Comments on: 3 Reasons to Begin Using Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines to Fight the Disease

By: JF Jones

JF Jones — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:47:10 +0000

OK. I am loving this site. I just found my new best friends. I was Dx when I was 18 and a freshman in college. I had been very active in high school. Not sports , senior class president, etc. then the onset DEVASTATING to say the least. Twenty-nine years later, the disease has not done as much damage as I’ve seen others suffer. Early Dx and early DMARDs. Now I get it. Two knee replacements later I have regained a great deal of mobility and sometimes forget what it was like before TKR (total knee replacements).

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:42:12 +0000

That sounds like a great doc, Robyn. I was so glad to hear the way you described him. He sounds like a warrior for us. Please let us know how it goes so we can keep pulling for you, too.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:09:14 +0000

I agree! I too sm terrified of starting biologics, and other medicines like prednisone long term also scare me. After reading many others stories of fighting RA with the different meds, and even now with people not getting better or seeming to not have much improvement makes me leery.
My new RA Doc just pointed out to me that the MTX by itself is not doing the job. My other rummy upped my dosage and my new doc said it is a waste because it is too much MTX. He wants me to ASAP start the biologics, but as you know the process is not like flicking on a light switch. I have no insurance for meds, and until now that was okay, so there are things to be worked out. The one thing he pointed out to me, as a matter of thought is that the effects of RA and what is does and can do to the body are much more damaging than using any bioogic medicines. His stressing the importance of medications made me think twice about how I had felt. RA seems to be presented as a joint disease!! It is not!!! I don’t know what to call it, but joints are just part of an array of effects RA has on the body. We as, pointed out in many of your blogs are not just fighting joint damage. It can be like getting up one day and feeling a hurt in a different place that never hurt before or it attacking a finger, wrist or toes. Imagine that to be the same thing as our eyesight our heart, our lungs or other of our unseen body parts. For some reason my new Rumy struck home for the first time. His stern and caring attitude about RA was of one to never be afraid of the medicines, but the culprit is the actual RA and the damage it can do in an instant to the body. As he suggested, I do pray that I can get started on the biologics ASAP! Thank you for all the help and information Kelly.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:09:11 +0000

Debra, thank you for bringing your questions up here. It’s better to face the questions & doubts than let them scare you or wonder if you’re doing the right thing.

I wish I could sit with you and ask you what you read that made you afraid. Here’s a few things I can think of that might help you get past this. One, try to use facts to help you face down the fears. The more good information you get about your RA or the treatment, the more confident you can be in your decision. You could read on reputable websites or ask you doctor things like, “how will this medicine help me?” Second, try not to focus on the worst things you’ve read. They probably won’t happen to you and they may not even be accurate. I’ve read some things just based on fear. Finally, is there any one you can talk to about how you feel? It’s a normal feeling during this big adjustment.

I hope that helps a little. I’d love to hear how you are doing.

By: Debra Alexander

Debra Alexander — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:15:28 +0000

Hi Kelly, I have been recently dx with RA. I just read your blog concerning the importance of using RA medicines.It has taken about eight months to get a RA dx.I realize that a lot of people have to go through much more to finally discover the answer to what’s wrong. Even though the labs returned as negative and the x-rays showed normal despite my pain. My rhummy was aware enough to be led to a dx by the symptoms that were persistent. Kelly, I read your emails and am glad to connect with the knowledge you share with others who are new to this and probably ask old questions, but I am afraid to take the medicine prescribed. The methotrexate from what Ive read is awful. Maybe I’m in denial about the whole RA dx. I guess I wanted my dr. to prescribe something that I could take to tolerate the pain and swelling of my toes and hands.( I dont know what that could be. Ive tried lots of other medicines before this dx) I am afraid of what I read about the medicines against this disease. I am a 55 year old woman who has battled many obstacles in my life. I hope to be as strong a warrior as you are as time goes on. My meds are 2.5 mg of methotrexate 6 tabs every 7 days and folic acid 1 mg. I will keep reading to gain more knowledge about RA and the wisdom behind using these strong medicines. Thank you Kelly for being there.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:23:43 +0000

Kay, I sorry I missed replying to you sooner. I hope you are doing better w/ the methotrexate – let us know. Happy New Year.

By: Kay Loveland

Kay Loveland — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:43:51 +0000

I have to thank you for all you do. I was just diagnosed with RA 3 months ago. I have experienced palindromic symptoms for 12 years but no one could diagnose it until now. I have a doctor now who I really trust and respect but starting methotrexate was intimidating to me. All your information is very helpful. I live in a small town and honestly don’t know anyone with RA and no one in my famiy has ever had it. Your website has been an answer to prayer. Thank you and Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in the new year.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:43:30 +0000

Anita, "Unrelenting" is just one word for RA which does not respond much to disease-modifying medicines. The word was used here on this UK website. It is in a PDF diagram. Other terms are also used. Anyway, there are a percentage of RA'ers who are in this group. In my layman's opinion, it's too early to say you are in that group. I will make sure you have my email. Edit: Here is the link to a post which discusses unrelenting RA.

By: URandomnessK

URandomnessK — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:56:36 +0000

Kelly, you are so smart! And if you ever need a pic of “big guns” we have guns of various sizes (due to my husbands line of work), more than happy to take pics.

By: Jane via facebook

Jane via facebook — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:49:59 +0000

Exactly. “Hit it hard and fast” is the current thinking.