Sending prayers your way! Congrats on the incredible weight loss! You go girl! Praying for the pain and right combos of meds soon. God bless.

Wow hope the Rituxan gets approved and works. My prayers are also with you.Hope the New Year brings you less pain.

Congrats on the weight loss.

Congrats about the weight loss, although I am sorry you have yet to find a good biologic. For the record neither enbrel or humira helped me, but...orencia worked for about a year and a half. Now I am on rituxan and although it took a few months se3ems to be working nicely. I hope you get the meds you need. Be patient and let's hope 2011 brings the magic cocktail your body needs to feel better. hugs, marcia

Congrats on the weight loss. I am on 5 mgs of Pred, rituxan, arava and methotrexate and over the past year I have lost weight with out really trying. I have less of an appetite but my whole life my weight has been a struggle and now I find my self down to 173...I was about 2.5 years ago 219. Of course its better for me feet but I am a little concerned.....Has any one else had a weight loss? My hub thinks its due to the RA, I am not so sure...

I'm so sorry you are in so much pain after such a long period of time :( I hope too, that this new year brings you pain relief. Congrats on the weightloss...I know that alone is a struggle as I am over weight myself and having RA does not help matters at all. I am losing weight again without trying....for myself, I'm just not having much of an appetite. I think it's all the medication I'm on really or maybe it is just RA. I just have a hard time wanting to eat some days. I hope your insurance gives the go ahead soon for the new med, and that it works for you! Sure sounds like you need a break.
Gentle hugs~
Christi

Thanks for the update, hon - I was wondering how you were going.
I hope you can find the right "cocktail" of meds soon. My Rheumy and I are still trying to find the right combination, as well. It's been a year now. Congratulations on such a big weight loss. That, in itself, must make it easier on your joints.
Sending hugs and strength your way

It is not uncommon to have to switch meds. I thought I was the only one who had to do this so much until I was on this site. So your not alone. It seems to be the nature of the beast. All of our bodies are so different and what works for one doesn't always work for another. Your dietary life changes will always help. Some vitamins to consider, Omega 3's, Folic Acid, MSM, Calcium, Vit D, Milk Thistle, Vitamin B Complex, and of coarse all the Gut support with L-Glutamine and Pro Biotics.
I too have had a hard time finding the right meds. I take Cymbalta for the Depression piece and that also helps with pain. I take low dose Pred 6 mgs. and get a Depometral Shot every 6 weeks. I will be starting Orencia in one week. But have been on ALL the others. I also take Arava.
On a Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free diet.
What I take to help edge off the pain is just Tylinol Arthritis. and I move..... Gentle Yoga, Stretching. Sometimes a nice warm bath in Epson Salts helps too.
Hope this helps
Happy New Year and lets all hope that this year will bring new discoveries moving toward a cure!

Blessings to all,

gotolady

Same as gotolady. Also add LDN to my regiment. No Enbrel and MTX as I have had in the past.

Happy New Year to everyone...!

{{{hugs}}} :-)

Congratulations on the weight loss - that is so good for your joints.

It's terribly hard to find the right meds but I'm hoping your doctor can find the right mix for you soon!

Lynne