It’s been a long time

[Granreina]

Diagnosed in 1994 when I was 49. Also Type 1 diabetic since 29. Tried many RA drugs, but after bad reaction to sulfasalazine and methotrexate combination 4.5 years ago, I’ve been managing with diet and supplements under guidance of naturopath. No gluten, sugar, or nightshades, follow arthritis.org guidelines. Not perfect, but no extreme flare ups. When flare ups occur, I can usually attribute to food.

[oldtimer]

I can't say that I'm happy for you to have found a way of managing your symptoms , as I fear that damage may be occurring to your joints if you ignore the effects of long term Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Are you having any monitoring at all? If you have non-erosive disease then you may be able to mange without any medication, but please remember that you do have this overactivity and ill-directed condition of your immune system which may cause future problems.

[Granreina in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you for your concern. You might be right, but for now this is the path I have chosen. To say I had a reaction to the sulfasalazine is an understatement. I almost died. White blood cell count dropped to almost 0 within five weeks of using before I had a chance to do lab

work. My rheumatologist at the time could find nothing to which I did not have a bad reaction. I’m still monitored by a rheumatologist as well as my GP.

[oldtimer in reply to Granreina]

It's good to hear that you are being monitored. I feared that you had abandoned all conventional methods. It does sound as if you were very sensitive to the immune suppressant, so perhaps that will be enough to give it a lesson!

[Granreina in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you.