Feeling better
Posted , 10 users are following.
I wrote earlier of being admitted to hospital for pneumonia, during my stay I was taken off all meds: MTX hydroxychloride, BP meds and so on. Since going off these meds things have improved: I've have feeling back in my toes, the swelling in my thumb, finger, left forearm, elbows and the golf ball size lump on my right elbow have all gone down a little. Along with that my BP has gone from 160/75 to 125/65 Also evident is the lessenning of the pain in my wrists which has always been the sticking point. Prior to being admitted to hospital I was basically crippled, I could do nothing and the pain was excruciating. Lowering of BP is to be expected apparently so I would expect that to rise again; however, the remaining improvements I'll be hanging on to, I'm simply not willing to go back on MTX and hydroxychloride. Cimzia hasn't worked either so i'll be trying a new biologic next I see the rheumatologist. I suspect the cimzia has had some input into improvements but certainly not enough to warrant the side effects.
1 like, 14 replies
joe21532 tony09890
Posted
That's great to hear! Do you take pain meds? I'm not familiar with all those drugs you mention so I don't know what they are. I've been taking pain meds for a couple of years and I was thinking about getting off of them because of the side effects. I probably won't be able to move but I just don't know if pain meds are worth it.
sukes joe21532
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mary76396 tony09890
Posted
I'm glad your out of hospital, pneumonia is dreadful, my Husband has had it several times. Not sure why you feel better off your meds but will be interested to see if it continues. I am on MTX (reduced dose because of liver damage) Hydroxycloroquine wasn't helping so stopped that but I feel great on Cimzia, feel the pains starting up again a few days before injection day but I know they will reduce again after the injection. When you see your Rheumy please let us know his take on why you've improved without your meds and fingers crossed it continues.
Tinabird tony09890
Posted
Glad to hear you are feeling better!!! I am on biologics (Enbrel) 50mg once a week and it has so far been incredibley helpful. I do hope your Doctor give that a try. It especially helps the pain and stops the breaking down of joint deterioration.
I wish you all the best , hang in there!!
shabarr tony09890
Posted
I had a similar experience. Was on Mtx and it wasn't doing much. My rheumatologist took me off of it and switched me to enbrel. While on Mtx, I had horrible restless leg syndrome, and very bad back pain that I didn't realize had to do with the Mtx. I had to wait a few weeks before starting the enbrel because of a questionable tb test that I had to redo. Almost immediately after stopping the Mtx, all the above mentioned symptoms stopped and a lot of my RA pain improved as well. Now on enbrel, I feel great. Mtx was horrible.
shabarr tony09890
Posted
I had a similar experience. Was on Mtx and it wasn't doing much. My rheumatologist took me off of it and switched me to enbrel. While on Mtx, I had horrible restless leg syndrome, and very bad back pain that I didn't realize had to do with the Mtx. I had to wait a few weeks before starting the enbrel because of a questionable tb test that I had to redo. Almost immediately after stopping the Mtx, all the above mentioned symptoms stopped and a lot of my RA pain improved as well. Now on enbrel, I feel great. Mtx was horrible.
lisa82473 shabarr
Posted
I also have terrible back pain while on MTX. But I figured out if I drink tons of water the day I take it that I don't experience the back pain. Very weird. But, regardless MTX just makes me feel all around lousy.
sukes tony09890
Posted
That's really good to hear Tony and I don't blame you for not going back on to the meds.
I took hydroxychloroquine for almost 7 weeks and was very unwell on them. I would rather put up with the pain than feel as ill as that again.
martin_F tony09890
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Good to hear you're feeling better Tony, Methotrexate made me much worse and put me in A and E only on it one week and never again, just on sulfasalazine now and also taking Turmeric 95% curcumin with piperine capsules, and things are more or less good.
tony1965 martin_F
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sukes tony1965
Posted
jo66120 tony1965
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Sorry about the pneumonia but glad u are filling better. I am on MTX and was on Remicade. My doctor told me that when you take Remicade you have to take MTX. Anyway I got to the point where the Remicade wasn't working and so he put me on Oriencia. I am waiting. Anyway he told me that if the Oriencia works then I will be able to get off MTX, yea. So I have my fingers crossed. I have been on Mtx for 3 years and feel like it does nothing but make my hair fall out and feel bad. Good luck tony , let us know how it goes
martin_F tony1965
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Gloria814 tony09890
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Wonder if you were given prednisone while in the hospital. At any rate, glad you are doing better. Good luck with the new biologic. I am to start Humira soon but I am putting it off --worried about side effects. Probably will start after early Oct colonoscopy. Currently on low dose MTX--only 7.5 mg which helps for 4-5 days then pain recurrs. Well, also waiting for insurance approval of Humira but the doc says it will happen soon