Welcome Tm. Most people do not understand what a lot of us go through. A lot of us do not look sick, people can not see how terrible we feel. For me,like you, it was my feet that caused me so much pain. First thing in the morning, it would hurt for hours! Sitting still for more than about 20 minutes meant it would hurt when I got up. At least it sounds like your Rheum is being aggressive in treating you.

My first drug was Humira, continued down the list, including Cimzia. The first 5 biologics I was on would either help my feet a lot, and my hands a little -- or help my hands a lot, with my feet only a little. I was told that it may take a few months, but I was very lucky that it kicked in very quickly, and I did feel much better. However, my Rhuem wanted both my feet & my hands to have improvement.

It took a while, but I am now on Rituxan, which helps both my feet and my hands. I am not back to where I was before I started treatment, but I am so much better, and if this is all the better I will get, I will be happy and content.

Hopefully you will get lucky, and find a drug combo that helps you quickly. This area has so many people that will be here to support you, to answer questions, to listen to you vent.

have your girlfriend do some reading on this site and maybe some general RA reading...like national institutes of health....

you have a lifetime chronic disease not the desire to manufacture a delay in a potential remission

all of us are here to tell you that when any rheumie starts a patient on a biologic it is with the advice that there is a loading period before potential results can be seen. this is not a motrin pill where you sprain your ankle, take the motrin and the swelling goes down a little. you are interfering on a cellular level with your auto immune dis function and that takes time. my third biologic was orencia, tell your gf that it took 6 months (and that is a normal time for orencia) for the results (which are modest not spectacular) to show.

accept that you may not get her validation.

is this your first biologic? i doubt it since it is cimzia.

depot

thanks, this is my first biologic, he wanted to try embrel but United wouldn't cover it, so cimzia is the second choice. so hopefully i get lucky and it works.Been a long time since i felt good , but i think i'm up for the fight. Glad i found this site, it helps so far knowing you are not alone. Talked with the GF this morning.and told her i cant help her understand if she wont listen. Hopefully she will look at some of the sites I have shared with her, she has too.

thanks again fir the nice words, i appreciate it

Some biologics are quicker than other. Kineret and Simponi were almost instant. Rituxan took a full 3 months. Actemra never worked at all. I'm hoping Orencia only take 3 months instead of 6.

Your gf has got to realize that RA is a forever disease. Even if you get the disease under control now, Cimzia may fail, then back to square one. She needs to learn this is a serious disease, with serious consequences. No one fakes this kind of pain and disability.

Maybe take her along to your next rheumy appointment? I also have to add that I do wonder about her. If she is not supportive and understanding of your disease, do you really have a future with her? Living with someone with RA takes a lot of love and patience. I know my husband was having to lift me in and out of my bed to the wheelchair to take me to the bathroom earlier this year, when Simponi failed. It wasn't fun for him, lifting a dead weight, but he loves me and did it anyway. That is what you need to look for in a gf, and potentially a wife.

I'm on Cimzia and it's working great for me. it started working for me very quickly too. Have been on it a couple years now and tolerate it very well.
Hope it works for you as well :)

you are lucky marlene

don't know as I could put it, that, way in a personnel. maybe you should write mine, for me. :)

i think it's easier if you are with prince or princess charming and THEN your body croaks then if you are in date mode

depot

Hi Tmc, I was on Cimzia years ago. I have actually been on almost every biological medication and now on Acterma. I was on Cimzia for about 8 months and did not have any luck with that medication. I wish you luck with it. Everyone reacts differently with these medications. I hope you do well with it!