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...
Diagnosed august of 2014. Been on mtx 6 and folic acid 2 for 8 months now with really no significant relief. My larger joints as far as my hips and shoulders have given me less problems. My pain is not better but just different. Plaquenil was added about 5 weeks ago.
Seen my (new to me) rheumy last Tuesday for the first time. App went very good and liked his attitude, and patience. He done a good physical exam bending my joints and feeling around. I'd say he was in there Atleast 30 minutes and answered all my questions and concerns. Had my regular bloodwork completed. One of my liver tests was elevated but not to bad at my last visit before this one but I was instructed to continue my meds as usual and they would keep an close watch on it. The next day after this last visit I get a phone call from his clinical assistant. The dr wants me to stop the mtx for 4 weeks and then complete more bloodwork to see if my numbers have retreated. They must have still been elevated or went up even more. He told me to continue on with the plaquenil as scheduled. He also told me to relax and stop worrying so much. Lol. I must have appeared all bent out of shape during the visit. Haha. He said I'm gonna take good care of your liver and and keep you healthy just not to stress to much and follow his instruction and take my meds as instructed.
I also had some paperwork completed to return to work in the next couple weeks. This makes me nervous since I've been off now for 9 months and my job is physical and demanding. Finances is what is forcing me back even though I'm not where I need to be. Already blew through my saving over the last several months and don't have much of a choice unless I wanna start selling vehicles and changing my entire way of living. It's amazing how fast you can blow through money when you don't have much coming in. I have learned a lot of financial lessons the last few months. I thought I was much better off than I actually was.
The last couple days I been thinking I have this stuff completed and mailed to try to return to work and the very next day I get a call and they say to stop the mtx for 4 weeks. Good timing eh. I guess I'll find out soon if the mtx was doing anything or not. I'm not sure how long it will take to notice but I'm sure by the 4th week without it I should know. Maybe this plaquenil will be a better drug for me and start working in a couple months.
This spring weather is helping out for sure. All our snow finally melted off and we have had a couple of really nice days to get out of the house and enjoy it. My outlook and spirits are looking up and im having a really good day today. Probably at a level 3 on the new 0 to 10 pain scale. :) Hoping everyone else is doing the same. Thanks for listening to my problems and whine. Any words of wisdom is always welcome.
Seen my (new to me) rheumy last Tuesday for the first time. App went very good and liked his attitude, and patience. He done a good physical exam bending my joints and feeling around. I'd say he was in there Atleast 30 minutes and answered all my questions and concerns. Had my regular bloodwork completed. One of my liver tests was elevated but not to bad at my last visit before this one but I was instructed to continue my meds as usual and they would keep an close watch on it. The next day after this last visit I get a phone call from his clinical assistant. The dr wants me to stop the mtx for 4 weeks and then complete more bloodwork to see if my numbers have retreated. They must have still been elevated or went up even more. He told me to continue on with the plaquenil as scheduled. He also told me to relax and stop worrying so much. Lol. I must have appeared all bent out of shape during the visit. Haha. He said I'm gonna take good care of your liver and and keep you healthy just not to stress to much and follow his instruction and take my meds as instructed.
I also had some paperwork completed to return to work in the next couple weeks. This makes me nervous since I've been off now for 9 months and my job is physical and demanding. Finances is what is forcing me back even though I'm not where I need to be. Already blew through my saving over the last several months and don't have much of a choice unless I wanna start selling vehicles and changing my entire way of living. It's amazing how fast you can blow through money when you don't have much coming in. I have learned a lot of financial lessons the last few months. I thought I was much better off than I actually was.
The last couple days I been thinking I have this stuff completed and mailed to try to return to work and the very next day I get a call and they say to stop the mtx for 4 weeks. Good timing eh. I guess I'll find out soon if the mtx was doing anything or not. I'm not sure how long it will take to notice but I'm sure by the 4th week without it I should know. Maybe this plaquenil will be a better drug for me and start working in a couple months.
This spring weather is helping out for sure. All our snow finally melted off and we have had a couple of really nice days to get out of the house and enjoy it. My outlook and spirits are looking up and im having a really good day today. Probably at a level 3 on the new 0 to 10 pain scale. :) Hoping everyone else is doing the same. Thanks for listening to my problems and whine. Any words of wisdom is always welcome.
Thinksrastinks- I actually have some pred that was prescribed back in august to try to bridge the gap. I never did get around to taking it since I decided to try to do without it if possible. My rheumy is aware of this and knows I have it. I think this may be a good idea if I begin to struggle at work. I would of course call him before hand and get permission and instructions. Guess you could call it an insurance policy. Lol. Btw. Do you or anyone know if the pred is good for a long time or does it expire. A lot of meds are good for years after the expiration and some lose their effects. Thanks for the input.