30th Sept 2013.
Friends and fellow RA sufferers. I regret I have to make the following announcement. The candle is erect. Inflammatory Jack has been counted out in round 2.
The Cytokine Kid has just cut seventy yards of hedge and mowed a complicated shaped area of lawns, followed by thirty minutes tickling the ivories just to keep Ludwig Van up to scratch.
There is no trace of pain, stiffness or swelling in any joint and ESR/CRP remain < 1.
It seems the supplement Tocilizumab, trade name RoActemra the Kid was taking with his methotrexate has been too successful and robbed you of the contest we were all expecting.
When this contest started the promoters were expecting a long drawn out and evenly matched affair. This is why we have to apologise to all you loyal fans expecting a 12 round, evenly matched fight.
Like you we expected Inflammatory Jack to make a much better fist of things. It's very disappointing. We will refund all ticket money to those of you who feel cheated.
One thing I would ask of you.
Please warn any of your fellow RA sufferers who like a good bet, to be wary of backing any contestant who is facing an opponent on Tocilizumab. This drug is capable of producing miraculous results and you could lose your shirt.
Of course there is still a chance that The Kid might be disabled by complications, side effects etc in the future but if that happens we'll just have to cross that bridge when it occurs.
Now I have to discuss the implications of all this with the referee. We wouldn't want too many one sided contests like this ....would we?
Side effects from biologics
The continuing debate about CRP and ESR, my experience...so far.
Anyone been on tocilizumab?
Rock bottom: any ideas?
