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I Have my 3rd Remicade Infusion I Hope it starts Alleviating this pain and swelling!!!!

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 6/16/2008 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Today I go for my 3rd remicade Infussion I feel a bit better I'm also taking Methotrexate 5 a week but I am still in a lot of pain and still swollen. I have also been getting Dizzy spells and everything I eat goes through me but I have spurts where I over eat or don't eat at all I was diagnosed with Psoratic Arthritis in January 2008 I know I have gained weight but when I look at my stomach it looks swollen not just fat I always have stomach pain also lots of pain in my abdomen, my back, ankles,feet even on the bottom of my feet, elbows, hands and fingers really bad in my knuckles and neckand the saddest part of all is I have been missing my appointments with my rheumatologist because between Rheumatologist appt's, med's and co pays for infussion's I have to chose and pick whats of the utmost importance because financially I can't pay it anymore so I can't even see my rheumatologist to let her know how I am really feeling I have missed 1 appointment with her so far. My worst problem of all of them is my feet because it's hard to walk most of the time. And also my Fingers I am a Real Estate Paralegal and typing all day just makes my hands hurt even more I can barely straughten them but I deal with the pain because I have to work. Can anyone let me know if there is anything else I can do to alleviate some of this I'd appreciate it. Thanks PR Glo 
Posted 7/1/2008 4:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hi I was reading your post and it sounded like I was reading about what I am going thru. I had my 3rd Remicade infusion today and so far I feel nothing. I also take Methotrexate 6 pills. I have the same eating problums also. I have also gained weight but my stomach looks like I am pregnaunt and is also painful. Just does not seem right to me. My feet are also the worse then it's my knees. I have RA a though.

Can you call your Doctor or her Nurse and let them know how you are feeling? I would have your Primary Doctor look at your Stomach. That is what I am going to do. Abdominal pain is one of the side effects of Remicade. One of the rare side effects is a Herina (bulge of tissue thru the wall of the abdomen) I found this information at the Mayo Clinic web site.

I wrap a towel around some ice packs and put them on my feet and knees. It helps while they are on. I wear the real soft footie socks and use biofreeze on my feet. I also use that on my neck and back. The hands I found these gel mitts that can be used cold or hot they work good. When the pain gets unbearable I take a pain pill and lay down with my body pillow, can not sleep with out it!

I hope you start feeling better soon. :-)

Posted 7/2/2008 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
hi there prglo...

this is going to be beyond hard for the most part...but IT WILL GET BETTER.

you're just starting your infusions, so given the degree or severity of your condition, it may take a long while before you start to see satisfactory improvements by the Remicade.

i'm in my 2nd year (almost  years pretty soon)...and it is JUST RECENTLY that i'm reaping some relief from the actual infusion.

the day of, the day after & the week & 1/2 following are my best weeks.

this started happening around the winter time.

also...the Ra & crohns arthritis i have is quite severe, so i go every 3 weeks for the chemotherapy & the dose of remicade is 600mg each treatment.

so...you CAN increase your dose! there is A LOT OF ROOM to move up in dosage than any other drug out there.

so...give your current dose & time interval a few months...if you're not making any good improvements, inquire about tweaking the dose or making the treatments closer.

there's lots of room to play.

 

i need narcotic pain med help so i see a specialist for that; some pe ople are also able to use prednisone & nsaids safely too to help the pain & swelling.

 

let us know how you're doing please.

take good care.

erin

Posted 7/4/2008 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
dear proglo,

i also wanted to add that you MUST be patient too.  3 treatments isn't even blowing the dust off the furniture!  i don't know the severity of your arthritis, but....to really get a handle on the actual disease takes many many infusions.  hopefully YOU ARE one of those who get fast results, but the more infusions that go by the more the Remicade will get more effective.

in the meantime, do be pro-active & get the help from you physician to handle the pain & inflammation.

via nsaids, cox2's, steroid injections, prednisone, or opioid therapy...

also, speak to an herbalist or homeopath too. some chiropractics may help & massage therapy too! there are VERY STRONG & POTENT antiinflammatories you can buy without a prescription such as tumeric, ginger, fish oil, etc...

these are great to use as an adjunct to medicines you are on already.

 

with everything we take..it's all "ANTI" this & "anti" thats...that we need to actually put some "pro" this n' that's into ourselves.

even though those things i mentioned do not really cure us of AI disease...they allow us the opportunity to sort of "check" ourselves ya know?  it's like taking a little time to do an act of "let's do something for the WHOLE me".

 

cheers,

erin  

p.s. how are you doing? how is the pain? have you talked to a doc about extra help? write back soon.

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