My knee was a little better this morning so I decided not to phone my GP. If it was an infection then I'd probably be in hospital on IVAs by now. Rest seems to be helping so I'm staying off my feet as much as possible. Rheumy has advised me to have a week's break from baricitinib. Not because the knee problem, which they were not aware of at the time, but because of headaches and the odd sore throat that I phoned them about last week. I can't help feeling that I'm being a bit paranoid on times, but it is difficult not to worry when the last time I was on meds I had serious infections. Not having a single infection during the last 2 years I've been off meds isn't exactly reassuring either. Still, I must try to be more positive, so it's onward and upward as they say....until the next time that is!
I'd like to thank everyone for responding, much appreciated.
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wishbone
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I understand your concerns re infections. It is a worry but I try and focus my brain on the advantages of this drug. The benefits outweighing the risks so to speak. This is my third week on Baracitinib. Up until last Sunday everything felt calm and semi normal. Then I woke Sunday morning with pains in hands/wrists - especially right hand. Went on till this morning, slightly better now .Was sooo disappointed as things were going well. Retraced what I had been doing that may have triggered a flare. I had been eating chocolate ( dairy ) No idea if that's the cause but I'm off the chocolate now so I shall see! Still got chronic fatigue and that's what led me to eat chocolate - for a boost of energy even for a wee while. What a carry on
That's as good an excuse as any to eat some chocolate I suppose.
I knew from a previous post that you were having a flare, didn't know where though. Hope it keeps improving. Not sure how my knee started, perhaps I've been on my feet too much due to the baric improving my mobility. Anyway, it seems to be on the mend so that's what counts.
It's a big relief that's for sure. The knee's still pretty painful though and I'm having difficulty walking. I don't think I'll be venturing outdoors until it improves some more. I find it a bit odd that now I've started back on meds, hydroxy aside, which are benefiting me, I'm having the worst pain and swelling in my knee, or any other joint for that matter, that I've had for ages. As Suzie says above...what a carry on!
That's good news. I lknow exactly the ferars that you are enduring, have just started my 5th biologic . The last one gave me a ruptured abscess of my kidney/intestine and I very nearly died. The biologic also masked my symptoms ,which added to the danger.
So my rheumatology team are very supportive, but I will blame the biologic for any problems until it is cleared.
I have alerted my gp and the team to that effect. Anyone who has survived such awful consequences has to be extremely proactive to prote ct their health....and life!
You need to be far more proactive than me by the sound of that ruptured abscess. What a truly horrendous experience that must have been!
No doubt I've mentioned this somewhere, but just in case...the orthopaedic consultant at the time I had the septic hip believed enbrel was the main player allowing bacteria to access my bloodstream. If I get a similar infection again then I think I'll have to take my chances without immune suppressants.
I could learn some lessons about being proactive from you by the sound. Not that I haven't been proactive, but I could do better as teacher used to say. That septic hip hit me like a bolt from the blue, no previous pain, no fever or temperature, which makes it all the more scary. I don't think I'll be having regular blood tests with barictinib, but I'm going to ask my rheumy if having my bloods monitored, once per month say, could indicate the early stages of an infection...possible increases in my CRP or ESR perhaps? I'm probably talking a load of guff, but won't know for sure until I ask.
Thanks for your response hatsheput, and Godspeed you on your journey too.
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