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 the sun came out when I started Remicade. Hands zooming on the keyboard, feet tapping, energy, happiness. And now I appear to be back to dodging my RA shadow again...overwhelming fatigue, really stiff ankles and crappo hands.
Does anyone else have experience with Remicade? Shouldn't it have worked a little longer?
I'd like to snip that shadow loose and go and enjoy life again but just not sure what to do next. Try another biologic, change oral medications..sometimes I think that there is no point to any of the medications that it is all just a fallacy and nothing works for very long or provides effective relief and its all in vain so why shoot out my liver and take all this potent stuff?
Clearly I am not dodging the depression bullet either, lol. Okay enough of my rant.
Does anyone else have experience with Remicade? Shouldn't it have worked a little longer?
I'd like to snip that shadow loose and go and enjoy life again but just not sure what to do next. Try another biologic, change oral medications..sometimes I think that there is no point to any of the medications that it is all just a fallacy and nothing works for very long or provides effective relief and its all in vain so why shoot out my liver and take all this potent stuff?
Clearly I am not dodging the depression bullet either, lol. Okay enough of my rant.
I hear ya - seems like one step forward and fall backwards - it's hard to tell with this "stuff" we deal with, but if we hang together, maybe we can get through it all
Rest when ya need to and be well
Peace
Bluedogs2
; )
HI Redpoppy - I'm really sorry to hear about your experience. How long did it last for you? You say "shouldn't it have worked a little longer" but how long are you talking about?
I'm especially curious b/c I start Remicade IV next Tuesday. I am hoping for even just a little improvement!
I think RASally's info is really spot-on, by the way (but I'm still going for it!).
Sorry you are going through the "RA shuffle" as I've come to call it...
It's so hard to decide what to do. If you're one of the lucky ones, and may we all be in that category, these drugs are amazing. 20% improvement isn't great, though, and the side effects can be major.
Redpoppy, how long did you get with Remicade?
I also wonder if my whole liver toxicity shut off the RA. Methotrexate put me into SCARY liver enzyme numbers.
Isn't that how cancer gets treated - basically kill the body cells off except a teeny tiny bit and let it regain ability after cancer is dead?
I don't remember the class all the drugs are in, but your Dr. will know if Enbrel will help. Since the suggestion is Orencia, perhaps Enbrel/Humira are out.