Off meds and would like to stay off.

Hi Debra. I am so pleased to read that you are feeling so much better at the moment. It is good to feel positive. It is only natural to wonder if things will change again in the future. I would try to take each day as it comes and try not to worry. The truth Iis that nobody knows if or when you may experience a flare up of your RA, as unfortunately it is a chronic condition with no cure at the moment. So carry on with the steps you have taken and enjoy your time

Hi Debra.

Interesting post. And I was here wondering I was the only one. I thought exactly like you many moons ago. So I took the plunge. My mistake was not telling anyone. Believe it or not I did 8 years. No tabs no medication nothing. I'd had enough of doctor's nurses drugs hospital the lot.everything fine. Then the pain hit me. And I mean hit me. Ended up in hospital. Nurses wiping me down every day spoon fed. All for 4 weeks till I could fend for my self. was it worth it? I still don't know. Only you can answer that. But 80% of me says I won't do it again. Hope that helps. Take care. X

Hi Debra, off meds for about 7-8 months, maybe a bit more, after 2 biologicals didn't work and my Dr. told me to seek help elsewhere as my sympthoms and side effects are too abnormal. Went vegan and still don't eat meat/diary products most of the time. It hurts. A lot. One of my fingers keeps bending. Knees are bad. But it is not worse than when I was on biopicals... Don't know what will be my next steps yet, but I no longer believe in meds that much. Glad to hear that you are fine by now. Hope that it will continue with a healthy lifestyle. Joint damage may or may not occur in your case. Only time will tell. Good luck! Keeping fingers crossed!

Hi Debra, I have a friend who has been off her meds for a while and just takes about 12 Omega Three fish oil tablets per day. She says that all she needs to keep her inflammation levels down. She has always been ultra fit and slim and except for a knee causing problems (she ran at least 5k every day and She's in her late 60's) she is pain free.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go it alone, I had my MTX dose lowered to 10mg because of liver damage and the pain was bad despite being on Cimzia injections too. I've upped the MTX to 20mg again.

You ve had some interesting responses! Was it only hydroxychloroquine you were taking? If so you were fortunate your RA has been controlled by 1 of the milder DMARDS .So you may well be in remission. I am too though mine is medically induced. I don't see a problem with taking meds if needed if the end result is being able to do all the things you want to physically. So, with or without hydroxy- enjoy your pain free time.....oh yes and I ve done same things with you health wise and I do think it makes a difference and keeps a kind of equilibrium

It's been really interesting reading all the replies. Thank you everyone. When I was first diagnosed 8 and a half years ago I was put straight on Methotrexate..tablets then injections..But eventually felt so rough had to stop and was offered the choice of 3 other drugs. I chose Hydroxychloroquine.Apart from stripping the colour from my hair and a bit of sensitivity when in the sun I really didn't seem to have any other problems.Im on other meds too, beta blocker for PAT, blood pressure pill and statin.. so I tend to put down feeling cold and getting very tired to the beta blocker. I was diagnosed as RA positive with a something or other of 1:64 which I was told was very high. The rheumy said the type of RA I had could develop at a worse rate than someone who was RA neg. I always remembered that so 8 yrs down the line was surprised when the nurse said to me she thought I probably had a mild case of RA. Hopefully I have. That sounds terrible what you went through Ian despite having 8 good years off meds. It's all making me think and I know if my situation changed I wouldn't be silly and ignore any serious pain/flares/blood test results and would go back on the hydroxychloroquine.