Everyone is different and everyone will react differently. age is a determining factor as well as how long prior to diagnosis your bodies system had been fighting this disease. i am on several prescrips. i take the sulfasalazine , leflunomide and a low dosage of prednisone. i have moderate r/a conditions. i usually take 4 mg of prednisone at nite to take the bite out of my aching joints and if i am feeling well in the a.m., i do not take another the following p.m. before bed. does this all work? i believe it does relieve MOST of the systems while remaining on the prescrips and probably would not want to be without the prednisone (4 mg) when i need it.
What causes the flair ups is a question i had to ask myself to determine whether the medication is doing its' job or not. everyone should read up on leaky gut and causes of inflammation i.e., diet and what you can and can not eat. this is also another area where certain foods affect my inflammation levels and may not another person.
I am not preaching to anyone about taking supplements however, this disease affects every organ in your body in one form or another and i utilize the benefits of taking them along with the prescrips. the one thing that i was most impressed with doing so, is that after taking supplements for many months specifically to heal my stomach lining has helped and am no longer as much concerned about getting away with on occasion, eating a slice of pizza or a potato or even having a slice of pie should i choose to do so. this also stops the flare ups with the arthritis.
Keep in mind, that you are very vulnerable catching any infection that you come in contact with because your immune system is not functioning properly. this also knocks the heck out of your body trying to fight infection as well and on rare occasions have been supported by an m.d. to take antibiotics for extended durations. this assists in getting rid of any infections throughout your body and allows your immune system to recover.
Taking good care of yourself and not over indulging is important and i know at times, very frustrating and can get depressing.
I also know that some of you out there, not only have rheumatoid but have been diagnosed with other forms of arthritis as well so, some of the prescrips or biologic you take may also benefit other forms of the disease.
if there is anyone out there who wishes to know the various supplements i take and why, i would be more than glad to share that information with you. no, i am not any form nor profess to being a medical guru just a person affected by this debilitating disease with only western medicine attempting to LIMIT the condition.
it is important that everyone who is affected by this (mostly hereditary) disease that you learn and read as much information as you can. educate yourself so that you can know the warning signs for your children. perhaps, they will follow the same fate as you.
these open forums are wonderful because you can ask questions and find out what has worked for others which you have not tried. doctors are there to help but they have only been taught (the majority) western medicine. i thank you for reading my exerpt...