Comments on: The Joy Of RA Medications

By: Kali

Kali — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:01:18 +0000

Have they tried you on anything else for your stomach? omeprazole did nothing for me, but Prevacid (lansaprazole, I think) worked a lot better.

As for crutches in the rain, yeah, I wear a long raincoat. My current one is a London Fog trench, which I am quite fond of. If it’s cold out as well as rainy, I add a hat; otherwise, I tend to let my head get wet.

If a coat is not for you, you might try a Nubrella. http://nubrella.com/ I haven’t tried one, but I’ve heard good things.

The other thing you might want to do is add a pair of rain tips. I know these guys make them http://www.fetterman-crutches.com/tips.html but I don’t know anyone else who does offhand. Word is they’re worth the money, but I don’t know from personal experience – was trying to get mine through my insurance company, and by the time they’d officially been denied, the rainy season was almost over and I was getting a service dog.

~Kali
http://www.brilliantmindbrokenbody.wordpress.com

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:41:23 +0000

How timely! The NY Times personal health section today (Tues Nov 10) had a column by Jane Brody on the use of prednisone and similar medications. I know what you mean about toughing it out without it. I stopped prednisone in May and it wasn’t until September that I started to feel a bit more free from the side effects.

When I was doing research on the downside of prednisone, I was trying to find dosage levels for certain side effects. Because I wanted to know what levels were associated with what side effects. I really had no idea how heavy my dose was. Finally, I saw something from Johns Hopkins.

Keep up the good work!

By: Wren

Wren — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:21:49 +0000

I chuckled over your worry about crutches and rain, RA Guy. When I lived in Germany (where it rained 5 days out of 7)I was put on crutches several times during flares. Cast and all. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do but get wet, then thank your lucky stars that your skin is waterproof and that hair and clothes dry eventually. The biggest issue with crutches and rain I ran into was slippery pavement. Crutches (or sticks, as I call ‘em), tend to slide easily. So be careful!

Good luck with the stomach problems. These meds can be so corrosive! Have you tried a little dry, whole grain toast to soothe your stomach? Ginger tea? Sounds like your cornstarch drink would work pretty well, actually. I’m going to try that one, as I’ve just been put on a NSAID for the first time in years, and they’ve always played hell with my tum.

Thanks for the great writing, encouragement and advice, as usual. You’re a gift.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:46:29 +0000

I just tapered off prednisone and my RA is flaring badly. I’m waiting for the Humira to kick in, but in the meantime, I won’t go back on the prednisone. It can be a lifesaver, but it’s also a nasty drug with nasty side effects, some permanent and serious. Here’s to the day none of us will have to be on prednisone!

And hope your stomach heals soon!

By: Teresa

Teresa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:44:43 +0000

Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior posted a similar blog about meds today. It was meant for me to get up early today and check in. I called my Dr. yesterday and I am awaiting a call back about my flares and how I am handling them with medications. I am so tired of the flares, come to expect them but never seem to go into remission. Maybe it’s not possible for me, but I hope so. Presently I am only taking Enbrel for the last year and tapered off methotrexate and prednisone. I have been using prednisone for flares but this time I want to hear something new. A new combination. Maybe I have to go back on the methotrexate with Enbrel, but I don’t want the prednisone. Trying to tough it through this flare is a new experiment for me.