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Plaquenil and methotrexate

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 9/29/2007 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Friends:

I was diagnosed with RA in May/07 (should have been sooner).  I have been on methotrexate for 4 months - 20 mg once a week - which is helping some.  Five weeks ago she also put me on Plaquenil - 2.5 mg. (2 - one day and 1 the following day).  My big concern now is my hands.  They are extremely stiff in the morning, but after a while they ease up more.  There is still quite a bit of inflammation in my fingers and I have a small bump on the outside of each wrist.  My physiotherapist has given me some hand and finger exercises which I do twice a day. 

I guess my question is will the Plaquenil and methotrexate eventually help this (take some of the inflammation and stiffness away).  I realize these medications can take quite a while to become effective.  Am I being too impatient?

Hope you are all feeling somewhat better and enjoying your season wherever you are.  I'm in Nova Scotia and the trees are starting to turn  which will be lovely but then I think of the snow that will be coming (UGH).  Regards to all my fellow RAERS! 

Posted 9/30/2007 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nana :-)

It can take quite some time depending on the individual as to when MTX & plaq will reach it's peak effectiveness.

Personally, you say you're at the 4month point w/ MTX...to me that sounds just about right when you should start to feel some noticeable differences since starting MTX & plaq. Pain, swelling, stiffness should lessen at least a little bit.

4-6months...if you aren't feeling any difference than it's time to speak up to your rheummy.

After 6 months on each med, 1 of the two meds may be tweaked by your doc if needed.

Since you're only just starting plaquenil...perhaps you'll see a bigger difference in the next month or two.

There's many lovely people who are taking plaq for their arthritis...I'm sure some will be along shortly.

 

welcome to Healing Well & it was nice to meet you!

erin

 

Posted 9/30/2007 5:37 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Nana,

Wlcome to the forum.  like you, I was just diagnosed in late April  sad   and have been taking MTX for 3 1/2 Months. 
I starting taking Plaquenil about six weeks ago and although I haven't found any relief with the Plaquenil the MTX has been working.  Eventually you will have better days so hang in there. I see you are from Nova Scotia. I am also in Canada, Ontario actually.  I hope you find this site as informative and supportive as I have.  You can e-mail anytime.  It's good to vent sometimes.

Take Care all and be well.

Raven

Posted 9/30/2007 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Erin and Raven:

Thanks for your quick response. It really helps a lot just to talk to you about how I'm feeling. I think sometimes I'm still in shock about this whole thing but I know things can always be worse - one day at a time I guess. Sometimes people will say "gee you look really good"!! and I just say "thank you" when I really feel like saying "well I feel the
----s" I'm sure you both understand that (Ha).

Thanks again for your welcome into the group.

Hope you have a good day.

Colleen (Nana)
Posted 9/30/2007 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Colleen,
Wellcome..glad you found the forum....you have found a wonderful place for info and support! I'm one of the people Erin was talking about that use plaqenil (but we'll leave out the "lovely" part!).
I'm pretty new, too, was just diagnosed in April, and started mtx in early May. This was week 4 of plaquenil for me, so I'm right there with you! Yes, this does get frustrating waiting for all the medications to kick in and do their thing. I think we're so used to "take this pill and you'll feel better in a couple hours" kind of treatments, it makes it hard to wait out these meds that may take weeks or months to be effective. Although I'm certainly not where I want to be, I'm definitely seeing some improvements, so I'm encouraged that we're moving in the right direction.
Patience is a tough thing to have when you are hurting, but hang in there, we're all here for you!
Take care,
Jody
PS. I'm so jealous about your fall!! I live in Florida and miss the beautiful fall colors from our days in Wisconsin. It was my favorite time of year, but...you can keep the snow and cold...yuck!
Jody
Posted 9/30/2007 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
oh God...the notorious "Oh but you look SO GOOD!"
i'm at the point now where i say "well hell yeah thanks! it's all i'm hangin' onto!"
i also throw back at them that "investing in good makeup helps a lot". see, what these people don't "see" is what it TAKES for us to actually GET UP, STAND UP, SHOWER, DRESS, and if lucky get out the door & look halfway presentable.
that or my theory is all RA and AI disease people are the most attractive people on earth.
....that's gotta' be it....i mean, we all look so GOOD. dang! we is some fine lookin' people. hah!
xoxoxox
erin
i personally believe the "you look good" is a big old COP-OUT to avoid talking about illness. but whatever. :)
oh!...you know what we should start saying to people when they feed us the "You look so good" line...we say "thank you so much...but ya' know, YOU look like crap". tee hee hee
Posted 10/2/2007 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
lol dont we all look good? lol messy hair and all! lol sorry nana you had to be there. just wanted to welcome you to HW and tell you it is gonna take a bit of time for the meds to build up but like erin our resident nurse said you hopefully should feel it soon?

raven i am like 15 min from ontario. US side of the states so howdy neighbor!
Posted 10/2/2007 11:34 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Yalinda:

Thanks for your reply and welcoming me to HW.  Yes it's very hard to be impatient when you have always been a healthy person and then WHAM you're hit with this.  I guess I worry sometimes I'm never going to feel any better, but I know with the support of this wonderful, beautiful group of people like yourself I will be positive and try and keep it in my mind that things will get some better.  I know they are making great progress with this disease so that's good.

How are you feeling?  And where do you have the arthritis?

Hope you have a good day Yalinda and talk to you soon.

Colleen (Nana)

Posted 10/2/2007 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
So what's with all this "you're looking so good" crap. Has anybody out there actually SEEN me? Lookin' good my arse!
Oh, Hi Raven and nana - no offence meant I'm the thread pet.
The Bear
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