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...
So I'm now living life in the civilian world after my RA got me kicked out of the military since being on Humira makes me unable to complete the mission I was assigned (sitting on a computer and typing essentially). But now as a result I'm stuck in limbo waiting for my heath care to transfer over so I can see a rheumatologist without having to take out a loan to pay for the bills and in the meantime my pain is just getting worse.
Plaquenil seems to be doing nothing for me and Humira has helped initially but I'm struggling at this point. However since I'm on the younger end (23) my doctor was really hesitant to put me on methotrexate despite the fact that its been shown to help my sister who has demonstrated the same symptoms as me throughout the process. I understand the risks and have weighed them, but am wondering the best way to approach this when I meet my new rheumatologist.
Does anyone have any advice for how to approach this or maybe some alternative recommendations? I'm starting to lose my mind and the heat/cold is only doing so much to abate the symptoms with the prednisone as well.
Wasting away waiting on the government as always.
Invictus
Plaquenil seems to be doing nothing for me and Humira has helped initially but I'm struggling at this point. However since I'm on the younger end (23) my doctor was really hesitant to put me on methotrexate despite the fact that its been shown to help my sister who has demonstrated the same symptoms as me throughout the process. I understand the risks and have weighed them, but am wondering the best way to approach this when I meet my new rheumatologist.
Does anyone have any advice for how to approach this or maybe some alternative recommendations? I'm starting to lose my mind and the heat/cold is only doing so much to abate the symptoms with the prednisone as well.
Wasting away waiting on the government as always.
Invictus
i have never heard of a rheumatologist who used a biologic before the standard dmard methotrexate, that's interesting.
can you pay cash to see a primary care as an interim and get a mtx pills (in lieu of humira since you are between insurance) and steroid while waiting? how long before insurance is settled? get your rheum appointment now as they are sometimes months out
we have a lot of awesome 20 somethings on this list - you are not alone
welcocme
depot
Once I get my insurance back I'll have to get an appointment with my primary care and then a referral to see a rheumy. I'm just hoping that things will happen sooner rather than later. The weather has been horrible lately and even with weekly Humira injections there are nights where I am stuck laying in bed feeling like my legs are broken and the rest of my joints are just swollen.
Definitely ready for the government to actually help me for once.
Invictus
Gentle hugs,
Cas
Take the MTX!
I think with RA the sooner you are aggressively treated the better. It's a very inexpensive dmard and has been around and used for probably over 30 years by now. The longer a drug is around the less likely some kind or serious side effect is going to pop up in the news of why it's bad.
Many many many people get success with that drug.
The downfall? If you like your cocktails it's the one drug they like to tell you you should not drink with because it can already be so toxic to your liver you shouldn't complicate things by drinking with it...
I wish you all the best!
Don't know how I feel about it- I don't think enough research has been done on the fact that many MTX users are still enjoying their cocktails without problem....
Just wrong. Not a great reward for helping your country out.
Great advice already.
If you could swing for an office visit with a PCP cost of Prednisone is reasonable.
Really I'd come right out & tell the new RA doctor you'd like to try MTX as you are aware of its track record & your sister is on that list of those it's helped. Straight to the point. No reason why you can't ask PCP also. Especially if there's any real wait to get into the RA Dr.
It's been around & common enough for a PCP to prescribe.
There are those who have concerns with younger women & future family planning.
I've read enough posts where PCPs start patients on MTX.
I'm sure they would rather let the specialist choose but with most having a waiting period it's not unreasonable for patients to ask.
I suppose it would have a lot to do with the docs comfort zone treating the RA.
How long have you been on Humira? Perhaps it's time to inquire about a whole new approach to help gain control of the beast known as RA.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Sammy