when I realized how much it was helping:-) It is often used in fibro for joint pain... You asked about whether my diet changes had helped...its hard to say for sure, but getting rid of gluten (wheat, barley, rye) definitely has an impact on my fatigue level...I feel better without it. It's hard to say if it has an impact on the arthritis directly, but the arthritis pain gets so much worse for me when I am fatigued that anything that fights fatigue, I'll do. Best of luck with everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 In a message dated 8/8/2004 12:36:22 PM Central Daylight Time, mlw402@... writes: -Hey , good to 'see " you are you still doing well on the Enbrel?- Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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