RA and meds

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

it is isnteresting to hear people talking about how they used to

resist taking meds.

Since I got the disease at 14 that just doesn't apply. I can barely

remember what it was like to get up in the morning and not take meds.

I do remember what it was like to take meds that didn't work for me

and I thank G-d every day that researchers are still investigating

this disease and finding better meds.

I have had weird side effects from various drugs-- when I was a

teenager I had injectable gold salts and they caused me to lose the

upper register of my voice, they also gave me gastric distress.

Nobody really believed me but when I went off of them many years

later, I was a soprano again and no more bloating.

I'm so grateful they treat the disease aggressively now. They used to

take the position of giving as few drugs as possible, but the problem

with that is that it's the inflammation that cuases the deformities.

Also, chronic pain is damaging psychologically as well as physically.

Anyway just thought I'd throw in my perspective for those who feel

leery of drugs.

We all have an auto-immune disease. Our bodies are attacking

themselves. We don't know why. But it's a holistic, systemic illness

(unlike osteoarthritis which hits specific joints alone).

So you should not feel weak or dependant if you seekd rugs to help

with aspects of the disease.

Of course they don't know why half of them work. I still don't know

why I got hives from Remicade but had a good result on enbrel.

Here's hoping they eventually come up with a cure/prevention.

If they'd had enbrel when I was growing up, I'd be playing in a

symphony orchestra now! (I was in state youth symphonies).

Onwards...