Hi all!

[Guest guest]

Hi all! My name is and I am excited to be able to talk with

other people who have the same condition as me. I have had

Psoriasis since I was 22 years old, and now I am 34 and was just

diagnosed with PA last month. I decided to see a Rhematologist 6

weeks ago because in August, I started to wake up every morning with

very soar joints in a few fingers and a strange kind of swelling on

the side of my left foot. Furthermore, both my feet were so soar in

the morning, I had to limp a little. I thought I had Osteoarthritis

like everyone else in my dad's side of the family, but since I am a

little young for that, I decided to consult a doctor. The MRI and

bone scan showed PA in about 5 fingers,in both my feet, in both my

ankles, and in my right wrist. Since I am at the beginning stages

of it, I have some swelling, but no damage yet, and the pain is

pretty managable with Aleve. However, the Rhemetologist I am

seeing wanted me to start DMARDS immediately to prevent damage. She

wanted me to try Methotrexate, but I was not ready so we started

with Sulfasalazine. I only lasted 3 weeks on it, since it made me

so fatigued and my white blood cell count dropped, I went off of

it. Now she wants me to try Arava. I am thinking about getting a

second opinion because I am not sure I should even be taking these

medicines at such an early stage of my disease. What do you guys

think? Please give me some advive. Did all of you go on DMARDS the

second you were diagnosed? I am young, and I have two kids to

raise, and I will do anything it takes to have the strength and

energy to raise them, even if these medicines are the best route. I

look forward to hearing from you.

Hockey

[Editor's Note: Hi . If you have PA in both feet, 5 fingers, etc., you

are NOT an an early stage of the disease - not even remotely. Since you are NOT

at an early stage of the disease, it makes no sense to be taking bandaids when

you need a cast. Arava, MTX, Humira, Enbrel and Remicade are important

medications in helping to stem the PROGRESSION of the disease. Just how bad

does a person need to feel before they realize that they have a serious illness

that requires serious medication? I am not your rheumatologist, but I think you

should understand that your disease has spread to a number of joints. This is

not the early stage of the disease by any person's definition except your own.

Please listen to your rheumatologist and start seeing which medication helps you

feel some relief while also slowing down the disease. Hasn't it spread to

enough joints already? Kathy F.]