I saw the consultant yesterday, and she was very pleased with my progress on MTX and HDX. I certainly am feeling loads better and pain is almost zero most of the time. So I was surprised when she said that it can get even better and I should aim to get back to dog-walking and going to the gym!!

So I'm going to start on sulfasalazine - the recommended triple therapy - and see how that goes.

It was interesting that she said I still appear to have signs of inflammation, although I can't really see any swelling. Apparently, since it took so long before I started treatment (possibly 3 years), it will take a long time for the meds to fully control all the inflammation and that combined with slight anaemia is probably why I still get tired. She is optimistic that sulfasalazine will make further improvements given time.

I also asked about whether it's likely that these drugs will remain effective indefinitely or am I likely to need to keep changing, as I know several of you have done. She said that recent experience where RA is treated "aggressively" from an early stage seems to lead to better tolerance of meds and much less damage to joints (even no damage is a possibility).

I also asked about travel destinations, because my husband loves to get away and is now talking about Australia and India!! She said that as long as I'm not backpacking up the amazon or kilimanjaro then any destination is fine. Although I have a slight increased risk with infections and cannot have live vaccines (ie yellow fever) this shouldn't be a problem. Whew!! That means my dreams are still feasible, even though funds don't allow it. Ho hum - maybe I'll go back and get a job so we can go to exotic locations while I'm still young enough to enjoy them!

So all in all, I came away feeling great and much relieved. Not sure when I start the sulfasalazine but fairly soon I expect!

Sylvia xx

hi Sylvia,

good news to hear that your meds are working well for you .. good luck with starting on the third one.

i am also on Methoxtrate ( was up to 20mg now back to 10mg this last year ) and Hydroxy, unfortunately this combination didn't work for me so now Humira was added a year ago .. and i am doing well on them.

it's great that you can now look ahead to think of travelling and getting back to the gym, it will give other Members hope when they read your post.

Suzanne x

Hi Sylvia
So glad your drugs are working i been on mtx 25mg now for a year came off sulpasalazine 14 weeks ago as suffered bad heads but boy do i wish the consultant kept me on them only on mtx until consultant can get me a appointment to see her was suppose to be twevle weeks that was in april still waiting and pain getting worse .Good luck though hope it all works out for ya

That's brilliant news Sylvia. I'm so pleased to hear that you are doing so well and that there's even more scope for improvement. Keep us posted on how you get on with the triple therapy. I wonder if the consultant will suggest that for me too as I'm due to see her very soon. My appointment was supposed to be in August and it didn't come through but the OT said she will prompt the appointments team. As you know I'm on Mtx and Plaquenil already and I guess I'm seeing the same consultant as you because mine is female and I think she's the only woman consultant at Torbay. Best wishes from Naomi.