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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / May 2006Newly diagnosed Psoriatic Arthritis
Geeze, where to start? I'm taking Interferon and Ribiviran for Hep-C treatment. Unfortunately the tx has induced Psoriatic Arthritis. There is no arthritis on either side of my family nor psoriasis. The symptoms came on within a few weeks. Is that normal for this type of arthritis? Thankfully there is no damage to the hands. (The worse effected parts) Provided my RA doc, GP doc, and GI doc all agree they'll be putting me on Enbrel. Does anyone have any experience with Enbrel? Are there sides? How aggressive is this disease? And most of all, what should I expect? I'm a little distraught right now so I'm not even sure if I'm asking the right stuff. Thanks for any help, -Puckertoe Puckertoe (BTW Love the screen name), I don't have PA, but I do have Fibromyalgia, OA, Sjogren's Syndrome, DDD, DJD, and a bunch of other letters. Just wanted to let you know your post got through and that you are most welcome in our group. Yes, there are several here with Enbrel experience. I'm sure they'll be along soon. Both medications and illnesses differ from person to person. Your mileage may vary....batteries not included, etc. However, someone will be here soon to tell you how their body reacted and what the usual progression of the disease is. I just wanted to say Hi. Hi. DeeTee > Geeze, where to start? > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > -Puckertoe Thank you so much for the kind words DeeTee. That helped more than you can imagine. :) > Puckertoe (BTW Love the screen name), > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >> >> -Puckertoe > Geeze, where to start? > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thankfully there is no damage to the hands. (The worse effected parts) I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) back in October. I have had Psoriasis (P) since I was 7 - am now 30. My PsA was moving pretty rapidly through my fingers (by March, I had several fingers involved, even though I was being treated for the condition) - a huge problem, since I type for a living. My Dermatologist prescribed Enbrel for me, but my insurance rejected it, so I started going to a Rheumatologist (RD). He tried me on Methotrexate (MTX) until March, with little success in fighting the PsA (my P started clearing up, though). Then he added Humira (a TNF-alpha blocker, like Enbrel) on top of the MTX - it has been amazing - my P cleared completely & the swelling & redness in my fingers has almost completely gone, too. For me, it is a miracle drug (so far), YMMV. > Provided my RA doc, GP doc, and GI doc all agree they'll be putting me on > Enbrel. > > Does anyone have any experience with Enbrel? Are there sides? All the TNF-alpha blockers have some side effects - the major ones are the lowered resistence to infections & the exacerbation of latent TB. Be sure someone gives you a TB skin test before you start the Enbrel. If you Google Enbrel, there is a lot of good info on the manufacturer's website. Enbrel & the other TNF-alpha blockers appear to be able to halt the progression of PsA in its tracks, sometimes preventing permanent damage (or at least slowing it). > How aggressive is this disease? And most of all, what should I expect? PsA can be very aggressive for some people (there are 5 different kinds - see if your doctors can tell you which one they think you have). Go to the National Psoriasis Foundation's website & do a little reading there on PsA. It is very informative. There is also a newsgroup for P sufferers, alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis, which has very good people & information on it. From what I have been able to glean, PsA affects us in very similar ways to Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is important that we keep moving & exercising, even just a little, to keep our joints & muscles in good working order. Most people with PsA report that they get a little achy when weather fronts are passing through (I sure do!) & that some favorite activities (like gardening) are a little more difficult with the limitations the arthritis brings. The good news is that you are attacking the PsA fast. Early intervention leads to less permanent damage to your joints. > I'm a little distraught right now so I'm not even sure if I'm asking the > right stuff. It is ok to be distraught. We are here to help you - we will listen to you gripe, if you need to, pray for you when you need it & answer the questions you have if we can. Plantmistress (Shannon) Wow, there is really nothing I can add to this. I also have PA (the psorasis just finally reared it's ugly head after 30 some years). I started on Enbrel and did very well until the last 3 years (pregnancy has changed my body immensely). I'm now on Humira and doing very well. If you have any other questions you think of...ask here. There is some amazing knowledge on this group. melissa >> Geeze, where to start? >> [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > >Plantmistress (Shannon)  SignatureNewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth Hi,,, Actually the most commonly used drug for PA is Methx. Many people use Methx and Enbrel. You and your doctor are going to have to find out what works best for you and good luck with it. Your making the right moves. Harv > Geeze, where to start? > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > -Puckertoe > Hi,,, Actually the most commonly used drug for PA is Methx. Many people > use Methx and Enbrel. You and your doctor are going to have to find out > what works best for you and good luck with it. Your making the right > moves. > Harv In fact, there was a recent study that showed folks with PsA are more susceptible to liver side effects from mtx than RA folks are. Puckertoe is coming in with a liver affected by Hep C so I'm sure they want to avoid mtx and Arava at all costs as the liver doesn't need more stress. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Hi, I was diagnosed with psoriatic last year - it shows in my finger tips. My hands are a mess! Today I saw my rheumy and I am preparing to start on enbrel. I was given a TB test, urinalysis, CBC and chest x-ray. As long as everything is clear, negative, I will begin the enbrel and I sincerely hope I can tolerate it. My progression has always been an issue as far as I was concerned and FINALLY we may be able to stop it. Good luck and the same for me! Be well, be Happy, Hiker > Geeze, where to start? > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > -Puckertoe Please try a hot pack for fifteen min. and a nice massage, by your wife?, very gentle, and a nsaid like a 600 motrin if allowable. Sounds like the Carpal (s) bone is inflamed. You work with your hands being a mecanicand need PT. Having PA for 20 years has made me desperate for any relief. My hands have been involved and Physical Therapy has worked wonders. good luck, wrenching is fun till someone gets hurt What kind of hotpack do you use? > Please try a hot pack for fifteen min. and a nice massage, by your > wife?, very gentle, and a nsaid like a 600 motrin if allowable. Sounds [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > good luck, > wrenching is fun till someone gets hurt >Does anyone have any experience with Enbrel? Are there sides? > >How aggressive is this disease? And most of all, what should I expect? You have a good Dr he is giving you the good stuff right off the bat! Enbrel is hideously expensive but worth the $$$$$ very few side effects for most people. You might have to take it with methotrexate, but it will be a bit of trial and error. Don't be alarmed by the warnings etc, many people focus too much on the potential side effects and not on what the disease can do. Your Dr will be monitoring you so relax Enbrel has been around for about 8 years, and many consider it a miracle drug. It is given by injection once or twice a week, but you will get used to the shots. This "drug" is the product of recombinant DNA technology very high tech and expensive, it is a biologic drug very different technology from the usual chemical drugs. Good for you I am glad your Dr is giving you the good stuff right away. Check it out here: http://www.enbrel.com/index.jsp?f=7 Hi Puckertoe (I, also, love the name!), I have ankylosing spondylitis which is one of the spondyloarthropathies, as is PsA. I have been on Enbrel since June of 04, and we added in methtrexate (injectable) about 6 months ago. There are some serious side effects for Enbrel, which you can read at Mary's link above. Not to scare you, but there it is. It wouldn't hurt for you to become familiar with them. An online friend of mine died from a septic infection from it. She thought it was the flu. I only say this so that you can be aware and watchful. Having said that, it is one of the most effective drugs for AS, PsA and the other spondys, EVER. Mary is right; it's the good stuff. As I said, I have been on it for almost two years, and other than one cold, haven't had any problems with it at all. Enbrel may not be enough on its own for you, however. Many on Enbrel are also on MTX or another DMARD. This isn't unusual. I've talked a lot with folks who have PsA, and like many other types of arthritis, it seems to vary a lot from person to person. Some have severe cases, some do not. I think that's it's wonderful that your doc isn't wasting any time and is pulling out the big guns for you. I surely do hope that it works for you and works quickly! Good luck! Char Thanks for such encourging words for all of you. I can't take the MTX due to liver damage. Makes me wonder if the 75mgx2 daily of Voleren is bad for me. After the tests I should get statred soon. Only unknown is the interaction w/Interferon I will continue to lurk and post. Thank you so much again. -Puckertoe > Hi Puckertoe (I, also, love the name!), > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Good luck! > Char First off, I second everything Shannon said - she covered things very well. I also recommend the NPF. They are a wonderful resource for folks with psoriasis and/or PsA. You can read some stuff on their website, you can also join for as little as $1/year. I'm thinking about pulling my support from the Arthritis Foundation and giving it all to the NPF instead. > Geeze, where to start? > > I'm taking Interferon and Ribiviran for Hep-C treatment. Unfortunately the > tx has induced Psoriatic Arthritis. There is no arthritis on either side of > my family nor psoriasis. We used to have someone here who had RA and Hep C, but he's been missing for some time. I keep hoping he got so much better that he no longer had time for us! Anyway, he started taking milk thistle, an herb that helps the liver. Are you on this? Mark did so well on it, his GI guy started recommending it to his other liver patients. Of course, in your case, it's really important to check with your doctors first. You don't want to mess with the liver! > The symptoms came on within a few weeks. Is that normal for this type of > arthritis? It varies widely. I'd had vague occasional symptoms for over a decade, then was slammed with aggressive arthritis over a few weeks. My first RD (rheumatologist) later admitted he really thought I'd be crippled up in a wheelchair within the year. Didn't happen, for whatever reason. My theory is that these diseases can be exacerbated by anything that kicks up the immune system. I always have an arthritis flare after an illness of any sort, like the immune system is all fired up and looking for something to do. Perhaps that is what happened to you - the immune system has been fired up to fight your Hep C and now it's looking for more places to use its fired-up power. > Thankfully there is no damage to the hands. (The worse effected parts) you are catching it early. That is very good and increases your chances of avoiding any permanent damage. > Provided my RA doc, GP doc, and GI doc all agree they'll be putting me on > Enbrel. > > Does anyone have any experience with Enbrel? Are there sides? There are always side effects, but with Enbrel the main problem is the susceptibility to infection. There's also the trick of learning to stick a needle in yourself, but it really turns out to be easier than I expected (and I've watched my brother do it for decades for insulin, so I KNEW it was doable!) Some folks experience some stinging with the injections, but that can be controlled by slowing down the speed at which you inject. > How aggressive is this disease? And most of all, what should I expect? It varies widely. The key is to treat it aggressively from the beginning and your doctors are already on that track. Now, I was originally diagnosed as having RA - PsA can mimic RA and I have a family history of RA. After 5 tortured years, for some unknown reason it calmed down and just simmered for 8-9 years. Then 2 months after major surgery, it went wild again. Ever since, it's been a roller coaster ride of meds working for a while, then the PsA breaking loose again. So it's really hard to know exactly what will happen. Sorry we can't be more specific, but it's best to be prepared for the unpredictability of the process. The good news is that new medications and new treatments are appearing at an unprecedented rate these days and knowledge of the immune system is equally increasing. Options today are far greater than even decade ago. > I'm a little distraught right now so I'm not even sure if I'm asking the > right stuff. We've all been there on the distraught part! Still, your questions seem most appropriate. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I was on Enbrel for 3 years or so for RA (Rheumatoid arthritis) no major side effects. gives ya a hive where it is injected which is tolerable. No real trouble with infections. Worked great but then pooped out at the end. It's interesting you can take it with Hep c which is a viral infection...one of those things that makes ya go hmmm |
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