Re: so confused and hurting

[Guest guest]

Hi Carole,

So sorry to hear that you are going through a rough time. Its hard to know

what to do about the medications, and only you can really decide what is best

for you. If it is any help, last month's issue of Arthritis Today had a good

summary of all of the medication, with side effects of all listed. If you need

a copy, write me personally and I can fax or send it to you. I am sure that

others taking Enbrel can give you more advice, but you have to weigh the

consequences...the consequences of not preventing more damage could be worse

that

the consequences of the side effects. I struggle with those questions every

day, as I am not yet taking anything other than and anti-inflammatory.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

My feeling has always been that I have to weight the effects of the

DISEASE againt the effects of the medication. I take methotrexate

(have you tried that?) because I could not function the way I was

feeling. I was afraid I'd have to stop working which would cause me

to lose my house. Have you discussed your enbrel concerns with your

dr. yet?

I will try to find some info online for you and post it.

Michele

[Guest guest]

Hi carole,

I am completely understand what u r going thru as i am also sailing in the same

boat confused about all the drugs and worried abt side effects.

Even I got PA in Yr 2000. I hv 2 little girls 5 and 2, its really hard not to be

normal and run around the kids. But due to the very fear of reaction with drug i

had been taking ayurvedic treatment. Its really crude method of treatment but

believe me it really works if taken sincerely as it has very very strict diet

and herbs intake to clear our entire body system. I have kind of loosened up on

the diet and medication so it has flared up again and joints r hurting too so i

am considering trying MTX or enbrel(ofcourse if insurance permits) for a short

period of time(which definitely will not hurt me) and then switch back to

Ayruveda.

I was compltely cured till 2 yrs back but after my 2nd child it flared up again.

I am definitely not the right person to check about Enbrel but ya if u need any

kind of info abt ayurveda i can really help u.

Bye

vidya

[Guest guest]

Dear Carole --

Everybody is allowed their share of time on the pitty pot and it is probably

better spent here than with people who can't understand. I am about to begin

Enbrel so I don't have answers to your questions. I have been waiting since

November to get it and as soon as I heard I was approved and my insurance would

pay I freaked out. All the negative things I had heard came rushing into my

feeble brain and then I didn't want to take it. However, the battle for my

fingers is being lost so rapidly that all the bravado in the world is as useless

as my fingers are becoming. I would probably tolerate a wheelchair better than

needing somebody else to do my hair, brush my teeth, or take care of other

personal hygiene needs if I can't use my hands. All of the drugs terrify me. I

would rather not take any. I guess it comes down to the age old

question.........quality or quantity. I have come to the conclusion that I want

quality. I feel it truly is the " life in your years " not the " years in your

life " . You will have to come to your own conclusion and don't be surprised if

you change your mind a few hundred times before you make the decision.

I would never bawl you out for expressing how you feel. This disease makes the

strongest person feel down in the dumps sometimes. I am ever the optimist but

it gets me down occasionally. I also find that outside stress really does make

matters worse. Lately I have not been able to find a place of calm in my world

and that is exacerbating my recent flare. I hope I tolerate Enbrel and it can

help quickly. I also hope you get the help you need quickly. Ultimately, I

believe, we have to help ourselves so hopefully you can find the strength soon

to begin feeling better. My mom has more health issues than one person should

ever have to endure and a friend of mine calls her " Timex Woman " because she

" takes a licking and keeps on ticking. " So I'm going to try to be a " Timex

Woman " ! I'd like to keep my job but I seriously wonder how much longer I can do

it. It is horrible that you had to give up your profession. I have always

loved to cook and now it is an unpleasant chore because my hands make me unsafe

with knives and hot pots. So I understand.

Please keep writing. There are times that some of us aren't very active,

usually because we are in too much pain or have too many outside stresses, but I

for one, usually read all the posts. Somehow it makes me feel connected, if

only in spirit. This is a wonderful group with a lot to share.

Happy Day to You! Cheri :-))