Hi JRBear, I know what you are describing because I have had this problem with the middle toe joints (metatarsophalangeal) of my feet as well as the joints nearer the ankle (tarsometatarsel) for...
Wow nobody has taken Retuxin, not very confidence inspiring and I have been having a bunch of second thoughts on it anyway because it is so long acting with immune suppression. I think I am going to...
Hi all, been a while since I've stopped by and I was thinking as much today when I was at my Rheumy appt and she mentioned getting my flu and pneumonia shots this fall. :) At any rate, she wants to...
Scott, welcome aboard and I hope that things settle down with your liver. Many of us have been through the revolving door of meds trying to find one effective but with minimal side effects. It just...
I hope that it takes you the rest of the way to 100% swami. It very well could :)...
Well shucks, you guys are sure sweet. :) I was just thinking today after my Rheumy appt that it has been way too long since I checked in with you all. I think it was the mention of the flu shot this...
I'm just going to parrot everyone else here. I was in a similar situation many years back and stopped even seeing my rheumy because she declared me in remission. When it came back it was a whole lot...
I had some hair loss with it but I think that it had to do with my bodies reaction to prednizone more than anything else. My testosterone levels plummeted and my hair started coming out really badly...
Beth, I followed the breadcrumbs over here from the post in the RA forum you left there. Please know that my thoughts and most importantly prayers are with you and your husband Gary every day. God...
Beth, I will put you both in my prayer intentions every day and at Mass too. Please know we are all thinking of you. :( -Don...
This is the same thing I experience every day in my feet. I have damage now from it in fact so don't ignore it even if it starts feelign better. I can't remember a time over the course of the last 5...
Hi Swami, you should ask your Doc about it. I took ibuprofren a lot over the years and it caused gastro problems for me that landed me in the ER eventually and I can no longer take it at all. So my...
Well, you certainly have a lot going on. I hope that your husband is doing ok? Boy, the synovial inflammation is a painful deal. Mine got so bad on my Achilles tendon that it gave way and slid down...
Beth, that is how it all began for me. I was having flare ups so bad I could not walk (let alone sleep at night) and going into the office was so exhausting that even by the time I arrived I was...
Hi Blomst and welcome to HW. I have RA as well as SJ and have had it for quite a few years now. It has only been the last 5 or so for me that I have had this same type of experience in my knees as...
Hi Mustang, I have been on MTX for about 5 years now. I had hair loss but it began after being on it for about 3 months and then tapered off over time and it then came back in. I imagine that it is...
Hi Peter, what a great husband you are looking for answers for your wife. I have had RA for 25 years now and I would say to keep a little notepad that you write any questions you have down on (or...
Hi Mustang and welcome aboard. Biologics work in a similar manner to each other like how any car provides transportation but individual vehicles are different if that makes sense. I was on Enbrel for...
It was within days for me. I took my first injection and on my 3rd day afterward I woke up in the morning and had almost no morning stiffness or soreness whatsoever. I woke my wife up because I was...
Poppie, sorry to hear that you failed MTX but I hope that the lueflenomide works for you. I was on it for a little while but had some bad problems with it and my stomach which I have other problems...
Beth, I hope that it doesn't come to this for you but if it does make sure that you have your ducks in a row prior to starting the process. The single biggest contributing factor to this I believe is...
Yes, I have had similar results as well. It is easy to think that a medication is not working well because we are in so much pain, so we are taken off of it and suddenly things become much much...
Hi graygirl, I had a similar thing happen when I was very sick and it got a lot worse when I stopped taking the biologic. MTX can work really well in conjunction with other medications. It definitely...
Hi, sorry to hear you are not feeling well. You should call and ask the nurse at your Doctor's office. Hope you feel better soon. -Don...
Hi Badday, I haven't checked in for a while either. Sorry to hear about the shaking that doesn't sound like any fun at all. I wonder if it might have something to do with the fibromyalgia? Isn't that...
Hi Beth, thanks. Yeah the elementary would be a great thing to do. I definitely enjoyed my time with the kids there as well and the hours are great, they are just thrilled to have anyone come and...
Hi Chris and welcome, sorry to hear you are experiencing this. I am a 47 YO man as well but have had RA most of my adult life beginning back when I was in my early 20's. I would call and talk with...
Whoops double tap!...
hi swami and welcome aboard. I have had RA for 25 years now and used to take a lot of ibuprofren to help me make it through the work day. I would just caution you to follow directions with it, eat...
Hi Poppie, No, I haven't yet. We made a change recently to another church and so I am still trying to figure things out there if that makes sense. My Rehumy put me back on Trazadone for help sleeping...
Glad to hear it all worked out and even in time for your next dose :) I have not used the CVS specialty RX, In all these years I have only used 2 one that I can not remember the name of but was a...
The way I understand it there are certain markers that are used to determine if one has RA and its severity. One of these would be a positive RF and a high CCP which I believe with physical symptoms...
Hi Poppie, I was reading your post and I wondered how gradual your taper from the Pred has been? I was taking quite a high dose of it and especially at the end of my taper I had to taper a very small...
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the personal experiences with this. I do plan to find a Doctor and go speak with them. My Rheumy advised this because she feels that they are certainly much...
Hi, I have gone through the disabilty process and am now on long term disability with my insurance as well as SSDI. I am disabled and can no longer work :( My Doctor kept asking me about depression...
Hi Reezi, get him online here. Im also about the same age and have had RA since I was 23. I grew up boxing, playing baseball and hunting and fishing. I also rode motorcycles on and off road for many...
If your pain levels are that high you should really ask for pain meds and if they are hesitant ask for a referral to a pain management clinic. I went 20 years with RA that was pretty in check until...
I was tested several times for it as well and came back negative each time. Because I was exhibiting classic symptoms in my big toe especially at night. I had a positive RA factor though and always...
Thank you for posting this, it is inspiring and we should never give up hope. I too have had remissions over the course of my time with RA. Twice, one time I was off of all medications completely for...
Im 47 and I didn't drive for about a year and a half recently because I was close to passing out at times due to RA meds, fatigue and pain. Riding in a car is a painful experience for me no matter...
Danny, get to a Rheumatologist before it gets bad. If you have been diagnosed with aggressive RA it will eventually. It has nothing to do with time either, it can become very crippling at an early...
Yes, I get flare ups in my jaw and experience swelling as a result. It can be very hard to eat when this happens and it is obvious enough that my wife notices it. Blessings -Don...
Its great that they are looking at this now for RA. I had read about it online and asked my Doctor and she looked at me like I was crazy. She wasn't willing to prescribe it. The criteria is pretty...
Merry Christmas to you as well Samantha. It works for me, I definitely have less inflammation and swelling on it but the side effects have gotten worse and worse to the point it's gotten pretty...
You may find that the day after you take the MTX you are severely fatigued. I dealt with this and it was really bad for me sometimes lasting 3 or more days even while taking FA. Really pay attention...
Pain will age a person much faster than any drug. Ok well most. I've seen some meth heads that floored me how fast they declined. Welcome aboard BTW, I hope that your decision to stop the Humira...
I use half and half in my coffee. I didn't have any issues with it when I went through an elimination diet a few years back so thankfully I still get to partake. :)...
Hi BKelly and welcome aboard. That RA factor is usually a pretty good indicator from everything I have read. Mine was much higher when I was diagnosed and has fluctuated with my disease over the...
Hi Samantha, I took FA for quite a while and my Doctor didn't prescribe it until I complained of severe fatigue with MTX so I would think that it is not an absolute necessity. It did help in my case....
Hi misionperu and welcome. None of us are Doctors on this board so everything you will hear is incidental and should not be taken as sound advice as to how to handle care for your child. Only a...