Re: Thanks for making me welcome

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Blake,

It took 2 or 3 months for MTX to start working for me. When I had to

reduce the dose slightly, I saw an increase in my pain and P within 2

weeks. Many people, including me, find that stopping or lowering

dose and then restarting or re-upping dose never gives relief equal

to level you fist experienced.

Enbrel and Humira are injections and Remicade is infusion. It's

impossible to tell without trying them which will work best for you.

My doctor started me on Humira because it's injected every other

week, whereas Enbrel is weekly. Remicade is the most cumbersome

since you have to go in to have the infusions and will take hours.

My rheumy wanted to start with the simplest to administer, for my

convenience.

It's normal to take large doses of folic acid when taking MTX. MTX

inteferes with the body's ability to use FA. Most people take from 1-

5 grams per day. I take 1 gram/day, but took 2 grams/day when I had

some nose sores.

Most of us also take anti-inflammatory drugs along with MTX. I take

Naproxen for inflammation.

Yes, my joints get stiff when I lie still or sit still for more than

about 15 minutes. This is why my sleep is so disturbed. Every time

I move, the pain wakes me up.

I hope the MTX will work for you again.

best wishes,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

Hi Blake,

Time for MTX to start working varies from person to person, but usually

results will occur within 6-8 weeks. I've never stopped so... no idea

on that part.

Injections are usually for higher doses 25mg + up per week.

I take 12.5 1x per week orally with Folic acid 1mg daily.

It's normal & reccomended.

Diclofinac (sp?) Is an anti-inflammatory, I have this too, but take it

very rarely, only when I overdo and start a flare.

Pretty normal as well to be prescribed for periodic use.

As far as your pain, I think the best thing you can do is try to find

the best drug for you, to start attacking the cause of PA.

Usually, MTX or Enbel or Humira (these are called DMARDS,Disease

modification ....? I forget exactly what it stands for) . Meanwhile,

you need to find an anti inflammatory that reduces the swelling and

pain so that you can be comfortable. Once the DMARDS kick in, you

should need less anti-inflammatories.

Remember that with this disease, nothing is guaranteed. Some drugs work

well for some folks while not working well for others. You may need to

do a little hit and miss before you find what suits you best.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

Hi Blake,

I use diclofenac as well. While I have tried to cut back on it, I find I really

need to take one tablet each night or I wake up with a severe headache and jaw

pain. I take nexium as well to protect my stomach. Also on sulfasazaline which

has helped me more than methotrexate.

My dentist thinks I have TMJ because of my jaw pain, clicking jaw etc, but I

think it must be the PA as well given how much the diclofenac works. My rheumy

originally had me on dicofenac 3x a day for severe pain in my neck and shoulders

but 25mg of endep worked better. I have fibro as well so low dose tryclcic

anti-depressants help that.

It takes patience to work out what meds work best for you as most people writng

on here have found.

All the best,

Annette

PS Many of us also seem to have the nose psoriasis. It's painful and takes a

while to figure out that it is also due to the PA.

[Guest guest]

Everyone is different so that is a question not all could answer... I use both

meth and humira and I could not tell you how long but I do recal that my skin

cleared and pain subsided and I am always tired now, but its helped mostly...

Love and peace always,

Shaun and Barb...