I am DEFINITELY calling my doc tomorrow! Elbows alternating hurting or both together. And I'm heading for bed right after dinner. Chills, alternating with hot flashes.

If we decide Orencia had petered out...I'm going to ask about Xeljanz.

I hope the Orencia hasn't stopped working for you, but if it has, Xeljanz may be a good fit. Orencia worked for me, but we switched to Xeljanz and it has been great. Maybe you will have the same luck.

It does sound like it is time for a doctor visit. I hope you find relief soon.

Thanks!!

better today after a good night's sleep. i'm thinking it was the lousy rainy weather - but usually, when my meds are working properly weather doesn't affect me.

I'm beginning to think that we who've been blessed with an auto-immune are quite sensitive to the celestial changes. Around the equinox, fall or spring, I usually have something remind me of the changes......might be you're thing this fall.

WarriorGal, I hope this is just temporary for you. I'm only two years into Orencia +MTX and it has been working pretty well for me but I have always had brief periods when RA symptoms crop up in a minor way (I hesitate to call it "remission"). It's like the drugs keep a lid on a boiling pot but once in awhile little steam escapes from the side of the lid and gets me in the foot or hands or someplace else. But your current flare up sounds a little more serious than I have experienced since things got under control.

One question since you have had a lot more experience than I: When a biologic starts to fail, do symptoms come on suddenly or gradually? Whenever I start to feel something I think, "Oh-oh. Is this the start of Orencia finally failing?" But then, after a few days usually, the pot goes back to just a low simmer. For me, the bouts of fatigue never go away, though. But I can live with that.

As with everything, I'm sure it's different for everyone. I like your lid on a boiling pot analogy. I call what I was experiencing "break through pain" not a flare-up. For me, a flare up is when every joint in my body from neck to toes is SCREAMING! When my meds failed in the past it came on slowly over the course of a week or two or more. I guess now I am just more aware and keep an eye on it more instead of my usual tendency to ignore little aches and pains.

My rule is to ignore any pain that comes and goes...only pay attention if it doesn't go away. And then, if it's just one joint I'll go for an x-ray cause it could be something mechanical that meds aren't going to help.

But today I feel FINE again! So I am thinking it may have been weather-related.

I always find that when the kids go back to school in September, the germs start circulating like wildfire.

That's another issue.

Hi WarrierGal,

I'm new to here. I was just diagnosed with RA at 43 last week. I just started methotrexate. The Rheum told me it was very early as I have no inflammation yet and no joint damage. My sed and CRP are all negative at this point. I'm absolutely dreading the future with this.... As of now I'm very active and in good shape. I do have a positive RF and a "week positive"CCP--which I still don't get the week part--positive is positive!! I saw your post about a eight year remission-- that is very impressive. I just hope I can keep this as it is now for a bit. I don't have a lot of discomfort now other than the wrist pain and a little bit in my feet at various times.

Hi, TC -- welcome!

yes, remission is possible. Here's a good description of tests: https://www.hss.edu/conditions_understanding-rheumatoid-arthritis-lab-tests-results.asp