Arthritis meds

Llam64, I was interested to hear you have inflammatory arthritis as I believe this is my problem as I also have 5 other auto immune conditions. Early June I am seeing the rheumatologist for the first time and as I am unable to any anti iinflammatory medicine by mouth I am just hoping they will put me on the injection.s I have read good reports about them and you have in my mind confirmed it.

I have had RA for 20 plus years and have found on a Facebook group RA members who lije this group give out advise opinions and just a great feeling of not being alone with whatever your problem is.

I would recommend you consult the specialist. Indeed, all the situations and problems with health only seem identical and similar. In fact, everything is very individual, and you need to know exactly which drugs are right for you, what are your contraindications and risks. When I had problems with health in a pandemic, I found a helpful site www.prescriptiondoctor.com . It is a very convenient service that helps with such questions as yours. You have just to fill simple medical questionnaire thair partner doctor reviews and issues a prescription. Then, in the shortest time, you get delivery of the drugs you need directly from the pharmacy.

DH was on rituximab for a couple of years then he was changed to baracitinib which is a daily tablet, he was on 4mg daily but has just been lowered to 2mg daily. He also takes methotrexate, at his last consult following blood tests he was told he's in remission from his RA. He says he feels better than he has for a very long time.

Marydoll -
my consultant invites patients to her sessions with trainee doctors. They are tasked with identifying which/if any form of arthritis we have.
I'm increasingly convinced about the power of positive thinking. Though - medication helps so much to feel positive

I don't want inflammatory and osteo arthritis, osteoporosis to define me.

Iam64, I could have written that statement!
Yesterday I was asked if I was willing to come and talk at an RA hospital, support group, to show patients that having RA doesn't mean you have to give up on life because of your condition.
I actually had to decline for now, as I just don't have the time!

Waves at Hurdy Gurdy -we've been through a similar path and are currently in a place where disease modifiers are giving us our lives back.

I don't want inflammatory and osteo arthritis, osteoporosis to define me. It would be wonderful though, if people actually informed themselves a little about the devastating and life changing impact these diseases have. WE are so fortunate to live now, 50 years ago we'd have been significantly disabled.

I started off with methotrexate, but that interfered with my white blood cell count, so they changed me to Sulfasalazine. It didn't even touch the problem so I then went onto weekly Enbrel injections - which was my wonder drug for about seven years. Then that stopped being effective, so I was then changed onto Retuximab infusions.

That was my new wonder drug. Infusions two weeks apart, administered six monthly. And I was literally symptom free.

I have been on that for quite a few years now, and have responded so well to it, that they now don't administer it as a matter of course, but wait until symptoms appear and then top it up. I had my last infusion about 20 months ago, and only now am I starting to feel pain in my wrists and thumb joints. I'm just waiting for a date for the next set of infusions.

I think it's a case of "fiddling around" with drugs and doses to find what suits you individually. It can be helpful, and interesting, to find out about other people's experiences, but of course, your rheumatology team are best placed to make suggestions for your treatment.

I hope they managed to stabilise your arthritis soon. I had forgotten the searing pain of it, having been symptom free for so long

Nanna58 -you sound to be in a similar place that I was when I was approved for what's called 'the gold standard treatment for inflammatory arthritis". Like you, I developed chest infections after colds, also cold sores and other 'minor' health issues that meant I was too ill to take the biologics. Lots of rest, which is hard this time of year.
To be honest, I wouldn't bother with turmeric at this stage. I have friends who swear by it for osteo arthritis in themselves and their dogs or horses. Inflammatory arthritis is a different and much more serious disease. Many people give well meaning advice about diet or turmeric for example but psoriatic arthritis, like RA is potentially life changing at can be life threatening. Dennis Potter, one of my heroes had psoriatic arthritis as a result of his psoriasis, His play I think The Detective covers the devastating impact on Potter.

On a more positive note, I'm 5 or 6 years on enbrel, one of the older biologics. I was so well on Humira one of the new ones, until a year in, when I reacted badly - so enbrel was prescribed. It's been used for a long time, so side effects etc well known

Look after yourself and be guided by your Rheumatologist. They understand the disease.

Be careful with turmeric if you are taking any blood thinners, as it also acts as a blood thinner. I'd check with your gp first

Well, yet more fun. Developed a lung infection so , after 5, yes 5 hours waiting at our urgent care centre am now on antibiotics and temporarily off the Sulfasalazine. Never a dull day !,???

Will stop taking turmeric until spoken to Rheumatologist. Barmeyoldbat, ‘‘twas the Naproxen that gave me a duodenal ulcer. I know how you feel , it’s like a thief comes and just steals your life as you knew it clean away _ very depressing.

I have been on Naproxen for about 4 weeks now but feel bl...y awful, sickness, headaches, dizziness and tiredness. So I have now gone over to CBD oil tablets, its a high does capsule, 27 mg, in stead of the 5 or 10 but it works for me. Trouble they are expensive but I just want my life back. I will look at the tablets in H&B and compare to what I am paying now and see if some of the other ones will work better.

Also fun of a cold and sore throat, rotten night.

You have to be careful with turmeric if you are on other meds. My oncologist does not recommend it as they have not studied it’s effects with other drugs. Always consult your doctor first.

OP - are you sure you are to allowed to take turmeric? There is
Uk Group - Turmeric Users Group on FB. They follow the ''Golden Paste'' treatment which I take. It is organic Turmeric powder, 1 cup; 1/4 cup organic coconut oil, teasp. organic freshly ground pepper and a cup or more of water . Simmer very gently for 5 -7 mins. Store in fridge or freezer. Take small amounts at first. It really works with the pain.

Oh Lord I had 36 affected joints! No wonder I move like Tin Man on The Wizard of Oz! ???

Well, I'm up to six, so here's hoping........ or maybe not!

Nanna58 I also have a diagnosis of psoriatic/inflammatory arthritis. I was diagnosed in my early 40's, when the consultant identified it started in my mid 20's after I had glandular fever, which allowed my genetic base to enable psoriasis, inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory eye disease and other auto immune conditions to become very active.

Marydoll - I suspect the seven joints baseline is an NHS criteria for diagnosis and prescription of the disease modifiers.
Hope you get effective treatment before too long.

Despite not being able to tolerate most of the RA drugs and the ones which I can tolerate, are unsuitable due to my heart condition, I have been told that because at the last check up, I only had five affected joints and I needed seven to give me bother before I complied with the criteria.
Is this true in other health board areas?

nana I have the same arthritis . Im on methotrexate and consentx. meth just upped to 22.5mg for one injection and from next week will be 25mg for 5 weeks. If it doesnt work i,m going on one that will be on an infusion (i cant spell the stuff starts with a U)

Thanks very much. I think I may have had those curcumin capsules without really clocking they were liquid. Will investigate.

Yes, the same. But the one called Curcumin extract (from Holland & B) is not turmeric powder (like the other one we take daily), but a stronger liquid capsule extract. It is quite expensive, so we always wat for 2 for 1 price offer- and ask friends and family to look out for us too.

Jura, going back to one of your posts on this thread of the 5th, I thought that curcumin and turmeric were near as dammit the same thing? What's the difference that you take one of each (rather than 2 of the same)? I take one a day without much. noticing which is which when I restock. Thanks

Good news today though, I had a second endoscopy today and the duodenal ulcer the Naproxen I was previously prescribed caused has healed up. yaaaay!

Iam64 your post is very encouraging , the last chapter of the copy I had of the letter my rheumatologist sent to my GP said ‘ although looking at the state of this lady’s joints I feel we will soon need to move on to biologics’. So it’s good to hear that they work so well. Glad you are feeling the benefits ?