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...
Hi there, I'm feeling so confused any comments would be helpful. I have been on enbrel, humira, and now orencia with methotrexate ofcourse with all of them.
Enbrel had side effects, Humira left my knees swollen and painful, Doc moved me to Orencia. Now Doc says I'm in "remission". I am losing 3 days a week to illness from high dose of metho, then Orencia just makes me feel like complete crap. I'm not throwing up but nauseous and malaise to the point of not being able to do much but lay around for 3 days a week.
I have 2 kids, I can't live this way!!! Do you think Doc will switch me back to Humira.... if this is "remission" I'd rather have it with Humira less side effects same pain. I feel so stressed because my ability to function is in someone else's hands, and finding a compassionate Rhuemy doesn't seem likely in my town from reviews I'm afraid to let go of the not great to have something much worse.
Last night I skipped my metho just because I'm so sick of feeling like crap, I almost feel like being really crazy and skipping my Orencia too.
Enbrel had side effects, Humira left my knees swollen and painful, Doc moved me to Orencia. Now Doc says I'm in "remission". I am losing 3 days a week to illness from high dose of metho, then Orencia just makes me feel like complete crap. I'm not throwing up but nauseous and malaise to the point of not being able to do much but lay around for 3 days a week.
I have 2 kids, I can't live this way!!! Do you think Doc will switch me back to Humira.... if this is "remission" I'd rather have it with Humira less side effects same pain. I feel so stressed because my ability to function is in someone else's hands, and finding a compassionate Rhuemy doesn't seem likely in my town from reviews I'm afraid to let go of the not great to have something much worse.
Last night I skipped my metho just because I'm so sick of feeling like crap, I almost feel like being really crazy and skipping my Orencia too.
When my RA doc started me on MTX I was sick as a dog for at least 3 days then felt like a wrung out dish clothe for the fourth. So 4 out of 7 days off my feet was not acceptable. After the third attempt I came right out & told her I loose enough quality time I just can't tolerate it.
There's no reason the doctor can't work with you to find a more tolerant treatment plan.
I hope you find some relief soon.
Sammy
I didn't mean to say it's common to adjust meds on your own, I'm certainly not comfortable doing that, I guess that's why I practically had a breakdown before I would reduce my metho. I put a call in to my dr.'s office but they don't call back quickly (within 24hrs. supposedly) but I never received a call back. I come from a strong Irish/polish, mine- working, push through anything kind of mentality---I feel like I have a hard time communicating with my doctor because of it, like I feel like a complainer if I go in there with a list of aches and pains after all I'm diagnosed with severe arthritis I expect to hurt, and I know mtx makes me and many others feel crappy, so why mention it..
Then for a month in a row it just seemed like it was taking more than it was giving. But even then it's like ok I felt like crap last week but maybe it was just an off week, hope that doesn't happen again. Then there's a time where the patient has to say this is MY body. I guess I tend to hit that point a little late when I just can't take anymore...anyway maybe you can understand my complexities a little more lol!!!!
i take orencia alone.
it might be nice that methotrexate has a grooving synergistic affect with the biologics or whatever they say, but I can't work full time with methowhat's my name. I forget my first name and if I stay out 3 days there goes the job and the mortgage and the kids college loans.
i was upfront from the beginning with the new rheumie that so many people have a good response from mtx and an even better one when it is taken concurrently with a biologic.
but mtx after years and years was too much of a fight with raising my kids alone and working full time alone and living alone. the injectable cut back on the puking but it didn't cut back on the 3 days a week wanting to be in bed stuff.
the rheumie i have now is the first one that said no mtx for me, period. a biologic alone is what i do. i also had more pneumonias on mtx from opportunistic infections than I ever did from the biologics. I can't take remicade from my ra-ish lungs. but orenica will exit my body quick when I can't breath.
speak up. get it to work for you with the doc.
Ros
Wondering how your doing on Orencia alone? Jointwise etc. I've been on it since the beginning when I could hardly walk. I don't know which is worse joint pain or the brain fog. If there wasn't long term joint damage to worry about some of this would be different. I wonder if I could do that... also this luecovorin, why on earth wouldn't my last doc have mentioned this on one of my many attempts to lower or get off mtx????!!!! This site is very helpful indeed!!!!