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To stop Enbrel, or not to stop Enbrel, that is the question.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 4/12/2012 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
After 3+ months on Enbrel, I don't beleive it is helping, MTX and prednisone are what seem to help.  My doc told me at my last visit to finish up the Enbrel I have and if it hasn't caused noticable improvement to stop for a month and see what happens.  I might be surprised how much it is helping or it may be doing nothing.  This is my first biologic and stopping makes me nervous but I also don't want to stay on something that isn't helping.  Anyone have thoughts on this? 
Posted 4/13/2012 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
II would follow your doctor's suggestion. That way you will be able to see if the Enbrel has been helping. Sometimes our mind doesn't always recall the intensity of pain we have had in the past. Also, while prednisone does help those with inflammatory problems, it can cause a tremendous amount of problems down the road -- osteoorosis, cataracts, high blood pressure, and even diabetes in some.
Posted 4/13/2012 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply Ides. I am pretty sure of stopping and not finding any surprises as I continue to add joints (ones that you don't know exist until you develop RA or similar) and having more problems with existing problemed joints. Of course I am also concerned that the Enbrel is doing a lot and I will be truly miserable. I understand the concerns with prednisone, I'm on 5mgs a day and it keeps me so I can tolerate wearing shoes and not sitting at home each evening with my feet wrapped in ice packs after being at work all day. It also keeps me from falling asleep while I'm eating dinner as it helps cut the fatigue to a somewhat tolerable level, and nothing else has really helped with it.
Posted 4/14/2012 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am on my 2nd month of enbrel. The mtx wasnt effective anylonger. When I stopped the cortisone (that was to ease the transition) I got my old pains back. Plus I might have gotten Sjøgren as well. Not that I think the enbrel is to blame. I am just dissapointed cause I was expecting miracles from enbrel. My doc tells me that if enbrel doesnt do the jov, I should try some of the other bios. Maybe that could be a solution for you, oldhouse?
Posted 4/14/2012 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
My doc put me on Humira seven months ago. My shot was delayed due to a mixup at the specialty pharmacy a couple of weeks ago. It was then that I found out just how much it was helping. Same thing happened to me and MTX....I was sick, so skipped the MTX. By the next week, I was really ready to take the MTX. I think that if Embrel is not working for you, you should talk to your RD about trying another biologic. I hope you don't end upin too much pain. The biologics very well for some who are Dx early and put on bios early. I was undiagnosed for ten years, so I have permanent damage. I cannot expect the bios to return me to "normal", but they do make life tolerable.

Best Wishes,
V
Posted 4/15/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you V,
I will see Doc tmorrow. I kind of hope to get some other bios. It's new to me all this. Was DX yearly, tg. Had 12 years of faily low maintenace RA on MTX. Now this Sjøgren and my feet suddenly no longer made for walking :(
For the first time I feel handicapped by this disease. Maybe humira will do the trick for me.
Is vitamin D to be considered? Did you try other bios? Tolerable...is that painless?
You seem to have your share to deal with, and I appreciate your concern.

All the best wishes, right back
LLM
Posted 4/16/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Boron 10mg after each meal

pro-biotics 2x a day (soil organism type -read bottles)

Ginger- t capsule after each meal.

multi-vitamin/multi mineral supplement 2x a day (make sure supplement is free of magnesium stearate, vegetable stearate, stearic acid or palm stearate. these set up a bio-film which prevents your digestive system from absorbing vitamins and minerals leading to disease.

Posted 4/16/2012 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
also utilize modified citrus pectin to re-establish integrity of your intesinal walls.
Posted 4/16/2012 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Please remember what works for one individual does not work for others. Before attempting the above mentioned treatment, please consult with your healthcare provider.
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