GP Took my meds!

TheOnlyKey

Hi, Tok here i have been here for a few months now replying to others with R.A.

I had another rheumy appointment about 2-3 weeks back, Had x-rays, blood tests the lot. I had the good old injection of steroids, And was told to see how that goes and i have another appointment in a months time from now.

Anyway i had the blood tests done and it come back with slighly high calcuim and something else high to do with the kidney,

Could be to do with the strap round my arm when they took the blood so they took it again a week later with out the strap, Another week went by and the calcuim was still high and the kidney thing was even higher, GP phoned me last night and told me that i cant continue with my Indometacin and i have to stop until they have the results of my next blood text next wednesday, Anyone suffering will have an idea of having all meds taken away,

Just to make things worse i am training to be a Fire Fighter and i have drills tonight, Not sure how this is going to work as my lower spine, Right Knee, Both feet and left shoulder are very painfull.

I know i have to get on with it for the sake of my Job,

I told my GP that i train with weights alot, 3 times a week if im not in pain, I take a few supplements to help, Protien, Creatine etc..

He said the thing in the blood they are checking for relating to the Kidneys is in Creatine, So it may show abnormal levels due to this. I have stopped both the gym supplements and meds.

Also the Rheumy said that immune system altering Drugs may be in the pipe work, How well does this work, How long does it take to work? And do i have to still take normal meds?

Many thanks

Tok

stickywicket

Hi Tok,

As you are now fully aware, even if you weren't before, frustration plays a big part in arthritis.

I'm sorry you've had to stop the indomethacin. I had to too, many years ago when I was pregnant, and I know soluble aspirin for 9 months didn't do a lot for me. If the problem is caused by the dietary supplements it should be fairly easily solved. Docs should always know if you are taking these. A lot of people tend to believe if you can buy stuff in shops it must be safe but many can interact with the prescribed meds.

I expect the 'immune system altering meds' are DMARDS. There are several different ones and no hard & fast rules as to who reacts best to which. I've been fine on mine for 10 years. You may well be prescribed other stuff. Only your rheumatologist can decide. I hope things get sorted for you soon.

TheOnlyKey

Thanks for the reply, I found taking Anadin, Joint pain & Inflammation with Panadol (Paracetamol) every four hours helps alot to get through the day, I think once i have the blood test done (That has been put back to wednesday) I will just take a few indometacin on my training days just to help out untill i get my results back. My Gp said if the results are back to normal then i should be able to take them again, If not they siad they will need to get in touch with the rheumy pretty quickly for some new treatment so i can work. On Friday the pain was unbelivable, Reminded me of when i first had it. But i seem to have things under control for now again. :P

TOK

valval

ouch sounds awfull but it is why we have so many blood tests even though it a pain it good to know they can catch things before they get bad fingers are crossed all will be well val

lindalegs

Hi Tok,

Sorry they had to stop your meds but hopefully the steroid injection will tide you over till the docs can get your bloods sorted.

I agree with Sticky and that you'll probably be put on an immuno-suppressant, the more common ones being Methotrexate, Sulphasalazine, Planequil, etc These drugs help to push your arthritis into remission and prevent joint damage, deformity and also stop the morning stiffness.

Hope you get sorted soon.

frogmorton

Gosh Tok :shock:

Hope it was just the supplements and they can put you on something else to replace it very soon.

They will also be considering DMARds as already mentioned and hopefully get thet sorted for you soon. As legs says they can be really effective.

This is awful and with your job being so physical too :shock:

In your place l would be applying pressue as soon as the bloods are done to see 'someone'

Love

Toni xx

stickywicket

Has your doc said it's OK to take indomethacin with the anadin, Tok? If not, I wouldn't do it.

TheOnlyKey

They did not say i could take both at the same time but i looked on an NHS web page and it said it is ok to take ibuprofen and paracetamol. to be honist i have to take it or i cant move :???:

I got a letter through from the rheumy saying they are considering sulfasalazine. Will this mean i will be back to normal, Or is it like anti-inflams were it still hurts but i can get on with it? Maybe if i am on this then i dont need to take anti-inflams anymore?

Many thanks for all your help

TOK

dorcas

Hi TOK

Lots of great advice already given by others.... just want to wish you well with the proposed changes to your meds.... and hope that you respond well to the Sulpha.

There's no predicting whether a particular drug will help.... we are all so different. :!: but your rheummy team have your best interests at heart and will have considered very carefully this choice of drug and it's suitability.

hopefully for you, Sulpha will knock arther on the head

Let us know how you get on

Iris xxx

julie47

Morning Tok

Good luck with your new medication I hope you respond well to it.

Take care
Juliepf x

lindalegs

If Sulphasalazine works for you then you'd try cutting down on your anti-inflammatories and see how you go. Dmards do help you to lead a normal life again, in my experience.

Hope they help you.

stickywicket

Anadin is aspirin based, Tok, not paracetamol based.

TheOnlyKey

Got my Blood test results back and my kidney function is back to normal!, They started me on the indometacin again, i have a blood test a week monday to make sure that my kidney function is still normal.

Its amazing that for that one week it was a reminder of how painfull it can be, and how happy i am now that i can walk around again fine almost pain free, something that so many people can do every day and take for granted. I feel like i have loads of energy again and i can do my Job,

Hope the tests come back ok again.

TOK

tjt6768

Hi Tok. Glad that that particular testy came back fine, hope the others do too.
Just wanted to wish you good luck..

Let us know how you go on.

stickywicket

Long may it stay that way, Tok.

TheOnlyKey

I had my rheumy appointment on wednesday. They decidied to put me on Sulfasalazine, 1 a day for a week then 2 then 3 then 4 each week. She also took me off Indometacin and back onto Naproxen and Omeprazole That are not as strong but less harmfull. The pain is about the same though so its ok. 4 - 6 weeks before i will start to notice the Sulfasalazine kick in. I just have to wait and see now, And hope i dont have any side effects.

When i got my bloods back and my levels in my kidneys were back to normal and i went back on Indometacin it seem to work really well.. I had no pain at all, Maybe it was like a reboot to the system. Or maybe where i was in loads of pain before, It was a big relieve.

Thanks for all the comments. I will post again though out the weeks so anyone else that may go down this road can see my diary of how its going.

TOK

traluvie

Hi Tok,

Sorry have only just read your post...
Just wanted to wish you well, i am glad to hear you are feeling a bit better and i hope you will feel the benefits from the sulpa soon too..
Take care and let us know how you are..

frogmorton

Hi TOK

Good to see you again - l was wondering where you had been.

Sahem they took you off the meds, but if they are doing you harm?? Well l do understand :sad:

I hope the sulfa will do the job for you - let's hope sooner rather than later.

LOve

Toni xx

TheOnlyKey

I have built up my intake of sulfasalazine, I have just got up to 4 a day, Two in the morning and two in the evening. I have been on Four a day for only two days now so i started 3 weeks and two days ago.

I feel fine and im not even in much pain when using effected joints. and the Rheumy said it would be four to six weeks untill i notice it. However i am still taking two Naproxen a day. and if i forget one i soon know about it.

I dont use the Omeprazole (Gastro-resistant capsules) either. Helps make things a little easyer to afford.

I am lucky and i dont have any side effects, I do however have a slight strange feeling in my chest (Heart area) Its not pain because it does not hurt, But i notice it often, But not from exercise, Mainly when i lay in bed in the evening i just feel a slight something. It was listened to by the rheumy and gp a little while back but not since the start of the new med or had this feeling.

It is probably just my worrying about nothing, Or the Diclofenac/Heart media scare. took them for a year : ) Just wanted to get that off my chest

Im just going to keep an eye on it. I hope that in another few weeks i may be able to stop taking Naproxen.

Many thanks for your reply's

TOK

frogmorton

TOK

So lovely to see you!!

Now what is that about not being able to afford your meds?? the omperaozole stops your stomach being potentially damaged :shock:

I get a prepay prescription certificate (google it) costs £10.40 a month and that is cheaper than your TWO meds and you could have all three!!

Lecture over now l am so glad to see that it looks like the sulfa with the naproxen is keeping a lid on things for you.

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

TOK you MUST HAVE the omeprazole, you really must, it is essential to protect your stomach against the risk of ulcers. Please ask about the prepayment prescription scheme, your local chemist will have the details or you can google help with healthcare costs (I think that's the name) and that will tell you all about it. I get a three monthly certificate, but only every four months, that way I only pay about £90 a year for all the meds I need (as the average script has about ten items per go it's worth it!) DD

TheOnlyKey

I have had no problems for the last two weeks that i have not been taking them. It was the issue from the naproxen but i have not had an issue at all. I dont think everyone needs them.

I will look into this Form. Thanks alot for the info.

I will post again soon to update how the sulfa is going..

Tok

dreamdaisy

I was on Celebrex - originally prescribed by the hospital - which was a wonderful anti-inflammatory for me and did not require a protector. My GP took me off those due to cost and put me on Nap and Omep (two drugs being cheaper than one tells me something.) I hope that you will be able to drop the nap once the sulph gets going but if you can't then please consider taking the omep then. Once damage is caused it stays - surely it's better to avoid it in the first place if you can. Good luck. DD

TheOnlyKey

Hey guys i Posted on Toni's forum. Just got on to 4 sulpha a day aswell? Ive been on four sulpha a day for about 4 weeks now, and i can say that it is still improving. My Gp said it will reach max effect after 3 months of taking it. I have been able to half the amount of naproxin i take and im almost pain free! I think/Hope that in another 4 weeks when im at 3 months of taking sulpha i will come off the naproxin all togeather.

I had a blood test last week and all is ok. So i am very happy with this aswell. The pain in my chest i had an E.C.G for and they said everything is normal with that too. Its great news. Now i can focus on my FireFighting and continue to help others. Its all i wanna do : )

Finish my 3 day course of 1st aid this saterday and i hope i dont have to use it. Take care for now. Thanks for all replys. Update in a week ir so.

Tok