Hello there.

Sorry you have just been diagnosed, things do get better! When I was first diagnosed I had the steroid injections and then my consultant arranged for me to have intravenous steroids, but I only had one dose administered over a couple of hours as an out patient. This was to try and slow down the inflammation and give the dmards a chance to kick in. I needed a good rest at home afterwards as I felt really uptight but it did make my crp and pv scores go down. Whilst I was in the hospital there were a couple of inpatients having intravenous steroids over three days but they had both had RA for a long time. It's worth it because it gives everything else a chance to work.
Good Luck!
Jenny.

Hello

Sorry you are not so well. Sorry cannot advise you on anything as only steriod I have had
is by injection

Sorry you have to go in hospital but sure this will benefit you

Good luck
Rose

Hi

It is really good that you have been offered the intravenous steroids. They will help to bring things under control at a faster rate than either individual injections or oral steroids. This will give your body a rest whilst the methotrexate kicks in which can incidentally take up to 3 months (most RA drugs take a while to get into the system).

Do try to get as much rest as possible and once you start to feel better don't feel tempted to overdo things, it may cause a set back. It's so easy when we are feeling well/better to want to get on with things in reality it isn't a good idea!

All the best, hope you see some improvement soon,

Lyn x

Hi Ive had steroid infusions before and they are great for lifting you whilst the dmards get to work. I had my last one in April after a particularly bad flare and it really really worked, in fact I would go as far as to say I felt "pre RA normal" again. Of course, they dont last, but as long as you done overdo things, then they can last up to 12 weeks.

Good luck

Heather xxxx

Dear all, thanks for the replies and support. I had the infusions three weeks ago and felt good for about a week. I have also been on MTX but last week had to stop as my liver results had gone too high. Hopefully they will come done and i can restart as i felt i was getting somewhere. The effects of the infusions are wearing off rapidly now as sleeping has become a problem again. I have been prescribed amitriptyline 10mg today to help and wondered if anyone had experience of this. Thanks again for your help.

They haven't yet said what's next so will have to wait and see. I had hoped the infusions would last longer but maybe i have done too much as you say. Thanks for the reply.

Hi all, Thanks for the replies. It's been a while since my post but have been having a rough time. I was put back on MTX but only lasted a few weeks. I was on an increased dose of 20mg but the liver didn't like this so had to stop two weeks ago. Was booked in for two more infusion sessions to start last week but i wasn't allowed them as my liver results were still high and had high levels of potassium in the blood ( not sure where that came from). I am booked in for tomorrow and Wednesday for steroid infusions so hope they can do them this time as i am seizing up rapidly and the pain is getting me down. I will be asking about alternatives to MTX and would appreciate your views. Thanks again for your support. Have a good Christmas and god bless.
Keith