can't take medication

pud
pud Member Posts: 5
edited 3. Jan 2013, 09:04 in Living with Arthritis archive
I posted on another forum (I am new to all this) and someone recommended posting on this forum, so here goes...
I have r.a. diagnosed 18 mths ago and am partially sighted with rubbish lungs. All the medication I have read about seem to affect either eyes or lungs. The consultant appointments are 6monthly which seems to long to wait to talk about it. Anyone got any info to help.
I had a very good friend who died after years on r.a. drugs which destroyed her lungs, so they all scare me rigid.

Comments

  • mellman01
    mellman01 Member Posts: 5,306
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi pud can I ask what is wrong with your eyes?.
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,399
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Pud,

    Why don't you give the helpline a ring the number's at the top of the page 0808 800 4050. I'm sure they'll be able to give you some sound advice.

    Luv,
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 3,635
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Pud

    Welcome to the forums from the moderating team. I have moved one of your posts to quarantine as it's a duplicate of the one still on here and people are answering this one.

    I hope that's ok. Glad to see you are getting some replies even on New Year's Day.

    Moderator AC
  • dibdab
    dibdab Member Posts: 1,498
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Pud,
    please don't despair, this disease is debilitating and scarey, but you're not alone and lots of folks on here will have experiences and advice to give you hope.

    Like you I have RA(diagnosed 6 years ago) and rubbish lungs due to asthma and bronchiectasis(part of the COPD family of chronic lung diseases). The lung problems do affect the medication I can take, but I cope reasonably well with sulfasalazine, plaquinel and the occasional steroid injection when the going gets tough. I also see a lovely Respiratory consultant (referred by the rheumy) who manages the lubg disease, including daily antibiotics to keep infections at bay, and physio to keep the lungs clearer). My rheumy tried me with gold injections last year, they had no effect on my lungs- sadly for me they didn't have a significant positive impact, but they work well for other folks. Thyere are lots of drug combinations we can try, it just takes time and patience to find the right combination for you.

    Keep talking and asking questions- it's how we find out and get our fears addressed.

    Hope all goes well for you.

    Deb x
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Six monthly appointments are routine for me unless I'm exceptionally good or bad but, as I'm on a DMARD, I have access to the rheumatology helpline in case there's a problem in between.

    I'm wondering which meds damaged your friend's lungs as I don't think I've heard of this before. All of them are powerful because the disease is powerful but, while on them, we are very well, regularly monitored for potential problems.

    Is it your rheumatologist who says you mustn't have them, pud, or is it simply that they scare you as, indeed, they scare most of us at first? Might it be time to ring the secretary and make an earlier appointment so that you can discuss everything with your rheumatologist?
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello again pud, how are things with you today? I am aware that those who are on RA drugs may have a shortened lifespan but maybe that won't apply to everyone - the meds are a necessary evil for us to halt the progress of the disease but the monitoring we have to undergo is designed to nip any trouble in the bud - and I know from my experience that it does. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben

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