You might think about what damage is being done inside you cant see, if your not taking anything. You may not feel bad, but the damage may be going right on without your knowing it.

You are right...but my most recent sed rate was 26 and crp of

That was odd!
My most recend sed was 26 and crp was

I'll try again later. (crp

That was odd!
My most recend sed was 26 and crp was LESS THAN point1 (cannot post a less than sign with a decimal after it) . Doctor says "wait and watch" for now, but if things change before next appt, always call.

I just wonder if the mild/moderate med is right or should we go for the biologics. I'd like to try minocycline even though enbrel totally worked for me. Dr. turned me down on plaquenil - said it's not effective enough to justify the liver risk since my liver was all messed up on MTX. I'm gun shy!!

95% would be "good enough" for me. Any drug has risks, and the RA drugs seem to be a particularly nasty bunch. For an extra 5%, I'd skip the trips to the pharmacy, the cost, taking another pill or injection, and most of all, the risks.

I think you are right to keep the subject open, though. For example, if x-rays show new damage, time to re-evaluate.

I'd be in heaven at 95%! I'm at 50% and can't seem to get higher than that but I'll take it compared to where I was:(

I agree with the rest of the guys here. I would go for the 95%. All of these drugs have something and do something to our bodies, but I would rather be comfortable and able to function than not take a stronger drug and function at a lesser percent.

i'd love to get to 95%. if i was at 95% without taking drugs, i'd be ecstatic! as it is, i'm on a ton of drugs, and i'm probably at about 30-40% of pre-ra, and this is the best i've been doing since i've been diagnosed.

but i do agree, you should keep an eye on joint damage that you may not notice - keep up with x-rays and bloodwork, etc., to make sure that there's not damage being done while you're not taking meds.

OMG, I would love to be even at 85%, would still be working...

I'd be happy with at least 80%...I would love not to be tired all the time and have sore swollen hands. And I would love to be able to work out enough to start losing all this weight I gained. The amount of exercise I can do now is not enough; although I am sore afterward so I guess it's good by that standard :) I feel if I'm not half dead after I'm done I didn't get enough out of it....I can't work out like that anymore. My butt is showing it too haha :)

How long have you been off the Enbrel? I went off mine the beginning of Oct and I made it to the end of Nov before the inflammation was getting bad. My doctor believes in going off meds once and awhile to see how you do without it. I made it 2 months. I can stay off drugs more in the summer when it is warm. It's great you are able to get a break from the meds. When on Enbrel I'm 100%

I've been off all dmards/biologics for 14 months now. At month 2, I felt Ra in my left ring finger base knuckle and my right middle finger base knuckle. It's stayed that way.
I had a couple of days where I overdid it and thought my RA was returning full force - and then seriously wondered if I needed on a mild DMARD just so I didn't have to worry about overdoing it. My dr. said that the bloodwork is best gauge for inflammation and activity, but he warned me that RA could be so subtle hence the yearly xrays to check for damage.

I talked to my dr about treatment personalized to our own needs. Like going on enbrel for 2 months, then off 6, etc. It's not recommended because the body develops antibodies against the biologic...but personalized treatment is coming.
Not everyone needs 50cc/week of Enbrel, but there isn't a slow release of the drug.

Thank you all for the replies. I feel especially fortunate. My initial anti-ccp was sky high which apparently predicts my RA to be severe, so I am grateful for every day at this level.