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 would love to hear your thoughts on this.
I had Shingles in my right eye about 13 years ago. For the first year, I had a battle with the virus, but it eventually died down with the help of Acyclovir. I have had an ongoing issue with corneal edema ever since, and I use a very mild prednisone eye drop as needed. I can tell when my vision changes that I need to increase the dose. My eye doctor said I basically had an autoimmune disorder in my eye.
Spring of last year (this month, in fact) was when my RA symptoms hit. It was a stressful time, and I think that had a lot to do with it. It was a few months later that I saw the rheumy and started Plaquenil, and I did notice that my eye actually improved during that time, before I started the RA meds. In fact, I got to the point where I didn't need to use drops at all, and I was even able to get new glasses. Plaquenil has been working great and I have had no pain since the fall.
So this month, the stress started up again, I started having pain in my wrist, and my eye took a nose dive. My vision got so cloudy I went to see the ophthalmologist on my new plan.
He increased the drops up to the strongest dose, every two hours. That's fine, although it makes me want to cry when I think how long it took me to taper off and now I'll have to do that again. However, he also wanted me to take Acyclovir again. I asked him if he thought the virus was active, and he didn't think so but thought something was causing the problem so that was what they typically prescribe. I said given that I'm dealing with an autoimmune disorder in other parts of my body, I don't want to take any extra meds unless I have to, so that there aren't any problems. He insisted the two meds are safe together, and he called my rheumy who called me and said they are safe to take together.
My problem is, I don't want to take Acyclovir if I don't have to. My eye is already responding to the drops. My old eye doctor could tell by looking if the activity in my eye showed signs of viral infection, and after the first year, there never was active infection so we treated with the drops. I haven't filled the prescription yet and I'm not sure what to do. I am perfectly willing to take medication, but don't want to take any that I don't need. I don't know if I should just trust this doctor or take a wait-and-see approach.
Thanks for your two cents!
I had Shingles in my right eye about 13 years ago. For the first year, I had a battle with the virus, but it eventually died down with the help of Acyclovir. I have had an ongoing issue with corneal edema ever since, and I use a very mild prednisone eye drop as needed. I can tell when my vision changes that I need to increase the dose. My eye doctor said I basically had an autoimmune disorder in my eye.
Spring of last year (this month, in fact) was when my RA symptoms hit. It was a stressful time, and I think that had a lot to do with it. It was a few months later that I saw the rheumy and started Plaquenil, and I did notice that my eye actually improved during that time, before I started the RA meds. In fact, I got to the point where I didn't need to use drops at all, and I was even able to get new glasses. Plaquenil has been working great and I have had no pain since the fall.
So this month, the stress started up again, I started having pain in my wrist, and my eye took a nose dive. My vision got so cloudy I went to see the ophthalmologist on my new plan.
He increased the drops up to the strongest dose, every two hours. That's fine, although it makes me want to cry when I think how long it took me to taper off and now I'll have to do that again. However, he also wanted me to take Acyclovir again. I asked him if he thought the virus was active, and he didn't think so but thought something was causing the problem so that was what they typically prescribe. I said given that I'm dealing with an autoimmune disorder in other parts of my body, I don't want to take any extra meds unless I have to, so that there aren't any problems. He insisted the two meds are safe together, and he called my rheumy who called me and said they are safe to take together.
My problem is, I don't want to take Acyclovir if I don't have to. My eye is already responding to the drops. My old eye doctor could tell by looking if the activity in my eye showed signs of viral infection, and after the first year, there never was active infection so we treated with the drops. I haven't filled the prescription yet and I'm not sure what to do. I am perfectly willing to take medication, but don't want to take any that I don't need. I don't know if I should just trust this doctor or take a wait-and-see approach.
Thanks for your two cents!
Your eyes are so very important that I would be afraid to ignore professional advice. I looked up acyclovir and there are no adverse drug interactions with plaquinil---you can google it.
Best wishes.
good words, pugpen
Well wishes to you all
Bluedogs2