Comments on: Rheumatoid Arthritis Muscle Wasting: Rheumatoid Cachexia http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:28:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-173118 Kelly Young Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:59:22 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-173118 I never heard prednisone called a "sleeze drug," but mixed feelings are common. It is a double-edged sword. When you call it "a deception" that reminds me of my rheum doc who was very anti-pred who called it a "mask" and a "lie." Of course if a reality is very bad, a mask that covers it can be helpful at times. I never heard prednisone called a “sleeze drug,” but mixed feelings are common. It is a double-edged sword. When you call it “a deception” that reminds me of my rheum doc who was very anti-pred who called it a “mask” and a “lie.” Of course if a reality is very bad, a mask that covers it can be helpful at times.

]]> By: Linda Basta http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-173003 Linda Basta Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:17:11 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-173003 Sorry JeanMac.... It's a deception. prenisone is known as the Sleeze drug. Makes you feel wonderful, but it will kill you slowly. I know have ostoporosis, glaucoma & cataracts, a huge belly, a round flat face, and my skin tears with the slightest rub. Always say...if I was 80, I'd triple my dose & have a few yrs of quality life. (Im 59 and been on it 15 yrs) Just be careful...Keep it as low as you can, cuz he may need bursts of it later on. Meanwhile...hope a biologic will work for him Sorry JeanMac….
It’s a deception. prenisone is known as the Sleeze drug. Makes you feel wonderful, but it will kill you slowly.
I know have ostoporosis, glaucoma & cataracts, a huge belly, a round flat face, and my skin tears with the slightest rub. Always say…if I was 80, I’d triple my dose & have a few yrs of quality life. (Im 59 and been on it 15 yrs)
Just be careful…Keep it as low as you can, cuz he may need bursts of it later on.
Meanwhile…hope a biologic will work for him

]]> By: TPaplanus http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-172955 TPaplanus Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:17:38 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-172955 So, the 50 lb weight loss I've experienced may not be the "good thing" I've been told it is? It happened after I was diagnosed but also after I had been taking 100 mg of Topamax to control migraines (one of the side effects of Topamax is appetite suppression). It was a fairly rapid weight loss, during which I began to notice muscular weakness in my legs and trouble standing for any length of time. The pain in my hips and lower back increased with standing time also. Could this be related? Do I need to discuss this with my Rheumy? Will she even listen? All good question, I think. So, the 50 lb weight loss I’ve experienced may not be the “good thing” I’ve been told it is? It happened after I was diagnosed but also after I had been taking 100 mg of Topamax to control migraines (one of the side effects of Topamax is appetite suppression). It was a fairly rapid weight loss, during which I began to notice muscular weakness in my legs and trouble standing for any length of time. The pain in my hips and lower back increased with standing time also. Could this be related? Do I need to discuss this with my Rheumy? Will she even listen? All good question, I think.

]]> By: Steph http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-134729 Steph Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:07:06 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-134729 I have this problem as well, I've lost approximately 50 lbs or 28% of my pre-diagnosis body weight. Does anyone have any experience with anything that might increase appetite or slow metabolism (in general)? I'm on methotrexate and its doing good things for the arthritis but not really for the weight loss ( no gain yet and I eat ~2900 calories a day). I don't know what kind of arthritis I have yet (my doctor didn't think that was important, and only said it wasn't RA) but it might be Psoriatic. I have this problem as well, I’ve lost approximately 50 lbs or 28% of my pre-diagnosis body weight. Does anyone have any experience with anything that might increase appetite or slow metabolism (in general)?

I’m on methotrexate and its doing good things for the arthritis but not really for the weight loss ( no gain yet and I eat ~2900 calories a day). I don’t know what kind of arthritis I have yet (my doctor didn’t think that was important, and only said it wasn’t RA) but it might be Psoriatic.

]]> By: Cammie http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-96118 Cammie Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:23:48 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-96118 Wow. This explains a lot for me. I have already had a near ruptured tendon in my left hand. I had to wear a splint for my thumb for several weeks in the hopes that it would heal so I wouldn't need surgery. My rheumy told me that the RA wreak havoc on your tendons. How to adequately care for yourself is very difficult when you have RA. There are days when I feel overwhelmed with all that this disease brings to my life. Wow. This explains a lot for me. I have already had a near ruptured tendon in my left hand. I had to wear a splint for my thumb for several weeks in the hopes that it would heal so I wouldn’t need surgery. My rheumy told me that the RA wreak havoc on your tendons. How to adequately care for yourself is very difficult when you have RA. There are days when I feel overwhelmed with all that this disease brings to my life.

]]> By: Linda Basta http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-90032 Linda Basta Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:24:11 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-90032 I have had quite a lot of muscle wasting. It's very upsetting how week I've gotten. I do get PT & OT regularly and I do think it helps. I also just starting taking a Whey Protein powder.That form of protein has been show to be helpful in muscle wasting especially in AIDS patients. Hope it can help in RA as well. I have had quite a lot of muscle wasting. It’s very upsetting how week I’ve gotten. I do get PT & OT regularly and I do think it helps. I also just starting taking a Whey Protein powder.That form of protein has been show to be helpful in muscle wasting especially in AIDS patients. Hope it can help in RA as well.

]]> By: Mark http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-81704 Mark Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:34:51 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-81704 I am having this issue. I've had RA for some 13 years. Methotrexate (20mg/week) is beginning to seem to have little effect. I switched to a Paleo diet 6 months ago (and lost 10 lbs) but my muscle wasting seems to continue. I'm 5'9 and down to 135 lbs. Upper chest is just bone basically. What does one do? Will a biological drug prevent this? Should I jump on Enbrel? Need to fix this - don't like the "threefold increase" in mortality issues. Mark I am having this issue. I’ve had RA for some 13 years. Methotrexate (20mg/week) is beginning to seem to have little effect. I switched to a Paleo diet 6 months ago (and lost 10 lbs) but my muscle wasting seems to continue. I’m 5’9 and down to 135 lbs. Upper chest is just bone basically. What does one do? Will a biological drug prevent this? Should I jump on Enbrel?
Need to fix this – don’t like the “threefold increase” in mortality issues.
Mark

]]> By: Karen http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-77021 Karen Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:06:24 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-77021 I'm glad you mentioned Enbrel... Now I realize that at least 10 lbs of the weight I've gained has been since last November, and that is when I started Enbrel. I blamed it on lack of activity and the holidays at first. I’m glad you mentioned Enbrel… Now I realize that at least 10 lbs of the weight I’ve gained has been since last November, and that is when I started Enbrel. I blamed it on lack of activity and the holidays at first.

]]> By: Karen http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-77019 Karen Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:03:45 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-77019 I definitely haven't lost weight. I think I've gained about 50 or 60 lbs since I first started feeling symptoms in 2006. And even though I am not totally sedentary (I do still work full time), I am very surprised at how little muscle strength I have anymore. I definitely haven’t lost weight. I think I’ve gained about 50 or 60 lbs since I first started feeling symptoms in 2006. And even though I am not totally sedentary (I do still work full time), I am very surprised at how little muscle strength I have anymore.

]]> By: Chelsea http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-muscle-wasting-rheumatoid-cachexia/comment-page-1/#comment-75996 Chelsea Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:27:51 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=5287#comment-75996 I'm getting muscle fatigue when walking faster on flat ground (um, very relatively speaking on "faster") or on uneven ground, particularly in the back/side of one leg. Don't know if it's RA related or prednisone muscle loss or something else. A few visits back my rheumy did notice quadricep muscle loss. I’m getting muscle fatigue when walking faster on flat ground (um, very relatively speaking on “faster”) or on uneven ground, particularly in the back/side of one leg. Don’t know if it’s RA related or prednisone muscle loss or something else. A few visits back my rheumy did notice quadricep muscle loss.

]]>