advice on next level of drugs

[Guest guest]

Hi, I have a moderate rheumatoid arthritis that seems to be getting worse. I have been able to just take plaquenil, relafen and low doses of prednisone along with a kenolog shot every three months for several years now. Unfortunately, the shots are not doing it for me anymore and I am more reliant on the prednisone, which I am under the impression my Rheumatologist would rather I not depend on so much.

My question is, what do you think is my next line of defense in the drugs? What should I request from the doc if I get my choice? Of course, like everyone, I would rather have the least side effects and the least potency to still do the trick, but keep me as well as possible.

Prednisone does work very well for me, but I am already over weight and have a strong family history of diabetes, so this may be why my doc would prefer I don't rely on it too much, I don't know.

Do many of you take prednisone daily? Maybe this is all I need. I am really afraid of one thing, and that is the cancer risk that some of these drugs tote. Can anyone help talk me through this?

I am going to see the doctor this week and I want to advocate for myself.

I am 43. Thanks, Tana

-----Original Message-----From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of HertlingSent: Friday, September 15, 2006 5:00 PMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: methotrexate side effects

Wow I have no experience to share with you (andhopefully wont, sorry!) I've been off and onMethotrexate for a while, its done a decent job sofar. I just wanted to write to say Im so sorry you aregoing through so much. Youre in my thoughts andprayers.--- podunkescape <podunkescape > wrote:> hi> must be quick bc hard to sit long. have had a> series of bad > infections,, liver and pancreatic activity since i> used mtx in l994. > has anyone else had similar prblems? i'm very, very> weak, too. drs are > mystified. chris> > > > > > >

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