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Gypsygrounded

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 9/28/2011 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi how did you go at Rhumy Appointment ?
Posted 9/28/2011 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
HI all, well i really like my DR. she is very down to earth! she really seemed to care.

she was very concerned about my eyes. aparently i might have the sjogrens? however you spell it.i had about a year ago what my local eye dr said was an ulcer that she had never seen before ( extreemly painful) my eye has never been the same since. like sand paper and im constantly putting saline solution in espcially at night 3-4 times a night now its affecting my other eye.  she has set me up for alot of blood work,dexa scan,ex-rays and eye exam all in a learning hospitol that has an excellent reputation. wants to put me on plaquinel? but until i get blood work she wants me to try another round of steroids yukkkkk they make me so sick so she is having me try medrol dose pak instead of prednisone. ANY info on medrol??  and anything i should know about plaquinel?  thanks guys for any info.

Posted 9/28/2011 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I think the plaquinel is a good start medicine, but you'll need to inform your eye doctor while on this medicine
as it can affect the eye, I have reservations as to the medrol dose pack as it starts with such a high amount
of prednisone, I ended up in the ER once after taking it, I think because of the high start and did not give
me a good stop, but if it's what your doctor wants you on you should try it and work
with the doctor, most of us here have that love hate with prednisone it can help the inflammation that RA causes...
do a google search on the plaqunil and see if they have a program that you can get some assistance in paying
for this medicine as it can be expensive.
Many well wishes to you, sounds like you have a good doctor....
Posted 9/28/2011 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Plaquenil takes about five weeks before you feel a difference.
I don't have any trouble with medrol packs.
Posted 9/29/2011 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I just saw the comment on plaquenil prices - that it can be expensive. I am also on Humira in I am under humira protection plan and because of that I don't pay for plaquenil at all!!! the instruction on the Humira card says: "monthly copay covers HUMIRA alone or Humira plus one of the following medications: methorexate, Arava or plaquenil. So i gave this card to pharmacist and they saved the code in their system and everytime I go pick up Plaquenil I pay zero dollars. I actually have no idea how much plaquenil costs and it of course depends on the insurance - but I hope the information can help somebody.

Gypsysgrounded remember also to take plaquenil with food as it doesn't like empty stomach :) I also didn't have problems with medrol besides confusion and dizziness, but I guess I kind of get used to it as last time I was taking it was OK.

Good Luck!!!
Posted 9/29/2011 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info! I am very sensitive to prednisone (cramp and diahreah) so i called pharmasist and he said they are different in composition but might still make me sick.

(yuk) the info ive read does seem similar to all your comments. generally plaquinel is a decent dmard

but i have read today that it can cause serious eye problems. as well as hair loss and im already challenged in that area shocked                   Bstrong....Im confused about what u were saying about your plaquinel being free please let me know these tips are all new to me. thx all!

Posted 9/29/2011 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Glad your Rhumy visit went well

if you are sensitive to drugs be aware with the Plaquinil if you get fever or sore throat,i guess with most of them you need to be watchfull especilly of a temperature. hope it works out well

Posted 9/29/2011 10:05 AM (GMT 0)
Goodluck with the medrol pack.

They usually have me up all night, I go into hyper mode and can't sleep on them. I seem to be ultra sensitive to any form of cortisone. But the payoff is worth it. I just love having pain free joints.

I really hope it works for you and you tolerate it ok.

Best wishes, golitho

Posted 9/29/2011 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear your appt. went well! The Medrol packs always worked well for me, but then I can sleep after taking prednisone too. As for the Plaq...make sure you get your baseline eye exam before taking your script, other than that it worked well for me and was tremendous when it came to the fatigue of RA..I actually had energy while on it! Good luck with it!
Posted 9/30/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Dear gypsygrouned - as of the Plaquenil - I am not sure what medications you are taking now but if you on Humira maybe it can save you money. I have Cigna insurance, sorry I don't know how it works with the other insurances... Short after I started to take Humira injections I received Humira Protection Plan card. After activation it turned out that I will pay just $5.00 per 6 pens of Humira and after reading the instruction on the card and talking to pharmacist I don't have any charges for plaquenil. For people taking Metorexate would be the same and Arava. But once again I am not sure if it is my insurance or Humira having these great options for patients. It realy saves me a lot of money. I am not sure if you are on the Humira but if you are you could maybe call them and ask about the Protection Plan.

As of Plaquenil I would check with your eye doctor if you can take it. As I understood my eye doctor explanation about side effects of Plaquenil is that something can build up on the back of yuor eye - and it can be the problem, but as far as I know if you stop taking plaquenil all the side effects should go away. Talk to the doctor....
Posted 10/1/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Yes...Bstrong is correct, I was one of those rare cases and I do say rare because I was one of the few cases that my rheumy has seen in his practice that actually had to disontinue the Plaq due to eye damage in my right eye.
Posted 10/1/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input! I am very concerned at the "rare" so they say side effect of plaquinel.........since i am already having all the symptoms of sjogrens., i dont want any more pain in my eyes. I just keep worrying whats next?? although i will say that im greatful to my family practice DR. for recognizing the signs of RA and after 3 years of searching for answers with a "not so good dr". he was able to say .... there is a reason for your pain. lol today just brings a new set of worries that im ready to take on! thanks again to all who have taken the time to comfort me as well as others, this truly has been good for me. my husband is always saying ..did you learn that from the "forum" so yeah, you are the ones i listen to because your the ones experiencing the same pain as me only many more years of it! thanks!
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