Hi, sweetie. Could that new drug have been Orencia? I found a link...

http://www.orencia.com/orencia/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

How about getting that hand injected? Have you called your RD yet? Hm? Have
ya? Nag, nag, nag. I nag because I love.:)

Kelly C.

Hi Aim,
It is Orencia or Abatacept - you will need to check the second spelling.  My
rd was not so keen on me being on it - due to infection and he wasn't happy
with the overall results on the trial he did.  He is putting me on Rituxan
which is two infusions 2 weeks apart and then the next is not for 6 months
to a year depending on how you are doing.  It is for non-responders of tnf
meds and should be taken with mtx but I think they are going to wave that
for me.  Should know what is happening within the next 2 weeks.

I know KJ is on orencia and is doing okay on it.

Good luck - glad that is a limited edition but sorry you are doing not so
well  .

kelly

Oh, definitely. :-)

---
Joan

Nann wrote:

The latest craze in our house is A&W Root Beer Ice Cream.
We ate it all before I had a chance to make a float or shake. <g>

... Earth:  (n) A solid substance, much desired by the seasick.

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. *hugs*

-- Ashley

=========
~~AN.

(((((((((((((((((Aim)))))))))))))))))

ah............ and I was worried about my dreams of enormous pain last night
before waking with aching hands.  That falls quite short of what you're
dealing with.  Have you heard anything about Humira and AS?  I've been
hearing some RDs who think it might well be better than Enbrel for PA,
perhaps it will be for AS as well.  It sounds like it's time to try some
other DMARDs so you can keep that good insurance!

Thanks for the warning about Haagan Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream!  
LOL  Probably can't buy it around here anyway, but it sounds like stuff I
should stay well away from.  We're both working on losing the weight we've
put on since moving to home-made dessert central with the nearest gym 25
miles away.

(((((((((((((aim)))))))))))))  <offering aim my box of poppycock--calorie
and suger free, of course.>  sorry about your owies, sweetie.  it's
wonderful to see you posting again, though.  hope orencia is just the right
thing for you, hon.

kate
My left hand has been acting up a LOT lately. I've been mostly just
ignoring it. Today I can't, cuz I couldn't get out of bed. I hadn't been
able to sleep all night due to pain and then once I finally fell into a
weird, feverish sleep I couldn't wake up.

I have to type a lot in my job, and with 2-3 blown knuckles on one hand
it's not going to happen today. So I called in. Besides, two of my
team-members are going to be out of town the rest of the week and I'll
be holding down the fort. If I didn't take today I wouldn't have gotten
to take any time off until my vacation. I'll be putting in some long
hours the rest of the week.

Anyway, I just needed to whine. Enbrel isn't holding me so well -
because I can't take it regularly enough to keep things under control. I
get sick all the time when I do. I talked to my doctor last time I saw
her (She's a new doc for me, and it was my first time seeing her) and
she agreed to let me cut the dose in half to see if/how it worked to
balance the immune issues with the holding my disease back. Still no dice.

Oddly enough I met a drug rep at a health fair - I was hanging out at
the Arthritis Foundation's table while the woman took a break, and the
rep came up and started chatting. I didn't realize she knew Johanna (the
AF woman, a friend of mine) or that she was a drug rep. Thought she was
like the other folks coming up. She asked what type of arth I had, what
I was on, etc. So I was talking to her and we got to how it's a tough
balance between holding the disease back and keeping my immune system
high enough to be able to work. Well then she pounced. She was good, I
have to say. Anyway, it was some new drug that starts with an O. Another
biologic. Sounded like it's not an anti TNF drug though? Anyone know
what I'm talking about, or anything else about it? I know it's not
approved for AS yet, but my insurance is good and will approve whatever
will work for me so I'm not worried about that, fortunately. She gave me
a DVD but I can't find it. I figured you all would know the goods and
bads, and be able to give me the lowdown.

OK, so I have to admit to my new addiction so I'm not all whining and
grumping. Haagen Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream. It's limited
edition and oh my wow. I keep getting in trouble with it. On the healthy
side, there's Dannon Light and Fit Crave Control - I think it's brand
new. It's good for those who have to watch the sugar. Like I should be
doing. Hehe. If I eat em both is it sort of like having a giant sundae
and then canceling out the calories with a diet coke?

Aim