sulpha.....

lucy145
lucy145 Member Posts: 90
edited 31. Dec 2010, 20:45 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi everyone, hope you all had a good sleep :)

well as you know i took 2 sulpha yesterday,i woke up at 3.30am with a tight chest and coughing and was sweating, how do i know if its just the cough ive had for a few weeks which was nearly better or the sulpha? feel a bit scared of taking it today :(

lucy xx

Comments

  • williamlargs
    williamlargs Member Posts: 143
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    I was on sulpha for 3 years without any probs.I would hope it's just your existing cough.

    Good luck
  • suzster
    suzster Member Posts: 1,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    check with your dr but i think it's probably your existing caugh.
    i've been taking sulpha for about 3 years with no problems as well.
    hope you feel better very soon.
    sue
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lucy,

    The real answer is we don't know. I think its always best to ask your gp though cus I did have a big reaction to sulfa and certainly I was doing this. Alone that wouldn't have been enough cus there can be so many reasons. Hope it will all check out for you. Cris x
  • bailey27
    bailey27 Member Posts: 689
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    When i first started sulpha i felt quite spacey. i have been on it now for a year and hav e found i have never even had a cold. not sure if it is the prednisalone or the sulpha. maybe you need to let it get into your system. it's always good to check with your GP first. could you ring NHS Direct helpline if you cnt speak to rheuy nurse / gp?
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think that just adding one extra tablet isn't going to cause a total meltdown. Your cough has probably returned, we are at that sneezy, coughy time of year - just listen to people when you are out and about! If you are not sure then check with your doctor, but I really think it's the cough. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,826
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Get yoursen along to the doc or pharmacist for advice Lucy

    Hopefully just your existing cough and a bit of 'middle of the night' fear and anxiety. I get that sometimes.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • lucy145
    lucy145 Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi everyone

    thanks for your replies,i think you are all right and it was probably just my existing cough, its so easy to blame the tablets when it probably isnt, im taking the doses further apart today and think i took them to close together yesterday, i do feel a bit spacey but thats nothing unusal lol and dont mind it

    thank you again i feel reasured now from reading your replies. lucy xx
  • amboritic
    amboritic Member Posts: 66
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    When I was put on Sulpha my ankles and wrist swelled up , I felt sick, horrednous bowel problems and abdo pain, my abdo also swole up alarmingly, when I auscultated it there was almost no bowel sounds, and when ever I ate I would have probems keeping it down, so I suspected a bowel obstruction, no help with Senna, extreme fatigue and got rather depressed and had suicidal thoughts.

    Then read the side effects, never do it normally so that I can be sure I am not imagining them, and found them all listed.

    I have decided to stop the sulpha, and take Rieshi Mushroom, Gota Kula and some magnesium supplements, after a few days I feel much better, less down and depressed, still some aches in y hands and wrists but that seems to be getting better a little every day.

    I never had joint pain or swelling before the sulpha, did mention it to my consultant but as my CRP was almost spot on he wanted me to continue in the hope that the side effects would ease off.

    The only reason I was reffered to a rheumy was my inflammatory markers, my GP had already ruled out Ankylosing Spondilosis, the consultant ruled out infection.

    I will see what my markers are next month when they are checked, then inform my consultant what I have done when I see him next.
  • lucy145
    lucy145 Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi amboritic

    how long were you taking sulpha before you had any side effects? its early days for me but had no stomach problems at all, no nausea or anything and not even on the enteric coated ones

    do you have arthritis? or were you referred cos your inflammatory levels were high?

    lucy xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Don't panic, lucy. amboritic sounds like an extreme case of a reaction (which is very unfortunate for him/her, and they have not really provided any useful info, eg quantity and timescale) you have only taken, what, eight tablets so far? It is very easy to be scared by the horror stories - take a few deeep breaths, be calm. You will soon know if you are experiencing anything really untoward. I think you are doing fine, starting new meds is a worrying thing and you are doing OK. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • lucy145
    lucy145 Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thank you DD

    I think it was just middle of night panic which does happen when i suddenly wake up like that, i feel fine after the 8am dose :) and i do tend to get hot at night anyway, things always seem worse in the night dont they but thank you for reasuring me :)

    i know im new here but never seen any msgs from amboritic on here before but wont be taking his/her advice and rush out to buy some mushrooms :) or any of the other stuff either lol lucy xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 13. Oct 2010, 10:00
    You are doing OK lucy, believe you me. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lucy
    Sorry I cant give you advice, I just want to say, I really do hope the sulfa works for you, like you say it may be your cough, but do see your GP or even ring them if you are worried.
    Lots of hugs ((((((())))))
    Love
    Barbara x
    Love
    Barbara
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,826
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lucy

    You are doing fine.

    Poor amboratic - sounds like some sort of extreme reaction doesn't it - I hope you get sorted out soon :(

    Any worries Lucy ( and as you know I can worry myself silly in the night too :oops: ) contact GP or pharmacist and in the night you can STILL get NHS direct if you are worried.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • lucy145
    lucy145 Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thank you barbara and toni :)

    i think it was just middle of the night panic now,i have had a cough for a couple of weeks and so has my son so it was probably that and being nervous about upping the dose.

    i work in a pharmacy and spoke to my boss, he said it can cause a cough but usually after being on it for ages,and ive had none of the common side effects,ive just got a bit of tablet phobia i think but feel better after speaking to you all

    love lucy xx
  • Rainbow77
    Rainbow77 Member Posts: 275
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lucy

    It is really scary when you first take meds like this. I remember it well. Especially as I live on my own and as you say, things always seem worse at night and it is when you are most vulnerable.

    I am glad that you checked with your boss, it helps keep your mind at rest. I have taken Sulpha for 3 years. The main side effects at the beginning for me was a headache and feeling sick in the mornings. But it all subsided after a few weeks. I guess it depends on how sensitive your body is to the meds. But I have taken it and it has really worked well for me - so it if works for you, it will all be worth it.

    If you do have any questions, ask away, that is why this forum is so fantastic.

    You should be having your blood monitored regularly (I am sure you am) if there are any major probs they would show up here.

    I hope I am not repeating anyone as I have not read your whole thread - just this page.

    Fxxx
  • lucy145
    lucy145 Member Posts: 90
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi rainbow

    thank you for your msg,its good to hear that sulpha is working well for you :) are you on a combination or just sulpha? how long did it take to start working for you?

    your right i think it does depend on how sensitive our bodies are to meds and giving our bodies time to get used to it too,the rheumy nurse said its the better drug side effects wise and they always start their new patients on it.

    it is scary when you alone incase something happens isnt it, yes i got to have monthly blood tests to make sure things are ok, ive got a blood book for the results,have you?

    my boss also said hes glad he doesnt have to take it lol but any worries i will come on here and ask as its such a great site :)

    love lucy xx
  • amboritic
    amboritic Member Posts: 66
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lucy145 wrote:
    hi amboritic

    how long were you taking sulpha before you had any side effects? its early days for me but had no stomach problems at all, no nausea or anything and not even on the enteric coated ones

    do you have arthritis? or were you referred cos your inflammatory levels were high?

    lucy xx


    Sorry not been logged on for a while due to computer problems, my problems started when I went onto 1g twice a day, I stayed off the Sulpa till I spoke in detail to my GP and I have since started taking 500mg twice a day only, which seems OK, I have tried uping the dose to the 1g BD but have side effects starting with bloating, then feelin generally rough later in the day and the next morning.

    I can only assume that Sulpa doesn't agree with me.

    I still want my Rheummy to try Steroids as he isn't 100% sure what my condition is, his best guess is Sero -ve Inflammatory Arthritis, with Osteo. Though I want to try Steroids to rule out Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
  • amboritic
    amboritic Member Posts: 66
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lucy145 wrote:
    thank you DD

    I think it was just middle of night panic which does happen when i suddenly wake up like that, i feel fine after the 8am dose :) and i do tend to get hot at night anyway, things always seem worse in the night dont they but thank you for reasuring me :)

    i know im new here but never seen any msgs from amboritic on here before but wont be taking his/her advice and rush out to buy some mushrooms :) or any of the other stuff either lol lucy xx

    I wasn't giving advise Lucy, sorry of you misinterpreted the posting, I was stating factually how I felt and what I decided to do about it, I don't think there was any mention in my post that advised buying Reishi Mushrooms. Not sure what difference my number and frequency of postings make but hey ho.

    I however decided to take a proactive approach and reasoned that if the prescribed meds had side effects than why not try another approach, though my position is different in so far as till that point I only had back pain and fatigue, with no joint involvement.

    I am still waiting for my GP to request any extra blood tests, he really does seem to be a bit of a weak link these days.