Sounds awful, Frannie. I did have an allergic reaction to Sulfasalazine, but it was not as bad as yours. I can't help with the medical stuff, but can understand about canceling all social activities! RA can be so unpredictable. I am sorry. Hope you feel better soon.

I'm sorry that sounds miserable. I've had all kinds of itises but that's a new one to me. I've got a rash on my ankle right now and the soles of my feet have been itching & that's enough to drive me bonkers.

Humira stopped working 6wks ago & started Enbrel 2wks ago. I'm not dealing very well. Just trying to be patient & hope the meds kick in soon. Steroids & pain meds to bridge me over.

Can you call their nurse line & ask them about the rash? They should keep a database of all reported reactions.
Here's their # 888-4ENBREL 7 days/wk 8a-11p est A live RN is supposed to answer the phone.

Do you still have the rash now? If so I'd probably hold off on the injection until its gone. Then you could take the shot again & see if you react & know for sure that it was the Enbrel causing it. But do call the nurse & see what they say.

I hope you get some relief soon!

i had a rash from sulfasazaline but not as bad as yours sounded like. glad you went to the dermatologist also. what these medical school minds are so brilliant that they can't tell? geesh. :)

I am off meds for every infection and/'or surgery that I have. I have to deal. most on here supplement with pred bridging or low dose pred. I do not take that. I just suffer and chew some nsaids and use muscle relaxers at night.

what social life? (sorry that is the Ros that has not had her RA meds since December talking)

i don't think it is about trying and failing. it's just the nature of the beast.

if you are going to go ahead with the enbrel then you might want to do it under someone's care in case the reaction was from that and the next reaction is worse (throat or breathing). I am hoping for you it was just the sulfasazline (which was my case) but I am solicitous for you that i rather you like take that enbrel shot in a doctor's office

Sorry Frannie about the house of cards, which is what RA is. Did work get all over your back when your output went down?

hugs

Ros

Thanks all. It's always calming and reassuring to know I'm not alone. No idea why they try the sulfa since so many people seem to be allergic!! As if our bodies aren't fighting enough. I am allergic to everything and knew I would not respond well to the sulfa.

It's so hard to figure out what is causing what sometimes and how to treat it. It my gut I really think it was just an unhealed rash that got infected and spread. This is my first time off the enbrel since I've felt well and it really caught me by surprise because maybe I was getting cocky about the fact that I was feeling pretty good. But yes, agree with you all that the best thing I can do is continue to let it heal and then try the enbrel again. Then I'd know for sure instead of starting over with something else. I will call the nurse line too and see what they say. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks all!

Your gut feeling is probably right. But to be absolutely sure it's all gone, I'd give yourself another week or two off Enbrel so it doesn't return.
Then, hopefully, Enbrel will be just fine and no reaction. (Remember, Enbrel can stay in your system so it may be a bit longer to have full resistance built back up)

Thanks bcatz. Another week or two off Enbrel makes me want to cry!! I will talk to my rhemy next week and see what he says. Btw, I love your avatar :)

And yes Ros, work has NOT been happy with me. My mgr was on a business trip and I had to cover his work too. And then they get mad at me for not making the right decisions. Seriously?!?

Thanks buddahcat. I would honestly never do something without a dr's guidance, but I was so frustrated that this was left hanging over a long weekend! My derm has been through a lot with me and tends to take a more conservative approach. I thought it was just a week on the antibiotics and then back on enbrel. I had no idea there was a wait period and I will be expressing my strong concern on Tuesday when her office opens that she did not return my 2 messages. My rheumy has asked that she make the call on the enbrel, as she is the one treating the rash. Lesson learned- go to a diff derm who will talk to my rheumy. Just so frustrating. And every day I wake up it is harder to walk :(

Oh, and I should mention that I also have eczema, contact dermatitis and systemic allergies! I really think this is a non ra thing, but who knows anymore.

Have you gotten a recent allergy testing? I mean the full workup - environmental & food.

Given your history it might be prudent. My food allergies contribute heavily to my IBS and RA flares. Systemic inflammation originating from the colon can affect any and all other parts of the body.