RA: An Update ~ Steroids and Biologics

So I mentioned back here that I was having a lot of pain over the summer....in June the doc had changed my methotrexate from 8 pills on Monday AM to 5 in the AM and 5 in the PM for a total of 10 hoping that the absorption would be better and it would actually work.... well... I tried it... and felt HORRIBLE... sick to my stomach and the pain was exactly the same... tried it one more time... AWFUL.... and decided that I was not going to spend my summer like that as I anticipated going to PA and thinking about people who ARE really SICK and HAVE to take the nasty meds... I figured I would deal with the pain so that I could at least not be sick to my stomach and support....

and then I came home to the foot infection... and then we had a few good weeks (albeit pain filled) and looked forward to the anticipation of vacation... and then you know we had the broken arm.... and then.... there was a night where it all just broke down... all of what I was TRYING to do on my own, the denial of what is wrong with me, the aloneness of being in chronic pain but no one knows because it is all inside your body.... the taking care of everything just like I always have and just couldn't do it anymore. (Here is the part where you should all feel sorry for Husband ;) good thing he's so good at picking up my broken pieces....because they were ALL over the place...

I was scheduled for an RA visit on 8/16. I made the appointment so that Husband would be able to go with me... they rescheduled. For the end of August when he would be back at school/practice... etc. and the date they picked didn't work for me so I cancelled. I finally made the call to reschedule and agreed to be put on a cancellation list and was able to get into the doctor on Wednesday.

You know... midway through the sanding/painting/joints dying renovation? CountryMum agreed to take the gals and I was an absolute TRAIN WRECK. Terrified doesn't even begin to cover it... these next steps... these drugs... telling the Dr. that I had not been taking the "chemo" all summer and would he be angry.... TERR-I-F-I-ED....

The RN came in and I shared my (tearful) concerns and she assured me that he would be understanding. That he only wants me on meds that will make me feel better, not worse. When he came in he definitely tried to lighten the mood and we decided on a new plan.

I'm taking prednisone for about 2 months. Just a low dose that he says will just "take the edge off the misery" and he was right. HOWEVER... my blood sugars are all outta whack... running extremely high for me so I put on a sensor so I can have a better handle on how quickly they are rising and taking a boatload more insulin to combat the steroid.

I also was checked for TB in the office on Wed and went back on Friday for them to confirm it was negative. I had NO IDEA that I was going to get my first Enbrel shot as well.... TOTALLY took me by surprise but I guess that was good because I didn't have time to get all worked up about it... the poor RN that gave me the injection didn't know that the Dr. had taken one out of the fridge anticipating my arrival that day so she gave me a cold one... WOWZER that did NOT feel good. Thank goodness for Miss B holding my hand and her encouragement when it was all over... "that's ok Mommy, next time you just have to be tougher...." um... OK. Steroids every day....Enbrel injections every Friday courtesy of Husband ;)

So now we are in with the big guns and PRAYING that in the next few weeks (although it can take up to 3 months) the Enbrel takes over, I get weaned off the steroids and I'm feeling better and better... that is of course always the goal isn't it? Emotionally I'm doing better with it and I think that obviously has to do with not being in AS MUCH pain....still praying for remission and not having to take anything at ALL would be amazing....