bummed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Thu, 01-12-2006 - 11:15pm |
Hi Ladies!
I saw my rheumie today and was not happy with what he had to say. I have not been able to discuss my appt with anyone because dh is on a business trip, and I am not ready to talk to my family about it. So I came here for support and advice from my cyber friends. First of all I got a call on monday saying that the doctor needed to see me. I told them I already had an appointment on thursday. Then they said that the doc wanted me to start a new med. I said I was not interested in adding more meds and especially since I did not know what the med was for. So today he tells me that my esr was elevated for the second time and that my crp was elevated. He said that the crp elevation puts me at high risk for heart disease. I am 47!!!!!!!! to dang young for heart disease. He said that the mtx and another med I take is suppose to decrease your risk for heart disease but its not doing its job. Then he mentioned that ra can attack the heart. Ughhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! So I agreed to go on the new med (can't remember name). He also said to lose weight and exercise. He also wants me to get a cervical collar to wear at night. We also discussed changing from enbrel to humira. I have about 2 and a half mos. of enbrel so when I go back in two months we will make a decision on the enbrel. we discussed so much I cant even remember everything. This is all scarey to me. Why are these meds not working for me??????????? Doc said we will keep making med changes till we get it right. I am sooooooooo frustrated. Thanks for listening to me. I needed to get this off my chest.
Miss ya
Claudia

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What`s going on with your neck?Have they done an MRI?I had the epidurals again last summer and also went for physical therapy. It helped me so much. I continue to do the exercises they taught me every AM and PM.I never could wear one of thos collars. Just made the pain even worse for me.
This heart deal he`s talking bout sure is scarry.
I will keep you in my prayers as always.
Bev
I just hate those kinds of calls from the doctor! Mine come when my white cell count tanks. As far as why your meds are not working, I really do think that our bodies become accustomed to our "treatment" and the disease creeps back--finds a way around the roadblock the medication sets up. If you think about it, there are not many of us that have been able to stay on the same medications over an extended period of time. They just stop working or we develop some nasty side effect or (thank heavens) something better comes along. At least your doctor is attentive, actually looks at the results of your tests, and is proactive in your treatment. Hope the new plan works well.
Rosemary
Hugs to you!
(((((((((((((((( Claudia )))))))))))))))))), it is SO good to hear from you, but I am sorry to hear about your rheumy's report.
Molly
Hi Bev
I just read your post and am very happy to see that you decided to go back to the Cleveland Clinic. You will get the best of care there. I don't mind seeing a nurse practitioner once in a while but 3 times in a row is ridiculous. Its also ridiculous that you get charged the same as seeing the doctor.
My neck and shoulders have been in a flare for several months. I have been walking around like I had a whiplash. I have been going to a chiro and getting a little relief.
good to hear from you
Claudia
Rosemary,
I agree that the meds just stop working. Before the enbrel I was on Remicade which worked well for about a year. After about a year of it I started to flare more ofter and also had terrible reactions toward it. I have been on the enbrel for around a year and am experiencing more flares in the last several months. Thank goodness there is another med for me to try. And thank goodness I do have an excellent doctor.
Hugs
Claudia
Hi Michele!
The name of the med is vytorin. I looked it up and it is actually a cholesterol med. My primary doc just recently did bloodwork on me and sent me a letter saying that chol was within normal levels. Kind of confusing.
Take care
Claudia
Hi Molly!
First of all thanks for the hugs for my mom and sister. Mom still deals with a lot of stomach pain other than that she is doing fine. Jackie is well too.
The name of the med is vytorin. I am still on all of my other meds, (enbrel, mtx, plaquenil, sulfadine, folic acid, leucovorin, trazadone, and a few others). He did change my nsaid from lodine to voltarin and also wants me on 1 to 3 mg, of pred everyday. He talked about increasing the sulfadine, but I whined about more pills and then he did not increase them or else he forgot.
The good news is that I cut my intake of food and got on the treadmill for 15 min today.
And I feel alot better after talking to my RA buddies.
How are you feeling Molly?
Hugs
Claudia
Hiya Claudia!
Molly
Hi Molly
Good to hear you are doing well besides the usual aches and pains.
I am going to be taking both medications. Voltarin and vytorin. So keep scratching your head. Hahahahha!!!
Hugs, Claudia
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