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...
Doing an informal survey, just for myself, period. If you'd like to participate please do....no explanations, additions, etc, simple straight forward answers please. For my definition a "flare" is discomfort/mild pain; a "bad flare" is when there is swelling and severe pain and extreme stiffness/freezing.
Questions are:
How long diagnosed RA? (answer is a number)
Inhibitor taking? (answer is a med)
How many flares per year do you experience? (answer is a number or the word "constant")
How many bad flares per year do you experience? (answer is a number or the word "constant")
My answers are:
1yr
Plaqunil
4
1
Four lines with one answer on each line is what I'm looking for....reason is that compared to most I seem to be doing pretty dang well and would like some comparison information.
Questions are:
How long diagnosed RA? (answer is a number)
Inhibitor taking? (answer is a med)
How many flares per year do you experience? (answer is a number or the word "constant")
How many bad flares per year do you experience? (answer is a number or the word "constant")
My answers are:
1yr
Plaqunil
4
1
Four lines with one answer on each line is what I'm looking for....reason is that compared to most I seem to be doing pretty dang well and would like some comparison information.
prednisone, mtxt (going to start remicade next month)
once in two months
so far 1
Only meloxicam (NSAID) (1st yr Enbrel and mtx)
Maybe 1
0
(If I went back on Enbrel, I am sure I could be 100%normal with only normal limits - However, without Enbrel, I am ok most days. My liver reacted to Methotrexate so when I do go back on dmard, it will need to be biologic. I'm willing to do it, but not until I "need" it. One knuckle needs a cortisone injection, it feels sticky. That's about it) *I AM SOOO FORTUNATE and I expect to be hit full on one day with my RA. My anti-ccp predicted severe RA. Just biding my time.
How long diagnosed RA? 6 months
Inhibitor taking? MTX
How many flares per year do you experience? 6
How many bad flares per year do you experience? 2 since June, 1 when I was diagnosed and again when I was being treated for Pneumonia in September
5 Years
Inhibitor taking?
Humira and MTX (recently back on mtx)
How many flares per year do you experience?
Up until I got back on mtx in late 2013, I had bad flares the entire year.
How many bad flares per year do you experience?
See answer above 2014 is new year and no flares to report since adding mtx back. Humira seems to not be working so well so I'm experiencing quite a bit of stiffness here lately. However, when I think flares, I'm thinking more of the 'pain' associated with RA. :)
RAfighter
Orenica and methatrexate
ZERO!
ZERO!
Please try to find a thread here on "managing" RA or managing RA symptoms. It explained GOALS of treatment. i'll try to find it for you. Just Plaquinel does not seem sufficient. And, - as far as I know - it does not stop the progression of the disease whether you have painful periods or not.
You did not ask, but if I were you, after a YEAR, i'd be talking to the doc about adding or changing meds. and asking if Plaquinel is stopping the progression.
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Rheumatoid_Arthritis/forum/16821746-important-info-re-treatment-goals#addcomment_anchor
It can be found by searching the word "GOALS" and is a MUST READ, IMHO.
2. Tapering off Prednisone and 15 mg MTX (started 4 weeks ago)
3. Flares are getting less and less everyday:)
4. Disease to new to answer this one.
MTX, plaquenil, prednisone (for 1 more month),
remission for 5 years or so but RA was back in 2013 with 1 long flare
avg bad flares 1 per year before remission, last year 1 constant flare.
Humira, Methotrexate, Prednisone
125
15
Inhibitor taking? Plaquenil and Prednisone
How many flares per year do you experience? Constant
How many bad flares per year do you experience? At least 2
Was on minocin and prednisone (first 10 years). Now I take NO regular meds - paleo diet control of symptoms
Last year had 3 short lived (2-4 days) flares. Traced back to foods I'd added back to diet.
Only have bad flares when I eat food allergist identified as me being highly allergic too. Short lived 2-3 day flares.
5 Methotrexate tabs a week, Prednisone taper (alter 10&5mg daily)
1
Disease to new to answer
Meds: MTX, Humira
Flares per year: 24 (about)
Bad Flares per year: 4