Posted 10/4/2016 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
First off, welcome to the club. I hate that you have joined it, but you'll get lots of support and info.
If you look down at my signature, you'll see that I have a ton of autoimmune issues. I've always been an overachiever, so why just have one, when you can have many :)
I, too, have a connective tissue disorder, which is an autoimmune disease I was diagnosed with JRA, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, when I was pretty young. Plaquenil was a med that I took a while a go, since it's considered fairly safe in the world of RA meds. It's often one of the first meds prescribed. You do need to have you eye dr. check your vision before hand since, rarely, it can affect it. This will allow him to have a baseline just is case you need to visit him later. It can also take many weeks to a month to see if there is any improvement.
Palquenil is a DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These are often first-line meds since they have fewer side-effect than biologics. It is used to reduce swelling with the thought that is disrupts the signals from your immune system.
I know you were just diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, and things might not seem like a bit deal now, but these diseases are nothing to full around with. With a connective tissue disorder, you immune system is actually attacking the tissue in your body, considering it an invader.
As I said, I have JRA(even though I'm forty Drs tell me that I must state that as the diagnosis, since it can have a different disease pattern), and MCTD. These disorders don't just affect your joints, but your organs, as well.
Due to autoimmune disorders, I've developed lung disease, Uveitis(eye disease), I can't swallow because the tissues and muscles in my throat can't coordinate and I have a feeding tube. This is due to the connective tissue disorder. I now have seizures and an autoimmune blood disorder. I also have had both sides of my jaw and parts of my skull replaced.
Once one autoimmune disorder is diagnosed, the door is often open for others to join in the party.
Obviously I'm rather an extreme case, but I know many others that have had a ton of complications with
these diseases. I went from taking DMARDs, years and years ago, to now receiving 12hr infusions every couple of weeks.
I know I probably sound over-dramatic, but please, when you talk to your rheumy, ask why this med was prescribed. Autoimmune disorders are nothing to play around with.
Let us know how your appointment turns out.