Now understand while was feeling low Sunday have woke up today and started a very painful flare up, rang the rhuemy helpline and waiting for call back as been on tocilizumab since November and due again in two weeks... Don't really want to put toxins in my body if they not working...was hoping had got past the flares ups so bad
Omg another flare up!: Now understand while was feeling... - NRAS
Omg another flare up!
Hello
Your medication suppresses the immune system and slows down the damage to your joints.
Other medications you take such as DMARDS assist and slow down your immune system as RA is caused by the immune system attacking your body as well
You take NSID medications to reduce swellings in your joints, and also reduce the pains you suffer from. Pain medications are also taken to reduce your pain
The Biologic you are taking should help with your problems if not talk to your RA Nurse, sometimes flare ups can be caused by problems with your medications, just because you are taking your drugs to suppress pain does not mean you will have no flare ups, so they may suggest that you increase your pain medications and NSID. If they feel the problem is with the biologic they may cease the drug and try another one in its place. I have in the past had flares when on DMARD medications, so they will need to discuss with you a possible new treatment plan or just withdraw the Biologic medication until your body settles down again. One thing you need to do is check the instruction leaflet regarding your medications to see if your problems are caused by these drugs.
When it comes to contraindications, we are all different, and therefore we all need to decide if these side effects are worth suffering from. We all need to realise and we all need to make informed decisions when we take these strong medications, no one else can do that for you as everyone is completely different and what is bad contraindications to one is acceptable to others, I have been taking these informed decisions now for over thirty years and the more you understand the more you should get out of taking these drugs.
Every one of us on this site has different ideas so we all keep discussing the ya and na of what we cram down our throats. Life is hard work when disabled
All the best
BOB
Thanks for bob, understand most of this. Will see what the RA nurse suggests tomorrow and then make my decisions from then. There is so much to take in with this disease it can be very frustrating
Jo