[Astrocyte]

Thanks for letting me post here. It's nice to read about other people's experiences. I often feel very alone dealing with this.
Well I had my appointment with my rheumatologist who has done the forms for enbrel and hopefully I will start it soon. Once i start the enbrel I will be able to stop the sulfasalazine (thank god because I hate it) and slowly stop the predinisolone (I've been on it for 6 months now). Ill continue with the methotrexate.
I still have high blood pressure despite not having any risk factors for it and being on medication to reduce it so I need to go and see an endocrinologist.
Complaining ahead: I am so sick of my joints being sore. Everyday one or more of them are sore. They even hurt during the night. I'm currently trying to do full time uni, volunteering and one shift a week at work. I really want my joints to get a little bit better.
To the person who asked about other types of arthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritis. RA and osteoarthritis are the two most common types. All I know is that RA is autoimmune and osteoarthritis is degenerative. But just because you are sero negative doesn't mean you can't have RA. I have RA factor in my blood but no increase in ESR or anti-CCP (the inflammatory markers). My diagnosis is still RA. I had juvenile idiopathic arthritis when I was a child and it then developed into RA as an adult. If you haven't already, I would be going to see a rheumatologist to get a diagnosis and some advice on pain relief. I don't like meds either, but I use ice or heat on my joints when they are sore or use voltaren emulgel.
Hope everyone is well

[lifehacker]

Astrocyte - I hope the enbrel okay comes through soon for you. Complaining totally okay, it sucks, it's so totally limiting.


Hope everyone is okay, thinking of you Dystopia.

AFM - tapering off pred, I am hating it, gained 5 kilos in 3 months and catching every illness the kids come home with, trying to do one mg at a time but my joints are screaming at me. Blood tests came back and I don't have the right enzyme numbers to start Imuran so I'm back to waiting til bub weans to take MTX. Noticing a lot of stiffness come back since the weather has cooled down, sort of forgot about that since it isn't so bad during summer, takes way to long to get moving in the mornings when a bunch of little people want me up and moving instantly.

[Astrocyte]

Yay I got approved for enbrel. I was so worried I wouldn't get it but today the prescription in the mail. Full cost of it is $1774 for a month so I am feeling very lucky to live in a country where it is subsided and costs only $5.90.

[IVL]

That is great news Astrocyte, I hope it works quickly for you! If you can, try and ask for the pre-filled syringe instaed of the auto injecter pen as I found the syringe to be much less painful. You might also get some injection site reactions that look worse then they are. I found this settled after about 6 weeks.

Indeed we are a lucky country, to think we would have to pay up that kind of money is shocking but a reality for many people in the world. We are also lucky that is avialable to those that truly need it and is not subject to whether or not your insurer agrees.

[~Nodnol~]

Hi all, hope we are feeling ok?

My journey with mtx might be ending. My liver levels are elevated we are giving it a coup,e more months to see if it settles but if it doesn't...sigh. My crp is high too but the rheum can't up my mtx because of my liver. Fun times.

Lifehacker, have you weaned off the pred? I still have pain off it but not the other niggly issues so I won't go back on it without a fight.

[lovealpacas]

Hello everyone. I didn't know this thread existed, I have psoriatic arthritis. I am currently on sulfasalazine, panadol and fish oil. I'm a mummy of 2 darling girls. DD1 is 3 yo, DD2 is 8 mo. I love them to pieces, but it's so hard being a mum to two little ones when you're in so much pain. I'm still BFing DD2, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon, so I'm limited in my pain relief. She has food intolerance issues (dairy, soy and wheat are all suspected atm) so I think it's just easier to BF her than to find a milk substitute.

I BF DD1 until she turned 1 yo, it was only a month later that the psoriatic arthritis kicked in, so I didn't have the BF vs pain issue with her. It's so hard finding the right balance. My pregnancy journey with the PA was tricky, at one stage I fractured some ribs during a coughing fit. I was taking prednisolone at the time and the dose had affected my bones. I would love to have more kids but due to the pregnancy issues last time we just can't take the risk. I don't think my joints and immune system have recovered yet tbh.

Anyway, sending (gentle) hugs to everyone who's in pain tonight.

Ps and I also have bipolar type 2, so aren't I just a bundle of joy during a flare up!

[lifehacker]

Hi Nodnol

Oh sorry to hear about the MTX and liver fingers crossed it somehow settles for you and you can continue, otherwise I guess it means you 'failed' MTX so you might be eligible for some biologics? I hope the elevated levels aren't causing you any physical effects.

I had weaned all the way down to 1mg of pred and I had the worst flare, I had to go back and get a shot of Methylpred and increase my oral load back to 5 mg. It's not really working so looking at increasing to 7.5 mg now, so instead of getting off it, I'm increasing now, so no weight loss and I've been battling horrible thrush the last few weeks which I am thinking is linked to the pred. Oh the joys.


Hi lovealpacas,

I am breastfeeding too, ds is 17 mths now and showing no signs of stopping anytime soon, so I am limited to what I can take also, taking pred, sulfasalazine and plaquenil atm, parenting and pain are not a great combo are they?

must go, kids are going crazy, hope you all get a nice warm, pain free sleep. This cold weather really doesn't help much.

[brazen]

hi all, can i join in? had my first rheum apmt on monday - after 18 months of pain and 7 months waiting to see someone - and he says i have either rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. got to do MRI and heap of blood tests to try to work out which, but he's putting me on meds anyway in the meantime.

such a relief to (nearly) have an answer!