What is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful ...
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recently diagnosed and frustrated
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I'm a 39-year-old female recently diagnosed with seronegative RA. I've been having flares since May with fever, severe fatigue, inflammation and joint pain. Prednisone has helped me to function but I'm having a difficult tapering down on the dosage. I started methotrexate and took it for three weeks. Had to stop the methotrexate because of side effects so my rheumatologist increased my folic acid to 2 mg to help with it. To top that off, I came down with H1N1 and had start Tamiflu - so the methotrexate is still on hold until I get over this flu virus. It's hard to tell what's making me feel worse the RA or the flu. I was really hoping to feel some improvement by now...as I work full-time and have two young children. As my rheumatologist has said, there's no quick fix for this.
Any advice and encouragement would be greatly appreciated. It's overwhelming and while I realize things could always be worse...most people don't understand what this is like. Has anyone had good results from methotrexate only or are most on a biologic as well like Enbrel, Remicade, etc.? Posted on 09/13/09, 06:09 pm |
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I was diagnosed 2 years ago with RA and it was very overwhelming. I entered a drug study along with MTX and for the last 18 months other than the morning stiffness, I feel great. I feel very fortunate.My study is over with and now am just on MTX and I still feel great. I hope that after you have beaten the flu you have as much luck with your RA. Good luck 
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Just a warning about assessing drug side effects. Always remember to look at the frequency that study patients actually experienced any given side effect. Some of the side effects listed for the biologics are EXTREMELY RARE.
The same cannot be said for Prednisone... everybody who takes it will at some point experience a side effect. There are lots of people who have had no long term ill effects from the biologics. Weigh the severity of the side effect with the chances that it will actually happen. In reality you have a much higher risk of developing a nasty side effect from Prednisone than you do from a Biologic.
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I don't know how much advice I have other than hang in there... I was diagnosed last spring... tried prednisone, it helped but made me nuts! Then went to Sulidac and Plaquinil... Allergic to Plaquinil, so went to Methotrexate. I think the combo really helped, but then I started getting canker sores. So then my doc put me on folic acid and lucovorin. It has helped....
Like you, I'm frustrated... wish there were clear cut answers, but I'm finding there aren't. I think the best advice you can get is to find a doc you're comfortable with. I'm inthe process of switching now... Everone I know who has this says go with someone who is more aggressive. Good luck!!!
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I did decide to start Remicade when my rheumatologist and I realized that I was not responding to methotrexate alone. The first Remicade IV treatment went well. They started my IV and I leaned back in a comfortable recliner for 2 hours and read a book - not bad at all! I'm due for another one this week. I have seen some slight improvement with joint pain/inflammation and fatigue. They will probably increase the dosage with the next infusion and hopefully soon will be able to go to one treatment every 8 weeks. I'm also hoping to completely stop the prednisone soon as I'm down to 5 mg per day now. I am nervous about taking medications that lower my immune system especially this time of year but I'm diligently washing hands, taking vitamins, etc. Thank you all for your encouragement and advice!
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