MCTD Support Group

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) or Sharp's syndrome is a human autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body. MCTD combines features of polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic scleroderma and is thus considered an overlap syndrome. MCTD commonly causes joint pain/swelling, Raynaud phenomenon, muscle inflammation, and scarring of...

614 Members
1,869 Posts
0 Online
Allergies & Immunity
/ MCTD Support Group

Biopsy Good so..Rituxan infusions

Livin-Right
Livin-Right
Nasal biopsy came back good. But were staying on the cell cept. 8 pills a day,
and nasty mean side effects for me. The Rhumy has started the war to get me 2 eight hour day infusions and another after 6 months. I asked him why we are still taking meds for the lungs. He said" There doing well now. I told him "you put me back on prednisone" in which he replied "we will start getting that down after the infusions in the next few weeks.

I am lost again. Are they concerned at all about what I have. Or just shotgun any symptom I have. I would rather get off prednisone and cellcept and monitor my blood for the spike, see where it is starting. then treat that.
Robert"
Livin-Right
Livin-Right
Never mind everyone, no need to comment. Rhumy called i do my first 8 hour day tomorrow and another in 2 weeks. I'm totally freaking out but i am sure it will be fine.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Please keep us posted and hope all goes well!!
brunob
brunob
I did the rituxan infusions.....I only has a slight reaction the second time and they are ready with Benadryl. I have had good results so far.....over a year now and we didn't do the second two infusions. I have been stable since then......they actually took me off the immunosuppressants before the infusion????

Good luck with them, hopefully this will allow you to decrease a lot of the meds......I'm almost off prednisone now, I'm at 3mg per day....and I'm taking my sweet old time weaning down because I want to make sure I won't have to go right back on......I need to get this weight off!!!

Take care
Beth
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have had one round of the rituxan infussions in January and go in two weeks for a second round in 2 weeks. It did make a difference for me, I think I actually felt normal for a couple of months. Hope it lasts longer for me this time. Don't be scared, it isn't bad.

Leanne :)
Livin-Right
Livin-Right
It wasn't as bad as I thought,really nothing to complain about except the 8 hour day.
@ Beth He still has me on 20 mg Prednisone and 4000mg cellcept, go figure

ty all, i was in full panic. Doctor say we might do this in the next 3 weeks, calls the next day and says be there tomorrow.