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...
Quick recap. Diagnosed July 2014. Been on Mtx (6 pills) and folic acid (2 pills) and lodine switched a couple months ago to diclofenec twice daily. Ive been on this regimen for 6 months now with no improvement. I have noticed that my pain has changed some but not really better just different. It has became a little more predictible. More constant but less intense. Stiffness seems to be a little worse. Not sure if the meds has changed this or the disease is just setting in and getting comfortable.
My Rheumy visit went fairly well. We talked back and forth for a good 15 minutes. I asked him about being tested for lyme since i have at times questioned my diagnosis. He gave me all his reasons to why he says its not lyme and said he didnt feel like i needed to be tested for it. He also says that the lyme tests are not conclusive and even though i could test positive for it doesnt exactly mean that i would have it. He did however add to my current meds. He added Plaquenil 200mg twice a day and Sulfazine 500mg twice a day to the mix along with the Mtx that im already taking. I have researched both meds a little here and there but if anyone wants to share anything about these two new meds it would be appreciated. I asked him about the eye problems known to come with plaquenil and he said to just be sure to follow up with my regular eye exams and let them know about it when i get checked up on. He also stated that most of the eye problems occur with long term use which made me feel a little better about starting it. My Rheumy seems to think my case is mild and doesnt seem to be in to big of a hurry to break out the big guns and i guess im ok with that.
I followed up with my Gp yesterday and asked him about the lyme tests and said no problem. So i should have the results from this in a few days. I really dont think its lyme but it will help set my mind at ease a little if nothing else. Thanks for listening and sorry for being so long winded. Hope everyone is having a good day today.
My Rheumy visit went fairly well. We talked back and forth for a good 15 minutes. I asked him about being tested for lyme since i have at times questioned my diagnosis. He gave me all his reasons to why he says its not lyme and said he didnt feel like i needed to be tested for it. He also says that the lyme tests are not conclusive and even though i could test positive for it doesnt exactly mean that i would have it. He did however add to my current meds. He added Plaquenil 200mg twice a day and Sulfazine 500mg twice a day to the mix along with the Mtx that im already taking. I have researched both meds a little here and there but if anyone wants to share anything about these two new meds it would be appreciated. I asked him about the eye problems known to come with plaquenil and he said to just be sure to follow up with my regular eye exams and let them know about it when i get checked up on. He also stated that most of the eye problems occur with long term use which made me feel a little better about starting it. My Rheumy seems to think my case is mild and doesnt seem to be in to big of a hurry to break out the big guns and i guess im ok with that.
I followed up with my Gp yesterday and asked him about the lyme tests and said no problem. So i should have the results from this in a few days. I really dont think its lyme but it will help set my mind at ease a little if nothing else. Thanks for listening and sorry for being so long winded. Hope everyone is having a good day today.
The lyme can't hurt to get checked and even treated if positive. At least you will know on it.
I think he did bring out big guns! That will be THREE dmards! Be very careful with those two new drugs. Maybe add one at a time? I know one can really bother your digestive system. Go slow so that you don't quit before you get relief!
Did prednisone make an impact on your pain when you took it - assuming you took it.
You might want to get a 2nd opinion, if possible, from another Rheum, see what that one has to say.
Hopefully, you will find relief soon.
He did first write some pred back in august when i was first diagnosed to bridge the gap but i have done just like 2leftfeet and denied it and put it off now for this long. I figured if i could manage without it then it would be more obvious what the Mtx was doing for me. My rheumy is open to different options and tries to meet me in the middle. I see him again in 4 weeks. Usually not that often but he is leaving the arthritis center to a new hospital out of state and he wanted to see me one more time before his departure. My care will be carried over to one of the other 4 rheumys there at the center during febuary. Thanks for the responses.
Those labs definitely mean you're seropositive. The anti-CCP is the most definitive test out there for RA. It's an accurate test and has been known to correlate with more destructive disease course. That's another reason it's good that he's being aggressive with your treatment.
You should be fine on the plaquinel. Just like the methotrexate get your testing done on schedule. If something goes south they'll notice it before it gets out of control. I would recommend an opthalmalogist (MD) rather than an optometrist for the eye exams. Just my opinion. There are specialists who handle autoimmune cases as well. My rheumy referred me to mine & she's been excellent.
Take care. I hope all the meds agree with you and you start feeling better.
Emerald
Your anti-ccp says you have RA - not really any doubt there. It's soooo specific for Ra. A few folks with psoriatic arthritis have elevated anti-ccp too but yours is quite high. (mine was the same the first time and then was double that two years later even though all symptoms were diminished)
Regardless of the lyme test - you have RA and need to treat it. Keep in mind, if you are still in pain in 6mos - you can drop some of the dmard and pick up a biologic.
Your RA management is just a work in progress. Hang in there!!
Before I started plaquenil my doctor had me see a specialist to completely check out my eyes and get a baseline. My local hospital has a Plaquenil eye clinic. I had my eyes checked again after 6 months and now have them checked annually at my normal eye appt. I've taken plaquenil for over 4 years. I believe they will watch me even closer after 10 years.
I'm pretty lucky. My ophthalmologist is in the same office as my Rheumy. She is very well educated about RA and my care.
After a year on plaquenil, I began MTX and folic acid. I hope the combination of meds works great for you.
Cheerfully- Just wondering if you have had any eye trouble since being on plaquinil for 4 years. My eyes are fairly healthy other than astigmatism which makes me nearsighted. I had lasik done in 08 which was nice but over the last 2 or 3 years i have needed some glasses made for driving at night or seeing well in dim lit areas. I told my rheumy about my eyes when he mentioned plaquinil and he seemed to think ill be fine as long as i keep a check upon them. He said it can effect the backs of the eyes and thats where the concern is.
Just curious how many people that has taken plaquinil have actually had eye damage. Would this damage be permanent or would it improve with stopping the treatment? Thanks everyone.
Wendy