Had my appointment

BeckyT

Hi everyone,

So I had my appointment yesterday. He did a very thorough ultrasound examination and GOOD NEWS there is no joint damage... yet. He recommended I take sulfasalazine but I explained I had some reservations so we discussed other options. He said there was a blood test which would help assess the risk of joint damage so next week I am going back to get the result of that.

If it's negative he will give me steriod injections in the affected joints and see how the symptoms respond.

If it's positive, he thinks I should take the sulf, which I think I will probably do. However he also said I could try hydroxycholoroquine instead if I don't want to go straight to sulf. I kind of feel like I should go for the sulf and then if the side effects are too bad I could try hydroxy instead.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Alarkra you had your appointment yesterday too didn't you, how did it go?

Becky.

skezier

Hi Becky,

Glad it went well for you and really glad he has listened to you. Good luck on the blood test next week.

Let us know flower and if it is the sulfa its not too bad if it suits you with luck it will work. Fingers crossed. Cris x

caprica

Hi Becky,

Your experience so far sounds very much like mine. I've had sero-negative inflammatory arthritis for 18 months and had an ultrasound when I was being diagnosed, which also showed no damage. I think the test he's going to give you might be the anti CCP which some say can be a predictor for erosions. I had one of those done too which came back negative. I was offered sulfasalazine first which I took for a month, I had no side effects that I could see, but my blood tests disagreed and my white blood cell count dropped so I had to stop taking it. I was then switched to hydroxychloroquine which I've been on for over 10 months now with no problems.

Anyhooo.. I'd give the sulfa a try, as I said I didn't get any nausea or side effects and if my bloods hadn't gone funny I'd probably still be on it now. Same with the hydroxy. So try not to panic, side effects are usually mild and both those drugs are considered the least toxic of all arthritis meds. Good luck!

suzygirl

Hi, I have inflammatory polyarthritis. I was negative for the anti-ccp test. I was on hydroxy for about 2 years with no side effects or major benefits either, unfortunately. I have now been on sulfa for nearly 3 months, I am starting to see the benfits and have had no real side effects. It does increase your sun sensitivity, and turn your urine a bright colour. Otheriwise, I have had no probs.

Hope this helps.

jilly

Hi the same thing happened to me i am seronegative and was put on sulfa but after 3weeks I got a rash and had to stop , they have put me on the Hydroxy now to see if it helps . So i think it is standard to go on the milder meds if you are seronegative , He said if it does'nt help they will look to stronger meds . hope it works out for you ............jillyx

madwestie

Becky I have seronegative RA and i took Hydroxy first for me it didn't work well enough so i added Methotrexate now i am upto 25mg injection i still take the hydroxy and to be honest have not had any really bad side effect from either
I thought that it was worth trying the drugs to see if they helped the symptoms which for me the mtx does a bit and if i got sde effects then decide what to do when i face it which i didn't.

I know the drugs all sound really bad but to be honest even the tablet i take for Asthma can effect my heart (the gp asked if i had anyone with me the first night i took it just incase that worried hubby) but 20 years of taking it later i am still here now heart problems that i know of.
They will monitor your bloods very carefully and very often to start with so they can pick anything up.

I hope the tests come back negative for you but if not then just take it one step at a time.

Tracey

barbara12

Hi Becky
Sorry I cant offer any advice,but I just want to wish you well with it all.
Love
Barbara x

sugarbuttie

I too have sero negative inflammatory arthritis. I started off with a steroid injection, then started hydroxy last Oct. It has helped a bit & I am nowhere near as bad as I was at the start. However, the rheumatologist suggested I add in sulphasalazine when I went for my last appt in March. I am now on week 4 & up to full dose. I haven't had any side effects.

Just awaiting results of first blood test whilst on sulph to see if it has affected my blood count / liver in anyway. Fingers crossed all will be ok & I can stay on it. Still getting a bit of stiffness in hands & tenderness in knees / feet but it is not stopping me doing anything. I can cope with that & a few co-codamol! Let us know what you decide x

ironic

Hi Becky,
I totally understand your reluctance to start meds I was the same and I decided at the time to go for the Hydroxy. I have had no trouble with it at all but it did take about 4 to 5 months to take affect for me.
There is a possibility that I will have to take Sulfa myself in the near future so I hope you it suits you if that is the way you decide to go. There are a good few people on the forum who have had good results from taking this drug. We are all different and the results and the time taken to feel the benefits from these drugs vary widely.

Excellent news that you have no joint damage.
Let us know how you get on.
Lv, I x

frogmorton

Hi Becky

releived that there is no danage at the mo and that you are getting the help you need to PREVENT any damage.

Eitehr hydroxy or sulfa are pretty ok meds so don't worry too much - you will be monitored so they will notice if they were causing you any problems...

Love

Toni xx