Tag Archives: medication

Damage Done?

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Apologies on the hiatus. Because of the delay in my medications I started feeling worse and worse and completely uninspired..and a little pissed off.

A) I will sit for my infusion on Wednesday! (the day before US Thanksgiving!) so I will be down for the holidays.

B) I have not built up the medication enough so the week after the holidays I will probably feel awful as well.

Merp. (Aka the sound for how I feel right now)

Even though I do not feel well and I am experiencing a flare, I still push myself to work and exercise.

Here’s my question:

 

A flare = some amount of inflammation.

Some amount of inflammation = my immune system is going after the cartilage around my joints

My immunity attacking itself = damage?

 

I know the Methotrexate and Orencia protect my joints from damage and the Prednisone keeps the inflammation down, but….if I push myself even through a flare am I creating more damage? or am I just exacerbating the pain symptoms?

It is so difficult to see if I am causing damage since there are no visible symptoms…

I have decided that I am going to continue to push myself through my normal activities but rest hard…if that makes sense.

Thoughts? Should I just take a step back or should I just continue on?

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Infusion

15 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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To see the accompanying nail art click here.

 

This post is way overdue but I guess it works out better since I can talk about how well my new medication works.

For a year I was on weekly Orencia subcutaneous (under-skin) self-injections. I thought they were great. Until they were not anymore and stopped working. I tried Xeljanx for a month with absolutely no results. It was like I was on no medication whatsoever. So, I went back to Orencia.

On the first round of Orencia, I felt 80%! That had to be the record so far. When I returned to it I never felt better than 50%. It was a huge bummer.

My rheumatologist and I decided to try the monthly Orencia IV (through the vein) infusion instead. What was the harm? I planned on living in the same place for at least 6-12 more months and it was best to start new medications in as controlled environment as possible. We knew I had success with the subq (abbreviation for subcutaneous) injections and I would be more receptive to the higher dosage extended over a month.

 

I am not going to lie. I was a little upset.

When starting the weekly subq injections, I had to sit with the IV to kick-start the process. Three days later, I was hiking, climbing, active!

I was expecting the same reaction. So when I still felt lousy, my spirits sank.

Two weeks later, like clockwork, I felt great..but, only for two weeks.

There was a mix up with my insurance and I sat for the infusion a week late. (Note: with all the changes in public healthcare, private companies are more calculated about which and from where they will cover biological medications.)

There was one disastrous week when the previous month wore off and the current dose settled.

 

Now we are careful to make sure I get the infusion on time every month.

I feel great. (For the most part.)

I am easing my way back into climbing.

 

The only caveat? If I really mess up and flare, I do not have as many quick-fix meds (like my weekly injections) to “put out the fire”. I can only rely on prednisone. Slow and steady wins the race. Rather, slow and steady is my only option to win the race 😉

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.