I would consider it if my meds were not working well. I applaud your wish to help advance the understanding of our disease. I just don't think I can chance going back to where I was. My RA is not controlled, but there are still lots of meds out there I can try, and I haven't been on Humira very long. Best Wishes in whatever you decide.

V

Tthanks for the advice. I think I feel much the same way as you do. I'll let you know what happens,

No offense, but when I read this it sounds like someone setting up a survey for just such a scenario. Maybe to write something about the responses they get. Just a feeling I get.

Personally, I struggle with prescriptions that are already approved, which of course makes me avoid trials like the plague! My Aunt, however, has participated in one and has found it to be the best thing for her RA.

If you're fearless, then go for it. That's the thing about trials, it takes strong people to take them.

-Tanya N

I have applied to many trials but have not been chosen, they seem to fill fast out here.. I have not had much luck with the meds and I fear taking some of them and thankfully my rheumy accepts that.. If you can be strong then go for it.. Best of luck with your choice.. :O))

Bistro - this is the third front page forum post today where I have read a response like this from you. I try hard not to be a confrontational person but today for some reason I can't seem to help it. I really wish you would stop beating people down for posting. Perhaps some of the people on here have not read the past 3 years of posts. Perhaps they really do have questions as they may be newly diagnosed OR this is the first time they have had a chance to talk to anyone but a busy doctor about this disease. Sometimes I feel like you have to post everything from a very guarded place here or risk being called names (faker, poser etc.). That is NOT what this board is supposed to be about. Since when did someone asking a question ABOUT RA become a feeding ground for cynicism on an RA board? There....I'm done....just wanted to share my 2 cents and stick up for the low man on the totem pole (or in this case RA board).

I have to agree with Bistro.

Usually clinical trials are not recruited like this. That is all I will say.

I get my infusions from Walgreens. And I got a letter just like that recently from walgreens. Not sure it said a local doctor, it just asked if I wanted to be in a clinical trail for RA. I kept it for a while, was going to show my doctor, but I ended up throwing it away. I just recently started feeling better, so I don't want to mess with something new.

Thanks to all of you. I am not a fake as Bistro suggests, I DID get a recruitment letter, also from Walgreen's. As it turns out, I found out today that my rheumatologist changed my diagnosis from seronegative RA to inflmmatory arthritis, so I don't qualify for the clinical trial. I'm disappointed but more than that, I am upset because my doctor didn't tell me he was changing the RX. I don't even know the difference, but maybe some of you can tell me. I will be signing off this blog since the purists among you will say that I don't belong. Good luck to my friends here and I PRAY that all of you find some relief.

Here is something you might find interesting.

http://mycropht.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/walgreens-is-all-up-in-my-business/

Great article, Bistro, thanks for posting. I always wondered how Amazon knew the books I was reading. But how horrific if all those Christian books became the stumbling block to a teaching job. Lucky I already have a position and the disability. Sadly, I also have RA and couldn't teach if I wanted.

The woman never says if she has RA or not. Very interesting! I wonder how many people have been in this forum over the years looking for information and have not had RA? Besides Celia, of course, we have the proof on that one.

Is there a DS algorithm? Of course, they don't need one, because by joining the group, we have pretty much stated it is the disease we have, along with other forums we might join for other illnesses.

Now, Im very open on here about having RA/Inflammatory Arthritis

That is the third sentence in the article (which ps is a personal blog much like many of the people on here have).

Secondly, I have to say I am appalled that the conversation and things like the picture of troll spary are continuing. Is it some of the group members goal here to chase away every new member on this DS board? Sure seems like it sometimes. Perhaps some of the people here should reread Tanyas post with a clear head and strongly consider the advice to move on and not bring it up again and again. I am sick to death of feeling like I have a defense mechanism on autopilot everytime I come to this board for support. I already gave out more personal info about myself that I usually care to do with strangers online in an attempt to prove that I am who I say I am. People coming to this board should not feel forced to do that. It is unkind and unfair to judge first and ask questions later. Please just stop already people!

Bistro, I, too, thought it was strange that Walgreen's would use my Rx data to recruit me for a clinical trial. It may border on a breach of confidentiality, allhough Walgreen's knows it is illegal to give a confidential list of people using MTX directly to the research company. Walgreen's contacting us, themselves, is a little different, but it is shady as far as I'm concerned, not that I have anything to hide.

#13 - There are a lot of really good therapists who can help sort out that "defense mechanism on autopilot" thing.