kind of regiment and if so could you share your experience? Thanks….
Diagnosed with RA today. My RA doctor put me on Melox... - NRAS
Diagnosed with RA today. My RA doctor put me on Meloxicam 15 MG and Doxycycline Hyclate 100MG and Curcumin. Has anyone else taken this
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43 Replies
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hello 1raNEWBIE, I took meloxicam for over 10years, but not any of the others, I found the meloxicam (anti inflammatory) which is a NSAID worked very well, but I also had to take omeprezol along with this to stop getting a stomach ulcer, (a lot of the NSAID's will do this) given time. Hope this helps. bluetit33
• in reply tobluetit33
Hello! Blogging is new for me. I replied at the end of the answers first. Does everybody that replied get my response or do I have to respond to everyone individually? Thanks 
I was prescribed 15mg meloxicam when first diagnosed & remained on it for 4 years. I agree with bluetit & a ppi like omeprazole should really have been prescribed alongside to protect your stomach. I found it worked well but my Consultant considered I'd find even greater benefit with etoricoxib. He was right of course & I still take but only when absolutely necessary. Never taken doxycycline hyclate & as far as I'm aware isn't commonly used nowadays for RD here. I also find curcumin an odd choice for a Rheumy to advise as, although there are claims it has anti-inflammatory properties, it's a homeopathic preparation, but guess he has is own reasons for giving it.
As a matter of interest, are you based in the UK? I only ask as the meds you've been given aren't the norm for first line treatment here.
• in reply tonomoreheels
Your user name caught my eye. I loved wearing heels up until a few months ago. I have so many pair and love to sport a pair daily. My feet have been affected so quickly and my question to you is does everyone that has this disease unable to wear heels. Feeling blah from how this disease affects everything!
nomoreheels• in reply to
Well that's how it is with me, hence the name but not everyone suffers as I do. It was a problem with my feet that took me to my GP & RD was suspected & later confirmed. Miss them so much & have given in at times, always taking my sensible shoes to change into, but the height hurts so much they've never been on for long so given up now! Still have some of my faves & hoping for miracle so I can wear them again lol.
Regarding replying, if you want to reply to a specific response use the Reply button under their reply & your reply will appear directly underneath & they'll receive an alert. If you use the Reply button at the bottom of the page no alert is received & your reply will appear in the main body of the post. This way it's not always obvious who you're replying to if there's no mention of their content in your response. Either way both will appear on the News Feed. You were right when you replied to me, just don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it. I'd never blogged before joining HU, it's a bit of learning curve isn't it? Worth it though, as I said in my last reply I've learnt loads more & other peoples experiences are so useful in understanding the disease, especially when first diagnosed. There's great support too if you're feeling a bit low or just want a rant. If you're unsure of anything else try the Help button on the green bar at the top rh corner, by the Search box
There are quite a few members on here if anything crops up needing a specific answer to care in the US such as hospitals or consultants but be aware unless you say where you are we'll assume you're UK based as the majority of us are.
Hope all this helps & we'll no doubt cross paths again.
• in reply tonomoreheels
Thank u! I have been emotional since finding out yesterday. I had no idea I was gonna feel this way after getting home and digesting the diagnoses and looking on the internet.
Annielou• in reply to
I can rarely tolerate heels either, even for special occasions such as a wedding this Friday - even though my RA is quite well-controlled, heels and/or narrow shoes are just too painful. ):
• in reply toAnnielou
Thanks you. I hope I don't have to give them away. I love heels. At least me and my daughter wear the same shoe size and she will love to have each and every pair.
Annielou• in reply to
Hope you can continue to enjoy your shoes, I forgot to mention my very high suede Marks and spencer Insolia ankle boots - I can't walk far in them but can wear them for evenings at restaurants etc!
• in reply toAnnielou
Thanks. I am really sick about the heels. Do you know of that's the case for everyone that has RA? I hope to be able to walk at a good pace again.
Angela123• in reply to
Hi there. My RA started a year ago in hands and feet. My feet were by far the worst as I could barely hobble to the bathroom in the morning. They got better for a while with my medication (methotrexate) but now I'm about to give up on even my little one-inch heels as there's too much pressure on my toes. Shame isn't it? I hate flats! Good luck with your treatment. Angela.
• in reply toAngela123
Thank u! I guess flats are going to be my new best friends now. My closet is going to have so much space now when I remove all my boxes of heels that include sandles, boots, dress shoes. Too many pair 
my heel to flat shoe ratio is probably 20/1. I'm amazed how rapidly these disease progressed and how my feet were fine and then all of a sudden a disaster to walk. The disease would be better if the feet were affected as much. I need my feet for walking and balance and most importantly heels! I'm going to try to keep a smile on my face even when I don't want too.
• in reply toAnnielou
Hi Annielou, I've seen the Insolia range at M&S and wondered if they'd be bearable to wear. It would be so nice to wear 'pretty' shoes and boots occasionally instead of clunky, flat things!
JoJo x
Annielou• in reply to
Geneally M and S shoes are not the right fit for me (without RA I mean!) but the Insolia ankle boots seem to be quite nice and cushioned. The podiatrist and orthotics people advised me long ago to wear lace up shoes as much as possible to help prevent more wear and tear to the feet and provide support. It's true, my comfiest ones are Clarks unstructured/active air or my New Balance trainers. I do find that if I'm sensible most of the time, my feet hurt less so will tolerate heels for short spells. Worse than heels for me are ballerina flats which offer no support or shock absorption. That said, in the past I've had several kenalog injections which take all the pain away from my feet, miraculously. Sadly they can't be given long term or too frequently and the side effect of the last one was to kid me that my feet were better, so walked miles in the wrong shoes and then suffered horrible tendonitis (steroids can loosen the ligaments/tendons apparently). Some of the Clarks dressy shoes are bearable - my favourites recently are an old model from Clarks called 'Drum Major animal print' - no longer available other than on ebay but they are very stylish, flattering and everyone admires them. Good luck with shoe-hunting!
I'm with you with flats Annielou. They're as uncomfortable as walking in bare feet aren't they? I find I'm most secure in a small wedge & almost all of mine have velcro fastenings as I'm not good with my hands & it allows me to adjust according to how puffy my feet are.
yes, it's extraordinary how one week a pair of shoes can fit comfortably and the next they don't, depending on whether the feet/toes are inflamed or not. I like the cushioned 'wedge' feel of Fitflops, I recently bought their Mary Jane shoes and they're comfy but probably wouldn't suit wider feet. Cimzia does seem to be helping the constant foot flare-ups for me, touch wood!
You don't feel quite as "dressed up" without heels do you? I've resigned myself to not being able to wear them (well more or less!) but Fly Flot have introduced some more dressy ones recently & although usually more summery they are at least less frumpy & wearable this time of year. May be worth looking on the Pavers website (they also have shops in outlet villages) as they sell quite a lot of comfort brands, though I've not tried any others as get on so well with Fly Flot. I bought a lovely pair in the sales last year with diamantes & can't wait for the next occasion to wear them!
Enjoy the wedding whatever's on your feet.
Thank you for the tips, I've got a lovely bluegrey leopard print pair of slingbacks with 3 inch heel I can just. bear (clarks trendier section from 2 years ago) but will look at Fly! Got the hang of good quality, comfy flats now but still find the heels are very limited!
• in reply toAnnielou
They're Fly Flots not Fly. Not sure if you had a typo mo but there is a company called Fly who do trendy comfortable shoes I believe. Not tried them so don't know just how comfy they are. Most confusing!!
Thanks for clarifying, I know Fly but hadn't heard of Fly Flots so will have a google later!
• in reply tonomoreheels
I like the "sexy" in heels. Heels are me!
Are you in the UK? The way you're describing the area sounds like it. I have a few pair of cute flats. I will have to find more. My heels far out weigh my flats with probably a ratio of 20 to 1. Thanks for the info. I'm still going to check it out. I love to shop too.
nomoreheels• in reply to
Unsure if you were actually asking me the question but it flagged up in my emails. I am back in the UK after 11 years in Spain.
I also love to shop & I've tunnelled my previous shoe obsession into handbags, much to my husbands dismay!!
• in reply tonomoreheels
Hello! Blogging is new for me. I replied at the end of the answers first. Does everybody that replied get alerted by email that I responded or do I have to respond to everyone individually? Thanks
No but my father had it successfully. Also it is a common and highly effective medication for arthritic dogs. Meloxicam is unusual in that it was licensed for animal use before human use. Many veterinary medications have been used in people first, then they are y=tested and approved for animals: eg ACE-inhibitors, omeprazole as well I think. There is a greater return for the manufacturers /licensers via the much bigger human market so I imagine that is why they go for the human field first.
• in reply tohawker955
Hello! Blogging is new for me. I replied at the end of the answers first. Does everybody that replied get alerted by email that I responded or do I have to respond to everyone individually? Thanks
Was fascinated with your treatment. I know someone who is on doxy for Lyme disease. Your post encouraged me to research Doxy for RA and there has been some interesting and positive articles. I,e,
roadback.org/index.cfm/fuse...
I also Researched Cumin..and apparently Black cumin seed oil had brilliant results.
Your Doctor thinks out of the box, I am envious
Mobic also known as Meloxicam is what my Rheumatoid prescribed , its a NSAID
Sorry meant to add on my previous message re your Curcumin/tumeric, again excellent feedback...and No side effects.
greenmedinfo.com/blog/turme...
• in reply toWhyme2
Hello! Blogging is new for me. I replied at the end of the answers first. Does everybody that replied get alerted by email that I responded or do I have to respond to everyone individually? Thanks
I'm impressed with the responses I have received. Thank U! The Doxycycline is a
Med I'm taking temporarily. I believe the doctor said incase there is bacteria that needs to be cares for. I go back for my first follow up in a month and I will definitely ask her about prevention of stomach ulcers based on the feedback I've received. When you say Meloxicam worked very well do you mean little pain....no pain....no flares.....some flares? I can't wait for this med to kick in.
bluetit33• in reply to
hello again 1raNEWBIE I am also ne to blogging, but I believe that if you reply to one name and all, that should get replied. when I said that meloxicam worked very well, I did not realise how well till I was forced off them by stomach ulcers, and boy did I have a flare. hope this is clear for you bluetit33
• in reply tobluetit33
Thank u. I have had two different week long flares prior to being diagnosed with RA. I thought I was invincible and could never see anything knocking me off feet.
Did you not have any flares while you were taking Meloxicam? How was your pain and does this drug cause weight gain normally. I couldn't really tell by reading the med facts if it was likely or not. I'm thinking the weight gain comes from the steroid drugs rather than the non steroid. Thanks for replying
Overwhelmed.
nomoreheels• in reply to
NSAIDS work on the inflammation & pain but you can help yourself by resting & not overdoing things to avoid flares. I'm thinking your consultant gave you antibiotics because the flares you've experienced were possibly due to your immune system being compromised with an infection & she's knocking that on the head before seeing you next month. Whenever I have a UTI I always have a flare at the same time. She'll probably order new bloods to compare once the antibiotics have done their job as she'll then have base line results to prescribe any other meds such as a DMARD.
Some often experience weight gain with steroids though I haven't & neither did I on meloxicam but I'm not one who has ever had to diet. Weight gain can be a problem in RD even without taking the drugs into account if inactivity becomes an issue but you'll find in time what affects you & how you can manage it with gentle exercise, swimming etc.
I was diagnosed in Spain who worked on the ACR guidelines so your early treatment will possibly be similar to mine, which is somewhat different to the way they the NHS work & if I can be of any more help just let me know.
I'm in the Unites States too....
I Am On Meloxicam I Have Had R/A For 26 Years. The Other I Have Not Been On
RA affects everyone differently although there are many common symptoms. People respond differently to treatments too. For me it has been the feet, hands and knees which have been affected - methotrexate and steroid injections sorted my knees out and, touch wood, they are still fine but my fingers, hands and feet have been more troublesome so I'm now on Cimzia too, a biologic drug. I was diagnosed just over four years ago. It is also the fatigue which can be more debilitating than the joint pain but I'm doing quite well at the moment. Hope you get yours under control quickly and are one of the lucky ones for whom meds work well. A friend of mine has RA, is on methotrexate yet managed to do a landscape gardening business! We are all so different but can share stories and experiences!
• in reply toAnnielou
Thanks for the info! It can only get better I hope. I am on medical leave now because I can't do the work stress on top of the stress from RA on my body. I can't wait to see if this medicine works. I am miserable and I can't believe how fast it progressed. I was doing cycle, weight, pyro classes just in February and March and now I can barely walk or manage by myself period. It's depressing. My feet were the last to go bonkers and not to be able to walk at a good pace is hard. If anything I hope the feet get better. My entire body pretty much aches right now including my jawbone. It really sucks not be be able to each like I want. I wish I could eat a burger but unfortunately I can't open my mouth the same way I could just a month ago. I have to eat everything in small bites now. Feet, hands, wrists, feet, knees, collarbone, shoulders and aches besides that all over. I have a sports car with manual transmission and I have to get in my car and I act as if I have a prosthetic leg. I'm like can this disease get any worse. I'm sure it can from what I've been reading.
nomoreheels• in reply to
Try to think more positive for the future & less negative, I'm convinced this helps. At the moment you're in the worst place being at the start of diagnosis & treatment but once the meds start working you'll start to feel differently. Take comfort in the fact we've all been there & know exactly what you're going through.
I've also had sports cars in the past & know I wouldn't be able to manage getting in & out of them even now I'm by comparison well managed, so fear maybe a change of vehicle will have to be considered. Only you will know with how you manage & if it's worth it. Having said that I also went to the other extreme & had a 4 x 4 (necessary at the time as I lived somewhat in the sticks in Spain) & had equally as much trouble climbing into that. It's a matter of adapting to your condition which is a pain (no pun intended!) but remind myself there are others in a much worse state than myself. I'm now considering an automatic car as I'm finding changing gear & using the clutch an issue, particularly in slow moving heavy traffic. I think it's a small price to pay to be confident & in control whilst behind the wheel.
Very similar to me, before RA I was spinning, swimming, doing body pump and walking loads before this annoying disease got me. It is very frightening and depressing at first but you must be positive as the early days were the worst. Fast forward four years and I now have very good mobility for walking and swimming, I stood for hours at a pop concert in Manchester last weekend and the previous Sunday I did tobogganing with a group of 9 year olds and their dads with no aches or pains afterwards. It will get better but be prepared to be positive and patient because it can take time for the medics to work out the right medication for you. Best of luck!
• in reply toAnnielou
Thank you! Sounds like you were going to 24 Hour Fitness. I did the same classes. Thanks for the words of encouragement
I wish I had your doctor! I fought to get on Minocycline, but am also taking a steroid Methylpred, instead of your over-the-counter pain reliever/anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory Curcumin. I was diagnosed in Feb., but am told that I have an erosive RA in my hands. It sounds like you're in good hands.
I did the Doxycycline with 3 mg pregnisone for 3 months. I did not have success and went on Methotrexate. I felt that the reason it failed on me was I don't think my doctor ( who was not a rummy) was just not up on this perticular treatment. If I could find a doctor that did this type treatment I would try it again. Right now the Methotrexate is working fine. If you want more information go to roadback.org
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