Oh i am sooooo jealous..mine isn't till 12/8..weeks yet

Hope all that pain isn't going to ruin your Thanksgiving!..I wish mine would do a new sed rate...but same here, she can just see the swelling!

Does your rheummy poke around and test things?...My last 2 rheummies don't....and i kinda want them to, to see how it hurts

Enjoy the FEAST..and elevate those feet!

You know.....someone told me once that a good RD treats the patient, not the lab work. Just a thought. Maybe you should go for a second opinion on your meds...??? I certainly hope you start feeling better soon and get some relief from the swelling. Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope the Remicade works for you! At first, it did and I felt great. It was like a miracle. I hope it is that way for you!
Later it stopped working for me, but I am a fast metoblizer.. I have three failed Tx's and am now on Rituxan.

You may want to look into Cimzia if Remicade does not work. Side effects not too bad-just little tired next day. I think it is helping, but slowly. It's been three days since my third month shot and emotionally I am a lot better. The aches are little better. Cimzia seems to kick in about 5 days after shot. I am hoping after being on it a few more months it will take care of aches.

I think I have a good Rheumatologist. He looks at labs but the first thing he asks me is "How are you doing?" and he really listens to what I have to say. He seems to care which is number one with me for a doctor.

It's horrible not being able to get around.You want to exercise but your body will not let you.

I hope you too have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this nice NC weather.

Hi Frances, Happy Thanksgiving!

It sounds like Remicade really works for you. I've been on it since last December and don't really notice a difference. I think my Rheumy wants to keep me on it because it's keeping my Colitis in remission (good), but offers no relief for my pain or fatigue.

My numbers don't show evidence of inflammation either but at least my doc will treat what I'm feeling.

Monday will be here before you know it... until then, eat turkey!

i went through the exact same thing.
I love those remicade days.
are you still on pred?
keep in mind that it backfires, that's what caused my cankles on cankles

good luck honey

Sandi,
No, no prednisone. I was only on a pred burst because of a petechiae rash and then in the past 1 1/2 years, I've had 2 other pred bursts because of RA swelling. That's my pred history. Because I am diabetic, we don't do much prednisone. So the swelling is definitely not from pred. It's the RA.

My Next Infusion is Dec 6th. Starting to feel the let down especially in the feet. I don't have much swelling anymore but I certainly have the stiffness and still have joint tenderness in the toes. How long have you been on the Remicade?

Charlie, I've been on Remicade since the end of July. While my energy level is much much better, I've still not had much relief from swelling and stiffness. Some people in my infusion group say that it has completely changed their lives. While I'm grateful for what it has done so far, I still have a long way to go.

Good luck and a good day to us all.

Good Luck to you. I hope you feel much comfort after your Remicade treatment. I know that when you are in pain, it makes you feel so horrible. All you dwell on is how to take care of the pain all day long.

Can you take a little nsaid to take off the edge? I wear a mesh self-adhering bandage just around my ankle when I want to go walking. That seems to give it extra support.

I remember those enbrel days when I foolishly did not know that biologics do not last forever. I was on prednisone when I started it so I am not sure how long it took to kick in. All I know it is taking Cimzia awhile to kick in. It could be my RA had gotten a lot stronger since Enbel quit in May and it is just going to take awhile. I am like you just ready to go on with my life and quit having to dwell on pain.

Good luck with your next infusion. I have been on Remicade for nearly 2.5 years now. Hard to imagine it's been that long. This Wed I have to go to the cardiologist. My heart (or something) has been giving me problems and they want me to go have it checked out. Wish me luck. I'm not sure what is going on but at times it gets a little scary. Hugs, Charlie

Charlie, of course I wish you good luck on your cardiology appointment and I'm sending up some good thoughts for you. I know you must be experiencing a little fear but stay positive and remember you have a lot of people in your corner pulling for you.

As far as Remicade, I'll probably have to reschedule it because I was in the Emergency Room tonight for hives on my feet and am on antibiotics and prednisone again.

Sending you a gentle NC Granny hug in return.
Frances

I am so sorry you have to go through this. It seems like we work so hard to get ourselves through this RA monster and then, something else happens.

How long have you had RA? I am coming to the reality that this disease will probably be with me forever and I will have to learn how to cope. Hoping your antibiotics work well. Enjoy your energy filled prednisone less achy time.

Wendy, I was diagnosed with RA in August of 2010, but I am convinced I have had it much longer. While pred is a horrible drug in the long-term, it is wonderful sometimes, too. I can actually stand and walk on my feet today! Last night in the ER, I couldn't stand to put my weight on my feet, they were so inflamed with hives and some tiny blisters. The blisters are what sent me to the ER immediately when I found them (diabetes and foot infections). That's why they put me on the antibiotics, too, to make sure I don't get an infection from all of this.
RA will remain with us forever. We just have to treat the symptoms and take the RA drugs prescribed to prevent any future joint damage.
And pray for remission.

We rescheduled my Remicade infusion until next week.

And yes, I am feeling like Wonder Woman right now from the pred.

Hang in there Woman. Better days are coming. Sending you thanks and prayers for good pain-free days for you.

//Frances