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...
I'll be short as possible...
Started Humira and MTX (Methotrexate had begun 8 months before) in combo 6/15. By 7/15 having outstanding results! So good cut the MTX from 7 tabs to 3/wk because of nausea. End of Oct felt stiffing. By January in a flare, by end of Feb full blown, locked up shoulders/arms/hands excruciating constant pain. Dropped in to see RA Dr., got a shot of cortisone and he upped the MTX dosage back up BUT switched me to a .7 shot instead of 7 tabs. Cortisone worked very well for 4 weeks, week 5 have some soreness return but gone by week 6, RA back under control.
April, had the first case of bronchitis in many years, normal coarse of antibiotics, etc......just now finally completely getting shed of it. May had a bursar (sp?) sack infection in right elbow, swelled, fevered, full of fluid, been on antibiotics for three weeks still not cleared up. Never before have I had a problem with infections or clearing them. Figured it was the sides of Humira and MTX finally happening......yes and no.
Saw RA Dr. yesterday, normal scheduled. He was happy with RA. I gave him a list of all the antibiotics, dates and asked, "What gives?". His response:
"I think your body was in need of a high dose of MTX in combo with Humira, we've pretty much proven that. I think what has happened is that your body was throwing off much of the medicine when taking the MTX tabs but your body is using the injected MTX very efficiently especially considering it only took five weeks of shots at a high level to make the combo work so well again. Problem could very well be that your using it so efficiently that it is so high that your body's immune system has been greatly weakened by it resulting in these infections. Cut the dose back to .5 from .7 and that might be the balance point for which we strive."
Makes sense to me. Just passing on information that may be helpful but do keep in mind that all of our bodies work differently.
Started Humira and MTX (Methotrexate had begun 8 months before) in combo 6/15. By 7/15 having outstanding results! So good cut the MTX from 7 tabs to 3/wk because of nausea. End of Oct felt stiffing. By January in a flare, by end of Feb full blown, locked up shoulders/arms/hands excruciating constant pain. Dropped in to see RA Dr., got a shot of cortisone and he upped the MTX dosage back up BUT switched me to a .7 shot instead of 7 tabs. Cortisone worked very well for 4 weeks, week 5 have some soreness return but gone by week 6, RA back under control.
April, had the first case of bronchitis in many years, normal coarse of antibiotics, etc......just now finally completely getting shed of it. May had a bursar (sp?) sack infection in right elbow, swelled, fevered, full of fluid, been on antibiotics for three weeks still not cleared up. Never before have I had a problem with infections or clearing them. Figured it was the sides of Humira and MTX finally happening......yes and no.
Saw RA Dr. yesterday, normal scheduled. He was happy with RA. I gave him a list of all the antibiotics, dates and asked, "What gives?". His response:
"I think your body was in need of a high dose of MTX in combo with Humira, we've pretty much proven that. I think what has happened is that your body was throwing off much of the medicine when taking the MTX tabs but your body is using the injected MTX very efficiently especially considering it only took five weeks of shots at a high level to make the combo work so well again. Problem could very well be that your using it so efficiently that it is so high that your body's immune system has been greatly weakened by it resulting in these infections. Cut the dose back to .5 from .7 and that might be the balance point for which we strive."
Makes sense to me. Just passing on information that may be helpful but do keep in mind that all of our bodies work differently.
Sounds like a great rheumatologist.
What I've learned over the years is to be diligent about cleaning my hands after every public contact. I believe that using "Wet Ones" [wipes] has been instrumental in my not catching colds. [For me, a cold means bronchitis and probably pneumonia......which I haven't had it over 6 years.....not even a cold.]
What is the status on the cortisone? Was it injection or pills? If pills, still taking it? If so, any plans to wean off? If the shot, was it the short or long acting?
The cortisone was a shot, rheumy said it was short and long action. Yes, he's a good doctor