Here's an update on my condition,after a 5 week admission in november and
december I was put on infliximab infusion treatment, I had a further
admission in january for a further infusion treatment and am just home from
hospital after another 9 day admission. Well I knew pretty much that this
anti-tnf drug wasn't workng as I was still inflammed, swollen stiff and sore
in nearly all my joints.My blood tests and das or daz score was worse than
when I started on the treatment. Now thats been the 3rd anti-tnf drug thats
failed after unsucessfully trying adalimulab and enbrel. I now need surgery
to replace the knackered elbow joints and right ankle joint and have been
placed on the waiting list, not sure how long that is but been on it now
since december and no update on when it could happen or how long list is but
remain a patient,patient.

I've been put on leflunomide as a stopgap treatment at the moment and have
had the 3 x 100mg loading dose's and am now on a 20mg maintenance dose
daily, I'm being re-admitted to hospital sometime in may for review and to
start on a new research drug called ritiximab as they have to get
authorisation to prescribe it and to be accepted. I was wondering firstly if
anybody within the group has had success whilst on leflunomide and secondly
has anybody within the group been accepted for ritiximab. I'm proving to be
a bit of a nightmare for the rheumatologists at hospital because whatever
they have tried so far has failed, they say due to my bodies resistance to
the drugs and told me still to remain positive as they will eventually find
the correct combination that will work, meanwhile I'm still suffering. I
have the greatest faith in the doctors and still do remain positive but it
gets hard when the newest treatments fail to work. Anyway was just wondering
about these new drugs and to update on my condition. Still on lots and lots
of medication although they have stopped my folic acid and methotrexate
which meant 4 less pills a week but in fact its increased again by the daily
dose of leflunomide, I'm taking over 30 pills a day and some days 40 to try
and get some respite, all within the consultants advice and drug guidelines
of course..

Robert