Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
i had an appointment with my rheumy today. i've been on mtx (15mg) for six weeks and it doesn't feel like anything is better. the side effects have really subsided, so that's great.
but i wasn't sure what to expect today. i brought all my lists and stuff and asked her my questions and shared my concerns. i listed the joints that are still involved and the addition of my shoulders, specifically my left shoulder. we talked about how it doesn't seem to have improved. and then she decided to check my hands.
as soon as she grabbed my hand, she said 'wow'. i looked at her and she said my hands are A LOT more swollen than they were six weeks ago. she poked at my knees (which aren't really hurting at all..... yet) and my shoulders and noted the swelling on my shoulders.
she's upping my mtx to 20mg for now and ordered a huge round of blood work to prep me for going on a biologic. she's hoping that upping my mtx will make everything better, but based on how fast everything has changed since i first saw her, she wants me to be prepared to start a biologic next month. she is fairly certain that i'll need to be on a biologic next month. my appointment in december will be us reviewing the blood work and deciding which of five biologics to try.
i'm trying to hold it together, but it's not going very well. in march - just like eight months ago - my gp thought my left wrist was early carpal tunnel and the minor aches in my hips were my weight. now my wrists, fingers, shoulders, hips, ankles, and feet are involved and the disease progression seems out of control. i feel like i don't know what's happening anymore.
but i wasn't sure what to expect today. i brought all my lists and stuff and asked her my questions and shared my concerns. i listed the joints that are still involved and the addition of my shoulders, specifically my left shoulder. we talked about how it doesn't seem to have improved. and then she decided to check my hands.
as soon as she grabbed my hand, she said 'wow'. i looked at her and she said my hands are A LOT more swollen than they were six weeks ago. she poked at my knees (which aren't really hurting at all..... yet) and my shoulders and noted the swelling on my shoulders.
she's upping my mtx to 20mg for now and ordered a huge round of blood work to prep me for going on a biologic. she's hoping that upping my mtx will make everything better, but based on how fast everything has changed since i first saw her, she wants me to be prepared to start a biologic next month. she is fairly certain that i'll need to be on a biologic next month. my appointment in december will be us reviewing the blood work and deciding which of five biologics to try.
i'm trying to hold it together, but it's not going very well. in march - just like eight months ago - my gp thought my left wrist was early carpal tunnel and the minor aches in my hips were my weight. now my wrists, fingers, shoulders, hips, ankles, and feet are involved and the disease progression seems out of control. i feel like i don't know what's happening anymore.
Life seems to spin out of control times like this.
I've heard the same about MTX, takes time. In fact all the meds can take time. Can being the key word.
As hard as it is look at the bright side, you were showing signs of needing to move forward with your treatment at the time of your visit. Sometimes we feel it but the evidence is not there to support our claims.
There is hope & many treatments to try.
As much as we can vent here I've had some relief with my injection. In fact some with the first injection which shocked me. It's going off it for any length of time that flares me up.
Is there a reason she did not use prednisone while your waiting for that next appointment? Perhaps to bring some inflammation down?
We'll keep our sore fingers crossed you get the relief you deserve & need.
Blessings, Sammy
Gentle hugs
Kel
i know it was a big generalization on his part, but he is very supportive and lets me make my own decisions. for him to make that kind of statement is a big deal for me.
i'm suffering with a swollen leg from a tattoo session, so i've been on the couch with my leg elevated since sunday. that gives me more time than i care to admit to start researching biologics. i really don't think i want to start one, but i don't want to risk the damage. dh remarked last week that he didn't understand how i was on some medication and it seemed to be getting worse. for the rheumy to agree with me based on what she saw, not just what i said, makes me feel like i should follow he recommendation even more.
emotionally, i'm not doing terribly well. i had a job offer that has turned into an unpaid internship for numerous reasons, but i also got a call to interview for a local per diem counseling position. if i can pick up 10 hours a week per diem, it will definitely help and might mean i don't have to commute to the city to work with my dad any longer. the holidays have become very, very, very difficult for me because my mother was sick over thanksgiving and died three weeks before christmas. throw all this crap into the mix and i'm surprised anything i'm typing makes sense lol. this board definitely helps though :)
Hang in there and the dr will hopefiully hit the nail on the head and find the right combo of stuff to get your body regulated and BEHAVING
god (or whoever you want to talk to) grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
I have been where you are and I know how that can affect, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
MTX can take up to 6 months to kick in, as others have said.
In the 4 years since I was dx, I have taken every RA med, tried two biologics and will be starting Actemra infusions soon, so it can be a real roller-coaster ride. I, and my Rheumy, are still trying to find that "magic med" cocktail to control my RA.
I hope the biologic plus MTX will work for you quickly but you have to be prepared that the first biologic may not work for you. Keep hanging in there.
Hugs.