combination therapy

[muchtyunited]

Hi Im new are there many others who are using combination therapy, I take methetrexate injections sulphasalazine hydroxychloriquine along with folic acid vitamin B ferous fumerate and thyroxine and cocodamol when required...

[Hidden]

Hi, I match two out of three DMARDs. Methotrexate alone seemed to work for me but only for a very short period. Mostly it just staved off the very worst symptoms but didn't tackle the inflammation. Since adding in Sulfasalazine my ESR has been low for a record time - about 3 months now, plus I have more good days than bad - so the combination seems to be doing the trick.

Hope you get, or are already getting, the results you hope for. Luce x

[muchtyunited in reply to Hidden]

Hi Woolly, thanks for response ,I seem to be fairly good most of the time for me it seems to be more the thoughts of putting all these drugs in your body and what other things its doing to your system especially the injections when they come with such severe warnings but i couldn't tolerate the tablet form anymore just felt so awful on them all the time my rhumy said that there can be physiological issues with using them and you just build up an intolerance purely a mind over matter type thing but it was definitely happening with me. should be glad I guess that there is some form of treatment and I am no longer in as much pain but god I wish there was a cure for us all.....

[Hidden in reply to muchtyunited]

I think most of us feel as you do. I keep hoping for a way off this merry go round ...... remission seems the best bet & it does happen. x

[allanah]

Hi , nice to see you on the site and I hope you enjoy it! I had combination therapy and it seems a lot of Doctors now are going for this method as per the recommendations. I have now a biological drug, Humira plus ARava which seems to be making a difference.

The worst thing is the wait as a lot of drugs and combinations take a few weeks to get into your system but I hope it does work quickly and you feel much better very soon. Axx

[muchtyunited in reply to allanah]

Hi Allanah I have been on them for a fair wee while but only recently started the injections..have had decent results but just hate taking them all..

[allanah in reply to muchtyunited]

Ye it's really annoying isn't it. However I have had the experience of my family history and what it was like for them pre drugs. This of ourselves made me want to persevere with the RA drugs, not that I didn't say blast from time to time! But when u settle on a combination that helps and doesn't make you ill , it ill be great!! It's a shame it can take a while and some putting up with stuff , and you are only young, they may save you from years of discomfort, i hope!! xxx

[muchtyunited]

thankyou for your welcome..

[helixhelix]

You're on the same combination I am I think. Injectable MTX, 2.5g Sulpha and 400mg Hydroxy? Plus the added extras of course. I know what you mean about hating taking them, as often have a mental battle between me and the pill bottles/needles. However, it works! A couple of years ago I couldn't imagine being as good as I am now again. In fact I'm going to ask my rheumy if I can actually drop down a dose of something at my next apt as my bloods have been stable for months. I'm really hoping that I won't have to take this many pills for ever. Polly

[Hidden]

I think many of us struggle with the idea of these drugs as much as the disease itself. You raise an interesting point about how much of this is psychological and how much is physical.

For me personally I do feel that less is more and have dropped Hydroxy now and am on a lower dose of injectable MXT than my rheumy would like. It seems to be working although I'm still having issues with intolerance I think. I couldn't take Sulfa my doctor pulled me off it fast.

Welcome to the site and I do hope the combination therapy continues to keep your RA at bay and tolerance issues don't overwhelm as they are starting to for me. X

[miss]

Hi sorry am a bit late with response . Welcome to this site hope you find it helpful as i have done. Can sympathise re all the drugs. Studies have said combinations of RA drugs do work better then just one. Having said that some people are not so tolerant with these powerful drugs. xxxx

[muchtyunited]

Hi all, thanks for your many varied and interesting responses, yes I do feel I am facing a physiological struggle not sure why , surely the argument should be to be thankful that there are drugs to help us but I just cant get my head round it all, I was diagnosed with RA in 2011 so I have had a while really to come to terms with it. I think a big part of it for me maybe my personnel circumstances and facing severe self doubt. My husband cheated on me several times over many years and I finally kicked him out last year so im alone with all this no adult support so to speak. I think my husbands cheating triggered my RA as I believe it has been caused by stress. it started in 2010 shortly after I discovered my husbands deceit and this is the legacy I have been left with.

Now that I am single the thought of someone wanting to take me on with all this added grief and hassle I just cant see it happening anyone would run a mile.....I know queen of self pity ...

I have my 2 boys and Im very grateful for that just hope they dont have to look after thier old mother

[Ronnie63 in reply to muchtyunited]

Hi and a warm welcome

I'm glad you've found the site, I only,joined a few months ago and have found it really helpful in terms of putting things into perspective and helping me to accept what's going on.,I feel better as a result and hope,you will too, in time. As for the husband, that's a whole other story.........but don't be despondent about the future, your prospects re the disease are good and hopefully it will not prove to be a barrier to forming new relationships

All the best

Ronnie x

[allanah in reply to muchtyunited]

Sounds to me like they have an amazing mum, who cares for them on her own. And I guess that she is teaching them how to be independent and they will be but they will always look after their mum too!

There have been a few people here who's husbands couldn't cope with their wives getting sick, so u should be looking for someone that deserves you, not be thinking no one will want you. I can tell you many many guys will see the beautiful you and care enough to love you, RA and all.

The disease has a habit of bombing your self confidence but don't let it rob u of that , I think, u look so lovely in your photo, so push those thoughts away, cos I think you look gorgeous!! Hugs Axx

[Hidden]

Hey you look lovely and I'm sure you'll find someone who deserves you one day soon. But don't knock yourself for feeling this way about the RA meds. I feel exactly the same way and I'm sure many people do too. When I get really down about doing this to my body I go to RA Warrior's blogs on MTX and DMARDs and she does reassure me that I'm fighting the good fight the only way. Someone said the other day that there are now far less deformities or erosions coming through from the DMARD generation and that has to be a very good thing but I do feel its at a price - for me anyway. It's a seesaw really but I'm fairly certain your boys are far less likely to be looking after you when you are older if you take these drugs that if you don't. Tilda x

[muchtyunited]

Thanks All...some great voices of reason on here just need to give myself a shake and yes i believe there will be less deformities for us to cope with but exactly at what price...well my life will take me on a new course soon im sure and all these exciting adventures will unfold before me lol ..im sure..

[summer32]

Welcome to the site x