Hi Kathy

Sorry to hear you've not been feeling so well.

I take Humira on its own (couldn't tolerate any of the other drugs) and I've been continuing to take it when I've been ill and on antibiotics (which interestingly, like you - this year is the first year for about 5 years!). I don't think the Humira has slowed down me from getting any better - when I compare myself with the others in the family. I seem to get the odd minor flare now and then... but haven't worked out a pattern!! Maybe it is when I'm not well. My hands are a bit sore this week - and I've just finished another course of antibiotics. I'll have to start noticing more.

I agree it is very frustrating. I feel so tired all the time, which is so annoying.

There is evidence the Humira works best with an additional drug. I had a look at the research a little while ago - but it does work on its own as well. I think the percentages were only about 10% better combined with another drug. I'll have to see if I can find where I read that.

Are you just stopping the MTX when you are ill, but carrying on with the Humira?

Take care
Anne xxx

Hello Kathy.


Sorry to hear that you are on anti biotics at the moment. I hope the bug goes away quickly.

I have read Jenni post and I don't think I can add anything to it, otherthan to say pleased
that the Humira is working for you (it didn't for me)

Rose

Hi Kathy

I haven't had this problem but really hope you soon feel better.

Love Jeanxxx

Hi Kathy

So sorry about the problems you have been having. It does seem that we all get different advice and it is a bit of a minefield to sort it out.

I have been on Enbrel and Methotrexate for a year which has worked well for me but I have had a couple of infections and on both occasions have been advised to stop the Enbrel and keep on the Methotrexate. On one occasion I was told to stop both but then it becomes a balancing act of stopping for too long and making the treatment less effective. I have had an occasional flare while still on the Enbrel but it has not lasted for long.

Hope that you soon feel better

Best Wishes

Sue

Hi everyone once again,

Just a general up-date and to thank everyone who has posted a reply to me, I really appreciate this and it has helped me a great deal. The same as it did when I was taking Cimzia and felt so dreadful and really at my wits end to obtain any positive advice. I really value having this Forum to be able to ask these type of questions connected with R.A. as I know really that mainly people who have R.A. and find themselves in the same situations can offer the best advice about drugs etc which they have tried or still taking themselves.

During the four years of having R.A. the control which I took was 25mg of MTX and had the occasional depo steroid injection which gave me some relief. The MTX became unbearable and therefore my Consultant decided to try me with the latest anti-T.N.F. Cimzia which had only just become available, and was then being offered for a free 12 week period. I was not given too much information about Cimzia and I understand from what I now have discovered was the first to try this out in W'ton.

I looked forward to getting a good result from Cimzia, like you see in the accompanying DVD which they give to you, unfortunately the side-effects for me proved that it was not going to be suitable and I stuck this out for the 12 week period, at times feeling quite dreadul which included the worst 'flare-up' of symtoms thatI had ever encountered in 4 yrs, which I stopped taking at the end of Sep[tember.

Understandably, I was apprehensive to start on another drug, this time I was given Humira, but luckily from November, it has been working very well for me and I have not needed any painkillers throughout this time. I would say my R.A. stiffness and pain have been 80% better taking Humira, with no significant side-effects really.
I was advised to take just 10mg. of MTX with the Humria, as it was felt the drug worked better, although, still not feeling so good on this does of MTX was last advised to just take 5mg.

I just therefore could not understand the reason when I managed to catch some kind of Virus/Cold some two weeks ago, that gradually the R.A. acute symptoms have now returned once again, which I would add, have been far worse to try and deal with than the cold symtoms. The stiffness and pain have now lasted for almost a week, making life very difficult once again, as many will know who contribute to this Forum.

I did ring the Nurse at the Rheumatology Hospital Dept, who did remember me and just gave the advice to take the Naproxen Pain killers for the next few days and hopefully things would return to normal once again. She added that sometimes a Virus or Cold could trigger a 'Big Flare-up- of R.A. also.

I have not been taking any antibiotics during having the cold virus and have continued with my Humira injections, but are still very sceptical if this is going to start working for me once again, as the experience with Cimzia, has not given me any confidence.
I have now began to realise that some Rheumatology depts. are better than others, when trying to get any help, the same with some G.P.s who appear to know very little about R.A. as a disease.
When I was suffering from the Cimzia side-effects I tried ringing three differenct Hospital depts in my area and was met with different advice from each of them. I also have tried to get as much information as possible from the difference sources on the internet, even my Consultant was telling me only a few weeks ago that he still could not understand why Cimzia had not worked for me, he contributed to this, by adding that perhaps it was not so good a drug after all ! He has also advised me that his choice would to give everyone an anti-T.N.F. drug as his first choice to control R.A. symtoms but the cost stops him doing this.

At the present time therefore, still feeling the acute stiffness, pain and being somewhat depressed once again, sometimes I do not feel that I have the energy, enthusiam to feel positive that my life will return to normal again for a considerable length of time anyway, I now seem to be fighting to get over one health problem or the other in addition to the R.A. I was encouraged once again by watching the Humira DVD and hoped that I would be able to be free of symtoms once again, walk miles and function normally once again. Before discovering that I was suffering from R.A. I was very healthy and had been lucky enough to hardly ever consult a G.P. even. Now I have boxes of different tablets for one thing or another which has gone wrong and I wonder if this is the path which my life may run from now on.
I also understand from reading some of the messages on this Forum, that many suffer worsening symtoms which I most likely do and I do feel so much for everyone when I read about their current troubles also.

Many thanks to everyone once again for all their nice messages and advice.
Kathy C

Hi everyone,

Thanks Rose for the last reply, sorry to say but still suffering greatly, as the stiffness and pain has once again returned in arms and knees, making it difficult to do much.

I cannot get any further help from the 'only anti-T.N.F. Nurse at the Hospital' as she happens to be absent for the whole week (half term holiday) so is my Consultant, so the advice is just to keep taking the 'painkillers' for the time being !

The 'Humira' still has not kicked in and this 'Flare-up' has now lasted for more than two weeks, which I am wondering if this is the length of time to expect for it still to be a 'Flare' or simply the Humira not working.

I think the only relief which I can get will be another 'Depo Steroid' Injection, but have to be sure that I have no infection to be able to have this.

Can anyone please tell me if a 'Flare' can last for longer than two weeks and when is the correct time to ask for further relief from the unbearable pain ? as I cannot imagine the Humira will start to work efficiently once again, simply on it's own, from experiencing the acute symtoms of R.A. for the past few weeks, which I thought would never happen to me once I started on Humira in November.
My next injection is due next Friday.

Thanks again,
KathyC

Kathy,

I seem to be in pain, stiffness more than NOT in the past 3 years as I am not controlled yet.
When I have a good day I almost want to celebrate it and then I suffer again from over doing it. You
can't win can you.

I had RTX November, and also take amytriptline, ceelcoxib, tramadol and paracetamol for
pain.

Take care