HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

MORE BAD NEWS?

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/18/2006 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
Well another rumy was recomended to me. I went today eventhough it is a hour drive. Overall I was very pleased with him. young and very sharp. he was highly recommended. He said there is no doubt that I have moderate RA. I also may have rheumatoid nodules on my wrist. I guess this is not a good sign. He also said half the people on MTX get joint damage anyway. I am concerned. I started to cry in his office for a moment. We talked about Enterecept (enbrel). I am very concerned about getting Lymphoma. He said to try the combination that I am on for another month or two. He was very good about answering my questions. I feel like I have no future.
Posted 11/18/2006 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
Harley Diva, it was good that you sought a second opinion since you weren't sure about this whole thing anyway. I'm sorry that you're feeling so down about it. What was the combo you are currently using? I started on the biologics (humira, and now enbrel), and I've only recently added mtx. I can tell you that the side effects from mtx are much greater than enbrel. In fact, I have very few side effects from enbrel. The risk of lymphoma is small, and it's never really been conclusive on whether it is the drug that causes it, or the drug just sets the stage in an individual already predisposed to lymphoma? I don't worry about it much. If I get it and it's drug-related, it's very treatable, but I seriously doubt I would even get it. Personally, I believe the risks of mtx are much greater. If you feel strongly about not taking it, though, that's fine. You have the ultimate decision authority over what you take. I hope you feel better soon.

elcamino
Posted 11/18/2006 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Elcamino..........I have been very down about the whole thing. My rumy gave me antidepressants but I am not going to take them. I think they just give you a false sense of wellbeing. I would rather ride my feelings out. If your sad without a reason thats one thing. I am on 10mg of MTX 3,000 of Sulfasalazine, 10 prednisone, 1 folic acid, 20 quinapril {for BP}. I also don't feel that much better. no overt swelling but sore joints. I may try the Enbrel. I am still riding my motorcycle. I won't stop riding it. I am planning to ride it from California to New Mexico this summer. If you are on Enbrel do you still have to worry about joint damage?..........................Harley Diva
Posted 11/18/2006 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
No. Enbrel helps joint damage just like mtx. The combination of both enbrel and mtx is particularly therapeutic. Mtx, for some reason, helps the enbrel work even better, and vice versa. Research shows that people have greater relief with both of them together, than with either one alone.

Elcamino
Posted 11/18/2006 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
hi harley ((((hugs)))))) i know the news is hard to hear sometimes but getting preventative treatments they say can make a difference in our future. no one knows when we will have good and bad days til we have them - so make the best of the both of them. life is so precious and i often forget that when i am down and out. know you have friends out here in cyberspace and we are here to help get through the good and bad days :) take care and i want to see pics of your road trip next summer! :) yalinda
Posted 11/19/2006 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for answering. Just as I was questioning the diagnosis I woke up with bad pain in my feet. I hope the drugss help but I am scared of Lymphoma. I hope this week will be O.K. I am going to family for Thanksgiving and don't want to be a drag. I'm pretty tough but have some up and downs. i need to sleep more than I use to. I have a friend with RA who also rides a Harley. She stopped treatment and seems to have more good days than I do. I am too afraid to stop treatment. I worry about the long term consequences. Thanl you all for your support..........................Harley Diva
Posted 11/19/2006 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Harley, a lot of people here have gotten great results from Enbrel and have found they have been able to enjoy their activities once again.  They say people with RA are more likely to get Lymphona - and last I heard "they" couldn't really say if the higher rates of lymphona in studies was truly a result of the medication or the disease or the combination of the two.

You might want to think about trying Enbrel. Your reaction may be "why did I wait so long?"

Good luck.

***

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply