Hi I am New

Hello All,

 Not sure how much I should say so I will just give you a brief review:

Arthritis:25 years

Age: 49

Wife, Mom, Grandma

Showed signs after my daughters birth

2 joints fused: wrist and upper foot

Heart calcified had a pericardectomy in 2001 at Mayo

Have tried almost every med, disease keeps progressing only med that helps is prednisone!

Waiting to be cleared for Cimzia & Methotrexate (that is how I found you, looking up people who uses Cimzia)

Just stopped Rituxan, was not working for me AT ALL! Disease progressed while being treated with it.

Feel like disease is winning for the last year, I have fought this thing for a long time, never felt this bad.

Fatigue is horrible, tendon under left heel is flairing up, OUCH! It is a new symptom. Right wrist so bad thinking about getting it fused.

Wondered if anyone had relief with Cimzia after Rituxan not helping. Also, wondering the cost of Cimzia with above average insurance?

I was athletic now I can do yoga but no impact exercise. Very depressed. Gaining weight. 

Feel very lonely,that know one understands and I don't want to bore them with these issue's since you know everyone has arthritis (ha).

Jan 

Hi JanSands and welcome to HW and the RA forum

You have certainly suffered a long time with RA

Prednisone is a wonder drug, I wish we could safely take it long term. I find it helps with both my Crohn's and AS.

I now take Humira and MTX and it has finally helped me drop the pred without flaring (touch wood ), hopefully by the end of this month I will be pred free for the first time in seven years.

I was once really active and like you do yoga. I find the yoga helps me be able to get out of bed each morning, I think some of the stretches really help with my pains.

I hope you find the right med combo soon to give you relief - keep trying till you do.

Keep us posted on how you are going

Take care.

Jo