I am still in the process of being diagnosed with RA but my doctor is very sure that it is, I've been referred to a rheumatologist. Is it normal to bruise easily as part of having RA? And for the bruises to last longer than normal?
View 4 RepliesAnd what would you say your side effects are? And how good is the drug at easing your condition?
For me, and I have been taking it for around 2 years now. My condition has improved greatly. But, my elbows and wrists are still not fully flexible, I was tempted to ask my GP for some 'one off' steroid injections to ease the swelling in some of my joints. But other than that awesome.
I do get tired though quite easily, particularly the morning after the methotrexate intake. Folic acid probably eases the side effects though, which I take the following day.
I've read some of you responses concerning RA & Gabapentin usage. I have been taking Gabapentin since 2000 for various pains throughout my entire body. I have recently been diagnosed with RA, but doctors will not put me on the required meds because I have COPD & Polycythemia which I am continuing to aggravate because of my smoking addiction. For the past month, I have had excruciating pain in my hip that radiates to my lower back and throughout my right buttocks. The pain is so bad, I have had to begin using a cane. I have no insurance. I have increased my dosage of gabapentin (which has been OK'd throughout the years by my DR's) to try and reach a comfort level of reduced pain. I counter the drowsiness by drinking more coffee to get through my workday. I obtain "pain-free" periods with the increased Gabapentin usage, but I also seem overly energetic or "excitable" during those pain free periods. (reminds me how I used to "feel" before the pain began so long ago . .about 15 yrs already). I'm a 55yo man, have many other health issues as well, including deep depression & PTSD. Because of insurance, I'm only purchasing the Gabapentin and have also started using Turmeric to TRY to help with all the other issues. The Turmeric seems to help, so far. Is there any problem you can see with the increased usage of Gabapentin to become "pain-free" and the mood change during those pain free periods? I cannot afford numerous DR visits w/o Insurance and have to earn a paycheck.
View 1 Repliesi have been taking 5mg per day of prednisolone not a high dose but i have been feeling so hot and not to good since taking it also i seem to ache all over i have been tempted now to stop taking them but on such a low dose do i have to be weaned off them i started taking them last september and i i still need to take painkillers for my joints thanks for reading.
View 3 RepliesI've hit a brick wall and had enough. Tired of it all. Just want to sleep but need to look after kids and work. So so tired. Seen consultant today. He was kind but so matter of fact.
View 13 RepliesI'm hoping to start a clinical trial for Enbrel beginning in May (they need me on MTX for 3 months before I can start the trial) and am wondering if anyone that has used it or is on it currently can tell me how they're doing on it?
I woke up this morning with that heavy duty exhausted, malaise feeling that I felt for so many months before being diagnosed last summer. I had to work a mandatory training 40 hours last week, played catch up over the weekend and worked another 8 hours yesterday. I woke up to that heaviness in the chest; not a sick like heavy as in bronchitis or chest cold, but literally like someone was draining my insides out. I am emotional today and that's what happens when I get these episodes.
I've reluctantly started Zoloft (SSRI antidepressant), being encouraged to do so by my GP due to the depression of diagnosis and the possibility I also have fibromyalgia.
(Pain isn't just limited to joints and fatigue is crippling) ie: I've slept 18 hours of the last 24 and still so very tired.
I'm having awful start up side effects which I understand will pass and understand there will be no benefit until 4-8 weeks, if at all.
I've tried Lexapro a while back with no real success.
Has anyone had any improvement at any level with ADs? I really hate mucking around with my brain chemistry.
I take humira and MTX for a mixed Connective tissue disorder. I'm getting on in life (maternally speaking, late 30s) and while I have one child I'd really like another to keep him company. I haven't discussed this with the doctors as it's only really an idea floating around my head at the moment. I know previously pregnancy gave me a temporary remission and for a good few months post pregnancy too but I was undiagnosed at that point and wasn't on these medications.
I'm aware I have to stop the medications for a minimum of six months before trying and this is the bit I'm unsure of. Has anyone else stopped their medications to get pregnant? How did you feel in the months before you were pregnant? Did you have to take steroids? What did you do for pain relief? Any anecdotal information would be helpful. I don't want to commit to something I will never be able to do so I need to find out as much as possible before speaking with my doctors about it as I can't see them being overly enthusiastic.
I wonder whether anyone else has experienced this sharp pain simultaneously in their elbow and rib. Mine is on the right side and the pain is literally at exactly the same time and in my rib it seems to be directly adjacent from my elbow with my arm down by my side. It started two nights ago. I have been in touch with ra nurses but had to just leave a message, yesterday, but nobody has come back to me yet. It really is an odd pain, but really sharp and stops me in my tracks. It will go on for several minutes, breaking off every few seconds, then will go off for a few hours and then start again. Also my upper abdomen seems really distended, I have no idea whether that is connected in any way.
View 1 Repliesi got my first shot for ra in knee today now now 11 hours later my whole body aches so bad except for my knee area is this normal? Was fine all day until tonight now can't sleep pain is unbearable.
View 1 RepliesDue to a bad flare I was prescribed a steroid shot. I need to take some cortisol tests as the anti-tnf which I took might have messed it up. Can I take the shot before the blood/24h-urine test? Or do I need to wait until after the tests as these shots may influence the results? Bad pain, so I don't want to postpone the shot. Bad cortisol, so don't want to alternate the results... The rheumy didn't know. The endocrinologist is out of office... Any info you may have will be most helpful / didn't find anything about this on the net. Except of prednisone impact which is a diff form of steroid.
View 2 RepliesI was diagnosed with RA 5 years ago and have tried many of the drug therapies out there, Methotrexate; Leflunomide, Cimzia, Tocilizumab; Rituximab etc. I have recently been diagnosed by my GP with Fibromyalgia which is excruciatingly painful. Is there anyone out there who has similar conditions to me who could tell me if anything has worked for them. I have been put on Fluoxetine, Tramadol and Pregabalin to try and help with the pain. Any suggestions?
View 12 RepliesSince starting on MTX I've noticed whenever my eyes water the corner of my eyes around the tear ducts burn (feels like acid) and will continue to do so until I flush with water.
View 1 RepliesAfter 8 months only on pain killers and a visit to yet another rheumy (who happens to be a head of the department and a boss of the last two that I saw... Sorry, semi vegan diet. Ha. Not funny... plus, he lost my medical records from the past visits...) I am switching to Enbrel as soon as it's approved. What side effects should I monitor except for the obvious ones? Does anyone apply ice before the injection as with Humira? (does it help?...)
View 22 RepliesI started Enbrel 4 weeks ago. For the first two weeks I had no rash at all. After the 3rd injection, I got a rash of size of say 2cm over 5cm with swelling that disappears after 24h. The rash itself disappeared after 6 days. After the 4th injection (this Saturday) the rash appeared and is now about 3.5cm over 6 cm and is lasting 2 days with swelling. Itches, hot and bothering. I wonder if it is going to get worse or if the size of the rash and this semi allergy reaches a critical point and that's it... Saw some scary pictures on the net. Wonder if it really gets to the face and back, etc.
View 4 RepliesI started the Enbrel injections yesterday and the only way to describe me today is a zombie - hardly keeping my eyes open. Sugar and coffee intake improved nothing. Taking ibuprofen yesterday eve (I thought that it might be a flu) made it worse. After a quick browsing, I found that some people experience such effects but I did not find if this is a temporary thing or is this a permanent side effect.
View 6 RepliesI am 71 and have had Rheumatoid since 1988. Had various treatments over the years. I have been on hydroxychloroquine for about 8 years. One tablet a day up until just over a year ago when it flared up and I have been on two since then. Recent blood tests showed my neutrophil levels were just under half of normal. At my check up specialist reduce the dose back to one and asked for another blood test. This one was down to 15% of normal.
Has anyone else had this problem. It is pretty scary and I am under instruction about seeking urgent help in case of infection.
Would an anti ccp level of 189 be considered high or not? Thanks in advance.
View 2 RepliesI have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 44 years and for quite a number now co-proxamol has been one in a cocktail of tablets I take to help me get through the day, at the moment my doctor is prepared to give me a prescription to take to a pharmacy that still stocks co-proxamol, however, he says they are not being made any more. I wholeheartedly agree with other patients who say that if one wants to end one's life the withdrawal of co-proxamol will not put a stop to this. infact I feel that the withdrawal of co-proxamol will most likely result in more suicides when people cannot get the pain relief they have had and feel the medical profession has let them down and life is no longer worth living.
View 1 RepliesI skipped my twice monthly injection of Actemra because now the mouth sores are on my tongue not the roof or gums. I just did my shot for the first time in three weeks because now my TMJ is back. So have tried dental paste and now using lidocaine for sores. Any advice for this problem.
View 1 RepliesHas anyone ever had ra pains in their neck and up their head.
View 1 Replies