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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 8/19/2012 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I jut joined! I have just been diagnosed w RA, although Ive had the symptoms for a year. I just turned 27. I am on my first start of meds. Has anyone heard of hydrochoraquine or laproxen?? Im on my 4th week and have been told by the specialist that it may take up to 8 wks to work....what is everyone doing to ease pain in fingers? Like many of you, after rest is the worst. I am in the depression stage I think so really would be very appreciate for any positive thoughts and advice from others, My mainly affected areas are fingers, knees and my back is he newest. I am becoming very discouraged with this as I dont think like anyone understands!! thanks guys
Posted 8/19/2012 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, and welcome to the forum. Sorry you are here because of RA, but there are a lot of veterans here who can help you with questions.

Sounds like you are on generic Plaquenil. It is a mild DMARD (disease modifying antirheumetic drug) It does take a while to work, as do all RA medications. It worked well for me for about six months but then I became allergic to it. That being said, many people have taken it for years w/no bad side effects. It is important to get eye exams regularly when you are on Plaquneil.

This disease can be overwhelming if you aren't careful. I know it is hard, but try to focus on one day at a time. Don't give up hope. There are always new meds and new med combos to try. Once they find the right combo for you, you should start feeling better. You won't be like you were before RA, but in some ways you may be better. Having RA has made me slow down, evaluate my priorities, and appreciate the small pleasures of life. I honestly think I am a better person now.

Hugs to you, and best wishes on your treatment.

Vannie
Posted 8/19/2012 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sure a lot of doctors won't like my reply.  I was on Plaquenil for 19 years for Lupus.  They stopped it 9 months ago because I have developed a much bigger problem (auto-immune, multi-organ, neuromuscular disease) which so far no one has been able to put a name to.  Hnece, they stopped the Plaquenil and the Methotrexate.  I have severe osteoarthritis.  Have had both knees replaced.  My hands, shoulders, hips, elbow and feet really hurt.  So i resorted to the old tried and true....regular aspirin.  I take 3-6 ASA 325 mg. a day.  It is great for inflammation and the only side effect is stomach ulcers so never take it on an empty stomach.  Always takek with a meal.  You never hear anything on TV about horror side effects for ASA.

 

Posted 8/19/2012 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Wow guys thanks so much for the insight. Thats very nerve racking about the eyesight, as if we need one more thing to go wrong!!! And yes that is the generic name. Do you guys think I should stick it out another month one the current meds before I try a new one?? Have you guys ever become immune to your meds?? I am trying to take one day at a time....its very hard some days.
Posted 8/20/2012 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi yes Take Care i was on Plaquinil First and after a few weeks i got a sore throat then a Temprature thinking i just had a cold i ignored it then 2 days latter - i ended up in Hopital was delirious ended up Very sick with 42c (107 f)Temp and a Mouth/throat full of ulcers i was on an iv drip could not drink for days, Took a long time to recover even when i was well i had ulcers in mouth for months.  

So im not saying this will happen to you and i was told it dosnt happen often, But just Keep a watch if you do get a temprature or symptoms of a cold/flu dont do what i did and ignore it .

As for getting immune to the drugs we do have to change drugs and doses what works for a while will then slow down so we change or up the dose or go on diffrent drug for a while then back on it, you will get Sick of hearing this Statment but EveryOne is Diffrent.

Posted 2/19/2013 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
i've been on three plaquenil tablets a day for a long time. my eyesight deteriorated, seemed very quickly. it gave me big cataracts and i had lazer surgery. my eyes still arren't good and the eye dr wants to do another surgery, which i'm scared to do. my vision went foggy. after the 1st surgery, it was like my eyes don't go together anymore, sounds weird, but it's hard to explain, even to the eye dr. one eye is still foggy and i think getting worse.
Posted 2/20/2013 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
I'm newly diagnosed too. I was diagnosed about a year ago and I'm on Enbrel and Methotrexate. After the first three months, I was flare free, but for the past month, I've had the most severe flares ever. I made an appointment and will see my Dr in a few weeks (seems like he is always backed up when I consider flares like this an emergency). The thing I do in the meantime is I keep a blog of my flares and how I'm feeling, and I take pics of my joints. That way, I can take it to my Dr as some sort of documentation of what I'm going through. Not only that, but it shows my progression. I feel the past 5 years have been Hell. I've gained 80 lbs (never took steroids either). My personal goal is to become more mobile. I'm only 36 and I used to be very active and I want to get that back.

I wish you the best of luck. Try not to get depressed about it, and have a friend or relative that you can vent and talk with about it.
Posted 3/2/2013 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
hi all, Im newly diagnosed aswell. im living on a little island off africa and i have to say ive been treated really well. i started with symptoms 6 months ago, just in one knee, then my fingers were like sausages, my wrists were awful. i have now been put on mtrx and doloquine, been on them for 6 weeks, 5 tablets of mtrx once per week, one doloquine per day and a folic acid after my mtrx. i have now bewen taken off steroids and for the first time feel ok, im still really tired but doing ok. hopefully it will continue xx
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