Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Well, I went to the rheumatologist for the third time today. The first appointment, he ordered a lot of testing and took my history, etc. Even without the test results, he was fairly sure I had some type of autoimmune disorder, so he started my on Plaquenil.

I saw him again two weeks later. The test results showed that I had a high sed rate and positive RNP, but negative rheumatoid factor. I was also low on vitamin D and low on thyroid hormone. Everything else was normal.

He started me on methotrexate in addition to the plaquenil. He also started me on folic acid, vitamin D, and synthroid.

It has now been a month since the second visit. I have not noticed any improvement in my symptoms at this point, and am possibly a bit worse, although I also went to California to visit family for a week-and-a-half, so the trip itself could account for at least some of the extra tiredness.

The rheumatologist has upped my plaquenil to two pills a day instead of one a day, and he upped my MTX to eight pills a week instead of six pills a week. In addition, he decided to have me go on prednesone for four days.

I told him that when I was prescribed prednisone a year ago for irritation to my lungs caused my pneumonia, I felt like I had not reacted to it very well. I felt very jittery and had a racing heartbeat. However, he felt it was important to know how I respond to a course of prednisone, so he is trying me on it anyway, and I am agreeable to do that, as long as he is aware of the problems I had with it last time.

He told me that he doesn't want to keep my on prednisone for any significant period of time since it causes weight gain and I am already heavy (5'6" and 240 lbs).

He also added a new pain medication - Ultram, I believe it was (I still have to pick it up from the pharmacy, so I don't have the name on me at the moment, but I think that was it). He said not to take it, though, until after the four days of prednisone, so we will know if the prednisone on its own is helping or not.

My husband is not home right now for me to tell him all about my appointment. His mom is having surgery today, so he is with her, and I am home with the kids - so I am here to tell all of you about my day, instead! Thanks for listening,

Mindy

Mindy..what is plaquinal....Kathy

Actually, I misspelled it. I meant Plaquinil (HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE).

Gosh Mindy, I wish your dr had better news for you, and that you felt better. Keep in mind it can take 8 weeks or more ( more for most, I think) for the methotrexate to make a difference for you in your symptoms, probably for the other meds too, so dont give up hope yet!! It also takes a little time for a dr to tweak the right combination of drugs for your body, because everyone reacts differently to them ..in different combinations and doses,etc... Try to remain hopeful .. I know it's hard to do. We all know its hard to do, but you have to hang on. You may start seeing improvement little by little, and before you realize it you'll be feeling pretty good. I wont kid you, you may never feel like you "used" to, but you'll have good days again hang in there kiddo

Thanks for the support. I'm actually feeling more hopeful than I have in years about my health, because for such a long time, it didn't seem there was really anything that could be done for me, or at least no more than had already been done - enough to stabilize things so I could manage to get by, but not with a very good quality of life. At least now I have the hope that we may be able to find something that will help me to get a little more improvement.

Stay hopeful, dear. Once the right med cocktail is found, including pain meds, you will have a better quality of life. Hugs

And for us RAers (and other people with diseases) its all about quality of life, no?

kv, I agree 100%. I do get somewhat angry when I read how a person is suffering because a doc will not give them meds to control pain. And the key word here is CONTROL. It is so tough finding the right med cocktail. I do believe there is one for all of us. Different, perhaps, but there. Hugs

Mindy....is the plaquinil for PAIN? I think I have taken it under

the hydo...name...Kat

Kathy, "PLAQUENIL is useful in patients with the following disorders who have not responded satisfactorily to drugs with less potential for serious side effects: lupus erythematosus (chronic discoid and systemic) and acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis."

"It will require several weeks to exert its beneficial therapeutic effects, whereas minor side effects may occur relatively early. Several months of therapy may be required before maximum effects can be obtained. If objective improvement (such as reduced joint swelling, increased mobility) does not occur within six months, the drug should be discontinued. Safe use of the drug in the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has not been established."

Hope that helps...