The choice of treatment

Yes I was. When I was first diagnosed, my GP gave me a bunch of options, because I asked him too. I didn't want to take just what he told me too, I am very paranoic about how labs give money to doctors to advice one medicine over another. So I took my time to read about some options and their side effects and reviews and I finaly decided to go for HUMIRA, that at the end didn't worked out as I wanted, big joke on me. I had side effects and had to change to Enbrel, but at least I am happy to say that I was involved in the decition and not just given what the "doc thought best."

My GP was great.  He recognised RA immediately and referred me to the rheumatologist.  My first parcel of drugs was methotrexate,  omeprazole and naproxen. They worked quite well for me until I got a water infection. The methotrexate accumulated in my kidneys and I ended up in hospital for 3 weeks with septicaemia.  

After that, I  tried a few other "heavy" treatments, each one worse than the last! Got rather depressed,  but heard about turmeric.  I did loads of online research and decided to give it a try.

It works for me. I am still very stiff, especially in the morning,  but very little pain. It took ages to get off all the other drugs -especially the prednisozone.  But I  am now drug free - just the occasional paracetamol and most importantly,  I am living a totally unrestricted life.

Thank you for giving your feedback on this topic!

Other patients' opinions will be welcome!

I notice a comment about turmeric. I have beeb usin cocodamol, but with not a great help. Can you tell me more please? I hate taking pill, am also taking apixaban.

Hi all, I’m a new member so still finding my way around. @Sblox1 could I please ask you more about turmeric, I’m currently on 15mg subcutaneous methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and folic acid once a day plus cyclizene for the sickness associated with taking methotrexate. 

Im really at the end of my tether with it all, the hospital took me off the meth tablets as I was sick all week but the injections don’t seem to be much better. I’m hell to live with for two days after my jab, I’m throwing anti sickness tablets back like there’s no tomorrow, food is an impossibility and I generally feel terrible.

I had 3 years on leflunamide tablets and got on with them really well but then I started with diarrhoea that was constant for 6 months. After numerous tests it was discovered the leflunamide was at fault so I was put back on methotrexate which I hated the first time around!

All I want is for someone to give me some advice re alternative treatments, I can’t and won’t carry on like this for what’s left of my life.

Thank you in advance.

Hi @Jemima‍ , thanks for your comment and welcome to Carenity! Just for information, if you wish to address a member, type "@" before their username, just like I did with yours, so that they could be notified of your comment. Here is a more detailed explication of how to tag members on the forum: https://member.carenity.co.ukhttps://www.carenity.co.uk/forum/other-discussions/how-to-use-carenity/how-to-tag-a-member-in-a-discussion-1360.

To learn more about using Carenity, please take a look at other tutorials in the following group: How to use Carenity. If you have any questions, or need more help, please feel free to contact me anytime! I will be glad to show you around Carenity

Kind regards,

Margarita

Hi @Margarita, please accept my apologies and thanks for the heads up. ?

Jem x 

Hi @Jemima‍ , no need to apologize, I see you've mastered the tagging already