Starting Meth & need diagnosis help!

Ria

Hi Folks,

Haven't been on for a week or so and thought i'd pick a few brains :shock:

Saw my Rheumatolgy Practitioner and starting Meth on Monday followed by Folic Acid Friday. Been on Hydroxy fo 3 weeks now, and Meloxicam for about 15 years (I've had RA for 35 years and coped on NSAID for all that time til now). I stopped Tramadol due to side effects so having no pain relief. My X rays showed fusion to hips and sacroiliac joints so looks like no THR for me but hopefully TKR in the future, but it showed loss of joint space in all compartments. basically on standing i am in great pain and can shuffle around a bit.

2 questions for ya - After having this disease 35 years and in most joints what are the chances of meth & hydroxy getting me back to skipping around again, well maybe not that good but being able to step out of house on my own and popping in the car to see friends? Leading what I call a normal life for me??

Also, I was always told I have RA but now my diagnosis is sero negative inflammatory polyarthritis almost certainly of HLA-B27 associated spondarthritis type. Anyone know what that is in English? Also my rheumatoid factor and ANA were negative. I am so confused

dreamdaisy

If you have coped so far on just the lower-level drugs then yes, I would have thought that there is every chance the meth could help - but please don't get your hopes up too high: it's better to be pleasantly surprised rather than bitterly disappointed. Having said that there is ablsolutely no reason why it should not lead to getting in the car etc.

As for the diagnosis, well, as I understand matters RA is a sero-positive type, ie a rheumatoid factor is present in the bloods. I have PA (psoriatic arthritis) a sero-negative version of this dross, as are many other types. There are many forms of this rubbish, perhaps it is turning out that the umbrella term of RA (may I put it like that? I don't want to upset anyone) is not the right classification for you. I spent a number of years with the vauge 'inflammatory arthritis' definition, they only moved the goal posts to PA when I had a dose of the P bit. Meds-wise it's made little difference. I wish you well. DD

skezier

Hi Ria,

Oh they like to confuse us with long word don't they?! Its another kind of arthritis but its the same as you have had all this time and you have coped so well and will hopefully get some improvement with the mtx.

Its a good drug if it works for you and it might really help.

I have been on it sometime now. i can';t ember how long and I sort of think it doesn't do much till i had to stop taking the tablets for a bit and change to the injections....

That's when I learnt it is doing something and though its not enough its a lot better than nothing....

Others find it really helps them and with luck it will get you back to your normal life again. Got everything crossed for you flowr. Cris x

Ria

Thank you both for your advice and observations.

DD - I think you're right as for the first 5 yrs they told us it was Juvenile Arth and i'd outgrow it at puberty - 45 now and still waiting!! lol. They then changed to RA. OOOh perhaps now they'll change it to PA. They prob is that at 24 on having my 1st baby I was discharged from clinic and told just to attend in needed. Well i only 'needed' once in the next 20 yrs until now, so I presume i've slipped through the net a bit.

julie47

Ria

just want to wish you luck with your new meds and hope they work for you.
I have been on meth (tab) for years and hydroxy for nearly two but also a combination of other drugs and I am quite happy. (not very mobile but I can't complain)
Take care and I hope you are skipping again soon

love juliepf x

dreamdaisy

Yes, you sound like a classic net-slipper-througher! If you have done OK for the last twenty years or so then I would think the stronger meds would augur well for you. My mum told me, when I was very young, that the body undergoes a 'revolution' every seven years and I would outgrow the eczema. I woke up on my seventh birthday and the eczema was just the same, she then peddled the same lie about the asthma when that started, so I felt happy about my approaching fourteenth birthday but all was still the same, although the meds were, by that stage, making a difference to the asthma. I wish you well. DD