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Has anyone tried Cyclosporine with good results?
Enbrel is no longer working for me anymore and my
rheumy reluctantly wants to possibly try cyclosporine
as one last treatment( I have high blood pressure)
before going on round the clock pain meds as the my
only treatment option left. I've been on every other
medicine for this disease and the enbrel worked for 2
months, but now I've had the worst psoriasis and
arthritis flare ever over this past week.
Its getting to the point where just taking the bottle
of Dilaudid would end this disease for good, but I
know better I suppose. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

The question has been asked, is Trimovate another word for Temovate.
Perhaps the most straightforward answer might be, Yes and No... They
are two different topical products, with Trimovate containing a
topical steroid, and additional components for those whose physicians
see a need for those components, whereas Temovate's only (active)
ingredient is the steroid. The similarity in names may reflect that
both--steroid-wise--contain clobetasol. And, as "orinok@..." so
rightly points out, both are potent, and not remotely for ophthalmic
use--intentionally or accidentally.
Frank D.

Hi Everyone,
I want to start by thanking all of you who responded to my distress. There
is no way I can tell you how much your concern meant to me. What I did not
say, was my Internist had 2 possibilities of what was going on with me. One
was Scleroderma (which can be extremely bad) or Sjorgens ( not good) aong
with the PA. It turns out to be confirmed Sjorgens. The Dr. said that it
will probably feel like a combination of strep throat & mumps when it is in
flare, etc. This also has fatigue, joint swelling, muscle pain etc. as part
of it, as well as the PA. I also have a flare of PS#@%$*&^. He increased my
prednisone (which is like a wonder drug for me) and gave me quidelines on how
to help use the medication to deal with all of this. He said he never wants
me to go below 5 mg of prednisone daily. He also instructed that when I have
a major life event e.i. childs wedding; stress; new job: etc. that I can
increase the prednisone to 10mg for a few days to a week to get thru and
enjoy the situation. Then I can wean down again. He also said that I should
carry water with me at all times, and be extremely careful about tooth care,
and regular dental check ups. He actually said that he thought I was
progressing better than he thought I would from my last check up. :0) But
explained the "flare" process, and that It will get better. He also
discussed the importance of getting more rest and better nutrition than I
have been doing (my husband snitched on me!).
But, again, Thank ALL of you for your prayers and concern. It got me thru
until I could see the Dr. and get some tools and advice to work with.
<<<<<Gentle Hugs & Prayers
Carol M.

Just wondering how many of you with PA also have damaged thryroids? Mine quit
before the other signs of PA [only P]. I guess autoimmune stuff can strike most
anything.

Hello! I am taking a drug design class, and last week we learned
about folic acid synthesis and methotrexate, so for anyone
interested I will share this info (I need to learn it for my midterm
anyway!):
Folic acid is essential, but humans can't synthesize it (most
species do), so we must get it through our diets. We actually
synthesize it from a different compound we digest, catalyzed through
a series of enzymes. Some of these enzymes are folate reductases.
Methotrexate interferes with these enzymes so our bodies cannot form
very much folic acid from our diets. This is why we must take the
supplement, which is probably already in its reduced form and
therefore doesn't need the enzymes.
I found it interesting, anyway :o)
Wendy

I was part of a baseball(slow pitch) team last year that was
organized by the company I work for. My PA didn't really effect me
that much(back then) except when I had to run. Anyways I had a
conversation with a buddy from work. I told him I am not sure I can
play beacause of my knees.
His response was "Come on you are the youngest person in the
company ..."
I have told VERY few people at work about my PA. I say that my knees,
and hands are 'BAD', but never saying "I HAVE ARTHRITIS"
I can't stand pity and I can't stand people that say "...you are too
young for that!"
I am battle this disease by myself and I will not let it defeat me.
I would like to play but currently I am between drugs and trying to
get my PA under control.
Has anyone had experience of telling co-workers about PA???
If so how did it go?
Cheers
Shane

A few days ago my husband brought in a love gift from Bath and Body
Works....Soothing Socklets, Moisturizing Gel Ankle Socks. They have a gooey
filling and are to be used with a moisturizer from Bath and Body. However,
I'm using my Psoriasis moisturizer....my feet haven't looked this "normal"
in years!
Unless they come in a larger size, you guys can forget it....my size 8 1/2
is a tight fit. I'm only about 1/2 kidding when I say I'm going to buy
another pair and wear them on my hands when I go to bed.........it would be
my luck for the house to catch fire or have a heart attack or
something...... the EMT's would still be trying to figure out if there was
something kinky that went on when women slept with socks on their hands!
Seriously, I think there is something to these socks that need to be
considered for those of us with cruddy skin......then maybe the Enbrel is
kicking in? One thing for sure, the socks are a heck of a lot cheaper!
liz

The costochondritis has been masking a heart condition - blocked coronary
arteries, which is a contributing factor to the severe pain I have been
experiencing in the chest. This was revealed in the nuclear myocardial
perfusion scans. Now I have to have balloon and stent angiogram to open them.
This cannot be done locally and I have to have it done in a leading coronary
hospital in Brisbane where there is a standby bypass surgical unit. The tube
through a vein in the groin into the heart, will reveal the extent of the
blockages and whether any damage has been done to the actual heart muscle. I
will be in hospital for up to four days, longer if open-heart bypass surgery is
called for. I am awaiting a telephone call as to when I shall be admitted,
hopefully next week as it is a priority case.
I am very, very upset. I know this has nothing to do with PA but please give me
your support and prayers.
Regards, Gordon
[Ed. Note: I'm very sorry to hear that Gordon, but at least now that it's
diagnosed, hopefully they can do something to help. Very best wishes. Ron]

Thanks everyone for the support from my post about my pity party. I have
suffered with depression all my life it seems.
My daughter is doing well, considering she has been through quite a bit. She is
multiply disabled, she cannot walk, talk and many other things. We love her so
much.
She also has P, I think, behind her ear and a few small patches and one finger
nail is pitted.
I think our system in Canada is not the greatest.
Anyway, thanks again for the care and support, it gets tough sometimes.
We do have supports out here and my daughter is now in school full time. So
life should get better.
Naomi

Hi Tiffany, Remicade, IVIG, and Dex are used for autoimmune disorders. The
Lovenox is a blood thinner shot twice a day that helps with positive
antiphospholipid antibodies, very dangerous to a baby, and it also reduces
natural killer cells. The replacement hormones are because I have antibodies
to hormones which can also hurt the baby. I have problems with tnf alpha,
natural killer cells, APA, ATA, and ANA positive, plus I am a DQ alpha type
that tends to get autoimmune illnesses (4.1 4.1) I also just found out my
IGE is sky high, and have to see an allergist tomorrow to start the shots
because my dr thinks that will help to desensitize my immune system so I can
stay pregnant. I must say my reproductive immunologist is the most thorough
dr I have ever met. He helps couples with autoimmune conditions to stop
having miscarriages. My husband is also a 4.1 4.1, one of only 9 couples
that this dr has ever seen with a match of the worst 'tendency to get
autoimmune problem dq alphas'. This means that on top of all the rest, my
body tends not to recognizes my husband's babies as something the immune
system should protect, but rather, something dangerous looking which should
be attacked like a virus or cancer cell. There is a blood test called the
leukocyte antibody detection test, and in women with a non matching husband,
the levels go right up to 100% as soon as she is pregnant. This protects or
shields the baby from the mom's immune system. My body doesn't do that
because my husband's dq type matches mine. So we had to get a special
treatment where they injected white blood cells from him under my forearm
skin in a type of inoculation. My leukocyte antibody levels are now rising
from these shots! Six months ago, I never would have dreamed any of this,
but another dr found out I had autoimmune disorders, and then I found my
reproductive immunologist. It has been a full time job for six months. I
have to take up to 16 doses of stuff every day! But the baby will be worth
it!
xoxo
Kitty
Message: 10
Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2003 15:08:54 -0500
From: pookiegut@...
Subject: Re: Update-Remicade
WOW KITTY, I have never even heard of some of the stuff you mentioned. Does a
lot of the stuff he is doing deal with pregnancy, or is this just something
he would do for ALL arthritis patients? Man, that was a lot of info to
digest! Also, what is Lovenox? Are you using this because you are trying to
get pregnant, or would you be using it anyway?
Tiffany
In a message dated 3/3/2003 11:46:42 AM Eastern Standard Time, cckidsinc
writes:
[Ed. Note: Lovenox and all the rest can be found at: http://www.rxlist.com/
Ron]