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Mehrhart - 21 Oct 2005 14:52 GMT

I hope I can get some clear information. Just had a bone scan showed RA big
time, I have been seeing this RA DR for 2 years and she kept saying "your
blood work does not show any problems or RA factors so just take tyenol. Now
she is talking about Arava and enbrel. Can anyone help me know about these
meds?
Thanks Mary

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Charrlygrl1 - 21 Oct 2005 16:02 GMT

Hi Mary,
Sorry about your diagnosis.
I went thru much the same thing...2.5 yrs for a diagnosis and a doc who
paid more attention to the test results rather than what she was
hearing from me.
I am on Enbrel and have been for about a year and a half now, as well
as methotrexate, prednisone, azulfidine, leucovorin, soma and ultram
for pain.
Enbrel is a self injection (once or twice a week depending on if it's
the 50 or 25mg shot). It is very expensive, but it works for a lot of
people.
I don't know anything about Arava...that's one of the few that I
haven't yet tried.
If I were you, I would probably consider getting a new doc-that's what
I did, twice, and I love my current RD.
I hope everything turns out ok for you,
Charlene

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Diane - 21 Oct 2005 16:11 GMT

welcome!
i'm distressed your doc didn't pay attention to your symptoms. lots of
people have negative bloodwork early on. i'm one of them.

i used to be on enbrel and arava together. great combination (i'm now
on remicade and arava). your doc is being aggressive finally, and
that's a good thing as long as your insurance will cover these drugs
without you having to use the less effective drugs first. the only side
effect most people have with enbrel is a slightly elevated chance of
infection, so be careful with that. i had and continue to have, bowel
problems with arava, but many people have no problem with it at all.
good luck and keep us posted.

diane

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Harvey R. Stone - 21 Oct 2005 16:59 GMT

>I hope I can get some clear information. Just had a bone scan showed RA
>big
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> meds?
> Thanks Mary

Hi Mary,,,, I hope someone helps you find a new RD. I just hate to read
about RDs that have to be slapped up side the head with X ray or radioactive
scans before they take steps to help a person with RA...
Arava is by far the cheaper medicine to control RA. I was pain free for
a year using it. It more than likely will cause you bowl distress. It
happens to many people but did not happen with me.
Enbrel is very costly and does a really good job of stopping RA in its
tracks. I have taken it for 3 years and it has been great. My life is
almost normal. Here again,,,,, some people it does nothing but for me I
knew the next day it was for me and I use it now.
Harv

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Squirrely - 22 Oct 2005 01:47 GMT

That is such a rip. I have the feeling the same thing is going on with me
too. It doesn't show in the blood work so they don't think it is RA. I hope
whatever treatment you start on it works greatly for you. I am sorry you had
to get RA.

Signature

Love and hugs to all
Good thoughts coming your way too.

Squirrely Jo

>I hope I can get some clear information. Just had a bone scan showed RA
>big
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> meds?
> Thanks Mary

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bevboo - 26 Oct 2005 01:40 GMT

They have a new blood test here in Canada which is alot better then the
one they usually due to test for RA.. That one usually shows neg RA
levels.. This new test is awesome, my Dr. kept saying I think you have
ra but the test levels for RA isnt high enough... Finally did the new
test and guess what the RA level went through the roof... I'm not sure
of the name of the test but maybe your Dr's own there can get the test
done... If not I guess a good slap upside their heads will have to
work..

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Nann Bell - 26 Oct 2005 04:10 GMT

> They have a new blood test here in Canada which is alot better then the
> one they usually due to test for RA.. That one usually shows neg RA
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> done... If not I guess a good slap upside their heads will have to
> work..

hmmmmm, it'll be interesting to see if we begin hearing about that test soon.
Our FDA does a lot to protect us, but getting things such as new tests past
them can really take some time. I'd be curious to find out how I'd come out
on the test as I started out with an RA diagnosis and moved on to PsA -
though RA and autoimmune stuff in general run in the family. (LOL now that
I think of it, I never have been easily pegged! just didn't realize that
would also apply to my diseases. <bg>)

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Nann
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Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare

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Mary Z - 22 Oct 2005 16:34 GMT

> Now
>she is talking about Arava and enbrel. Can anyone help me know about these
>meds?

Welcome to the sandbox! I am glad your Dr is finally taking
aggressive action. Arava and Enbrel are good drugs many of us have
had excellent relief from those drugs. Enbrel is very expensive
about $1,000 per month, hopefully you have good insurande. It is a
powerful drug with relatively few side effects. Many people have had
miraculous results with Enbrel and Arava. -- MZ

Visit my website:
http://www.mzuschlag.com

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DeeTee and Bob Taggart - 23 Oct 2005 00:10 GMT

Aw, Mary! My RD actually apologized when he finally recognized the
inflammation. I sure hope you get some relief. I am on Methotrexate and so
far (knock on wood) have not had to have the others added yet. That may be
becuase I am also on Plaquenil and Prednisone and Arthrotec.

Stay with us!
DeeTee

>I hope I can get some clear information. Just had a bone scan showed RA
>big
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> meds?
> Thanks Mary

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Adelle - 25 Oct 2005 05:58 GMT

Hi, Mary!

Welcome aboard. I also have RA and am seronegative. But a strong family
history and some other stuff made it pretty clear that it's RA.

Am on Plaquenil and Relafen, after having tried Antibiotic therapy (which
started because there was a possibility of Lyme disease, but relieved my
symptoms so well we stuck with it till it stopped working).

Going straight to a biologic like Enbrel is close to state of the art for
treating RA. My uncle, a pediatric Rheumatologist says he's current clinical
trials show many patients can go into full remission with a combination of
Methotrexate and a biologic medication.

My MRI's show no damage, not even early stuff. So we are taking a more
conservative approach. But your doc isn't steering you 'wrong.' The decision
should be based upon the totality of your tests and how you feel.

Adelle

>I hope I can get some clear information. Just had a bone scan showed RA
>big
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> meds?
> Thanks Mary

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bevboo - 26 Oct 2005 01:43 GMT

Question... Would a usual method for treating RA in adults using
Celebrex and Plaquenil in unison and no other meds???? Could this
possible help with going into remission.....

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Alison DeLorme - 26 Oct 2005 02:08 GMT

I somehow missed the original post... Welcome!!! Anyway, my rec. is get a
new RD if you can. A dr that relies solely on blood tests for dx and
treatment is not one who has kept up with modern treatment protocols. I was
seronegative for about 15 years of active juvenile RA. I only recently
tested positive for the Rheumatoid factor. My other blood levels had also
always been negative except for occasionally raised sed rates. My father has
severe psoriatic arthritis so the positive family history was a big help in
getting treatment for me.

The new line of thinking is to get new patients on the biologics as quickly
as possible, partic. if there is joint damge already. The problem is that
many insurance companies will not pay for the biologics without first having
evidence that the patient has tried a traditional DMARD, preferrably MTX.

alison

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