hello all

I have been a member for 7 years but I have not posted for quite some time so I will re introduce myself, as I said I was diagnosed 7 years ago and my consultant thought that I had signs of the disease at least 4 years prior to that. All my joints are affected, and due to other health issues treatment has been limited. I am asthmatic so anti inflamatories are not an option for me, I was given methotrexate but had to stop straight away as it made my asthma really bad, I then tried Arava leflunomide but that was also stopped straight away as it affected my liver enzymes. All I had was pain relief which is Fentynal patches, oxycodone and orimorph and paracetamol.
It was decided that I was a good candidate for anti TNFs so I was started on Humeria, I had 14 infections in 18 months whilst on it so it had to be stopped. Last year I was seriously ill I had 4 large blood clots on my lungs which left me with lung damage, which means that I can not try any more anti TNFs. I am seeing my new consultant on The 2nd of January I have been without a consultant for over a year as mine left and they have only now replaced him.
I wanted to ask if anyone is on a low dose of steroids long term as I want to ask about this as a possibility for me as I can not think of anything else that I will be allowed to try. It would be good to know your experience of taking the steroids and how much they have helped you. I have not been well for the last few months and my RA has been particularly bad I really hope they can do something for me.

thanks

love shraron

BTW, the steroids have helped me a lot, getting me from an in patient to an out patient.