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...

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I finally have proof I am med resisant

lovebaby8
lovebaby8
I always wonder if it was the drugs not working or I am just med resisant or both. I had a four hour root canal on Monday and they wanted to use sedation because the RA has given me TMJ and its hard to keep my mouth open wide or for long periods of time so they thought this would be an easier way to go. They gave me 4 valium pills they told me to take two and at bed time and two an hour before the root canal. I was so excited because they said I would get a really good night sleep. So I took two at bed time and then I was up at 3:00am bright eyed and bushy tailed. Then I took two of the pills an hour before and then when I was there they gave me more stuff that was suppost to knock me out within a minute or two and I was awake for the whole thing. They have never seen someone respond like that til me. It did relax me but didn't do what it was suppost to do. So now I am thinking that is why my RA meds never seem to work. Thats my theory anyway it sucks but it makes sense now.
Christine26
Christine26
you know I think with RA, our resistance is higher because many of us are on so many meds and pain meds that we require more than others might. I had Sq pain meds placed in my neck by a pain management specialist. I was in a lot of RA pain that day and the doctor told me i would not feel a thing. That day I felt everything from the IV insertion to every of the 6 needle sticks in my neck and I was not only screaming in the OR but moving. I had told the nurse anesthecist that she was going to have to give me more pain meds because I feel everything I know my body. She told me she could only give me a certain amount since this was an out patient setting. The doctor kept stopping during the procedure and said "Christine you cannot move". After all was over I told him I felt every stick and every cc of medicine going in. When I went for my F/U he wanted to schedule me for a nother round. I told him no way because I did feel better with the neck pain and i told him the amount of twilight medicine that he gave me was not enough. He said oh don't worry, next time we will give you more... No thanks. I don't feel like being tortured. Ra pain is torture enough.a
deleted_user
deleted_user
Right there with you ladies! I've woken up twice during endoscopies (not fun). Now they know to sock it to me. I was awake enough to talk to them and describe what was happening, so they believed me. God Bless!
deleted_user
deleted_user
ouch...that sounds painful.
My mother woke up during a surgery to fix her colon!

I was horrified for her and pi**ed off at the the darn anasthesiologist..I told him to be sure she was good and medicated, but of course she didn't have insurance, so why did he care??? GRRR I believe a doctor should have to pass an "I care or do not care" test before they can practice medicine!

hugs,
Missy
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think it depends on how well our bodies metabolize the pills we imbibe. An example would be MTX. The max dosage of the pills did NOTHING for me, but before we ditched the MTX altogether we gave the injectable a try. Luckily for me it helped. If you have meds being directly pumped into your bloodstrem it would be a logical conclusion to know they should be more effective than pills. I am so sorry you had to endure the 4 hour root canal. Next time tell them to knock you out with a hammer instead. lol
deleted_user
deleted_user
Pills don't work for me either. But injectables are great. Valium doesn't do anything for me. You may have some underlying stomach and absorption issues. Maybe talk to your rheumy about something you can inject, before you decide you are med resistant.

Sorry about the root canal.