hi all can anyone help i am trying to decide if going on to biologics is good struggling terrible i am on mtx injections great no side affects also on hydro something 1 morning and night and sulpa something increased to 8 a day and folic acid every day except mtx day but feel terrible pain is off the scale had a phone call with my consultant 4 weeks ago and she suggested bio but it was me who ruled it out and increase tablets i have also had 2 phone calls from a wonderful psychologist which was good its been quite a journey since week before last xmas put on a couple of post here and always positive feed back i have had to change my job which i loved doing been a slater and roughcaster all my working life but it was getting very hard now doing a job i use to do when the winter weather got bad here in aberdeenshire now driving hgv tipper lorry a lot better can just turn up heater with me its both knees left foot and 3 fingers thanks to all who read this cheers
advice : hi all can anyone help i am trying to decide... - NRAS
advice
Best thing I EVER did going on biologics .... got my life back on Tocizilumab
Do you know what worries you about changing?
I was on same three drugs as you for 8 years, which stopped working as well. I was really reluctant to change and put it off for about a year. My main worry was increased risk of infection (also also not too keen about injecting something made from mouse cells).
I’ve been on a biologic about 2 years now and I’ve had no problems, and no infections. And my hands improved a lot too!
Made from mouse cells? Oh my goodness!
There’s none of the mouse left! They use the cells of mice, hamsters, primates and humans to grow on the antibodies and then extract the antibody. And the cells are mainly bred in test tubes, so it is not as if there is a laboratory packed with real mice being sacrificed for us. Still, I found it a weird thing to accept.
When a rheumatologist suggests a change of drugs it’s usually a good idea to listen .......being offered a Biologic drug is usually accepted willingly as so many people have success with these drugs....but please don’t think because you read X Biologics suits one person it will suit you.....take your rheumy’s advice.
Tocilizumab has changed my life. I went from being unable to dress myself to doing Pilates twice a week and a 4 mile walk almost every day. Might be a long haul though as I had 4 other biologics that didn't work before tocilizumab. Go for it. Hope you hit on "the one" first time
Go for it, i was virtually bed ridden with pain until i went on tocizilumab its given me my life back.🙂
Was put on retuximab 8yrs ago twice yearly, best thing I did. Has taken the fatigue away and made life easier. Think again about going on it if it's going to make your life better. 😊
I’m in that process too
One word. Yes! Changed my life
Best thing I ever did! However, like Dmards it may take time to find the injection that best suits you. I was prescribed 3 different biologics before I found my friend. Whilst I'm not perfect, I have certainly improved. Don t give it any more thought, be positive it will work for you, as I'm sure it will. By the way I experience literally no side effects either from my biologic (I found Dmards evil!) apart from an occasional head ache. All the best
I am very glad I got a biologic. It helped a lot towards remission. Go for it. Lots of people want it and have to fight for it, some without success.
Like all the others, yes, go for it!
I was so bad years ago that I was in a wheelchair, but the biological changed all that. The pain and swelling goes and you will get your life back! I’ve been on them for 12 years, no side effects, no problems with infections etc. I can walk for miles, used to go dancing etc. Your specialist has your best interest at heart, trust them. Give it a go!
I just have to say that it is so refreshing to hear everybody's positive takes. I am doing fine on DMARDs at the mo, but have had some blippy blood test results and am waiting to see if I need to change medication. The prospect of maybe having to go on biologics scared the life out of me, but reading your positive posts has helped me see things a bit differently. Thank you all!
A few months ago I was called in to see the nurse as my consultant wanted her to assess my joints with a view to going onto a biologic. In the end, she decided to try triple therapy first (the same as you're on currently) and happily that seems to be doing the trick atm. I would have been happy to go along with whatever she suggested though and suspect that I may well be taking the biologic route at some point in the future. So I'd say go for it as it's often only when things are better that you realise how bad they were before.
Best thing for me got my life back 👍🏻