RA medications linked to heart health benefits - Just come to know this. A very good read to me!

[Amy_Lee]

healthline.com/health/rheum...

[KeenGreen]

Thanks for sharing.

I think I’ll start taking an Omega 3 supplement. A question for anyone, what omega 3 supplements are people using?

[vonniesims in reply to KeenGreen]

My Rheumatologist told me that he didn' think omega supplements would help, but good luck anyway

[Amy_Lee in reply to KeenGreen]

I have been taking chia seeds for many years already. At the early stage of my RA, I took fish oil for about a year. Then I felt my stomach very uncomfortable, my rheumy said I should not take fish oil continuously for such a long time. It was my mistake did not read the instruction properly. Actually I should stop after a few months. Too much oil in my system made me sick.

[springcross]

Very interesting Amy Lee, thanks again for sharing this too. x

[Amy_Lee in reply to springcross]

You are welcome. I was so happy and excited to read the article. DMARDs can actually help to reduce heart attack and stroke, I thought they are poisonous but never know that they keep our heart healthy also. 😍😍

[KeenGreen in reply to Amy_Lee]

On reflection, i think i’ll stick to eating oily fish and avoid supplements. thanks for the reply.

[Amy_Lee in reply to KeenGreen]

Remember to read the details on how long you should take it and to stop it. Ask the pharmacist if you can.

[nomoreheels in reply to Amy_Lee]

They're not poisonous to those who need them, at the correct frequency & dose of course!

[Amy_Lee in reply to nomoreheels]

Correct frequency and dose are the crucial things to follow closely.

[Hidden]

Thanks for that..Coincidentally I had a CVD (Cardio-Vascular Disease) check earlier this week, due to me being ‘high risk’ due to family history (dad’s side). Conclusion was that I have ‘high cholesterol’ ☹️, so I will probably start taking statins soon (after GP consult). Which is fine (one more tablet is not arduous). I would recommend everyone getting a CVD check just so you know… I have been getting them for 13 years now (since 40..family history)… Due to 2 stone weight gain (thanks Amitriptyline) and perhaps too much butter on my baked potatoes, my cholesterol is now high. Multi-factors should always be considered.

I also take Omega every day.. so a relatively healthy fat person 😂

Seven Seas Women 50+ Max or some-such… 2 tablets a day one is Omega.

[Amy_Lee in reply to Hidden]

Hahaha... I love the way you wrote about your condition. I have been taking statins for about a year now. From my blood work, my rheumy saw that my cholesterol was going high slowly, though not very high but above the normal range, now that it came down, so she also reduced half the dose to 10 mg.

I am not over weight at all, but then still the medicines we take and RA that push up our cholesterol. This is something we have to accept I think.

[Hidden in reply to Amy_Lee]

Yeah, mine’s just above normal, but best to be safe x

[Amy_Lee in reply to Hidden]

That is exactly what my rheumy said - Best to be safe. Again apparently once we take statins, we cannot stop it? Anyhow, if my cholesterol continues to be good for another year, I will talk to my rheumy to see if I can stop it since the dose is so low.

[KeenGreen]

I did have high cholesterol, despite being almost underweight. I lost a lot of weight early on following diagnosis, not sure why. It could be my healthy diet, more fish, going cold turkey on chocolate, stopping drinking coffee and almost wheat/gluten free. My wife thinks I look a bit haggard and my trousers struggle to stay up, but I have a BMI of 21, so I’m sticking to it! All that said, my rheumatology team have suggested that i need to lower my cholesterol a bit more, its currently 5, so we’re revisiting in six months to decide whether I should take statins.

[Amy_Lee in reply to KeenGreen]

That will be very miserable to avoid so many nice food. I basically eat everything, especially those you avoid, I love them all. My cholesterol is back to normal now but once I have taken statins, my rheumy said I must not stop as the cholesterol will go back up again if I stop. But she reduced it from 20 to 10 mg for me. I will know the next reading in Jan 2022.

[nomoreheels]

Interesting Amy, thank you. Filgotinib is now licensed & prescribed for RD but the trials for fenebrutinib were discontinued, one out two though, any new med is a blessing.

I stopped taking Omega 3. My Rheumy was happy with me taking it but when I wasn’t able to get my normal supply I trialled a few months without it & didn't feel any different so stopped it.

The methotrexate part was interesting too. I've been on MTX 12 years & the last time I had an echocardiogram the Cardiologist mentioned this benefit. In all my cardio exams I'd never been told this before so it was somewhat reassuring especially as I have genetic cardio issues on both Mum & Dad's sides & of course having RD itself increases the risks.

[Amy_Lee in reply to nomoreheels]

Yes on the mtx side. Since I am on mtx hence I am so happy to read it. As for omega 3 fish oil, I was a bit sick when I took it for about a year without stopping in between. When I told my rheumy, she told me to stop it right away to allow my system to clear the oil. Then I did not find any difference whether I took or stopped it, hence I did not continue since.

For Chia Seeds, it helps to clear the bowel every morning hence I just continue to take it for years already. So I do not have constipation issue.