User Tag List

Likes Likes:  0
Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 42

Thread: I'm having a little flare.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default I'm having a little flare.

    Well, just got bloodwork this week and my inflammation levels are up, which goes along with how I've been feeling... increased fatigue and need to sleep, more mucus and coughing, more blood in mucus, night sweats and low fevers, some headaches, 3 little dots of typical WG rash on my forearm, and loss of appetite. So my MTX is being increased from 10mg./wk to 15mg/wk, which maybe is where it should have been in the first place. My kidney indicators are fine and no liver issues from the MTX. I think my lungs are OK, xrays have all been OK, and the coughing is from sinus drainage and dry tissues.

    This is not a big flare or a big deal, just thought I'd mention it..... I'm at a point where I can get lots of rest and have a lot of flexibility in my activities. In fact, I'm feeling good about it, because it validates that I do indeed recognize the signs and am able to interpret what is going on in my own body. The doctor is the one who has to listen to ME on this, and he can order the tests and prescribe the drugs, but this should give me some credibility in his eyes that I know what I'm talking about. Yay! Of course it is largely due to this forum that I even have a CLUE what I'm talking about!

    In addition to the 15mg./wk of MTX, I'm on 10mg./day of prednisone and Bactrim 3X/wk., plus folic acid, alendronate, and generic Mucinex. My doc hadn't yet suggested trying to start tapering the pred from where it's been at for a long time, and now, that seems pretty well off the table, which is fine with me until I feel better.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    6,076
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    21 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    I'm sorry you are flaring Anne. I hope it can be brought under control soon.
    Phil Berggren, dx 2003

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    1,970
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Sorry to hear the news Anne,but at least you caught it before it got worse. I went to see my gastrologist today and he said I have the start of Barretts esphogittis and I have to have a hatia hernia removed.My esphosgus and stomach are getting torn up from all the prednisone.I see my kidey dr. on Wed., my bloodwork wasn't to bad but my cholestrol is way high. And here I am trying to eat healthy and do all the right things. I think I'm going back to Fl. for awhile after my surgery and take a break from these drs..I seem to do better without them.
    Life isn't about how you survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain !

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pberggren1 View Post
    I'm sorry you are flaring Anne. I hope it can be brought under control soon.
    Thanks, Phil. I'm pretty hopeful it will resolve with the higher dose of MTX. I think I had a little flare when I switched from CTX to MTX, but it pretty well took care of itself, for awhile, anyway.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Debra C View Post
    Sorry to hear the news Anne,but at least you caught it before it got worse. I went to see my gastrologist today and he said I have the start of Barretts esphogittis and I have to have a hatia hernia removed.My esphosgus and stomach are getting torn up from all the prednisone.I see my kidey dr. on Wed., my bloodwork wasn't to bad but my cholestrol is way high. And here I am trying to eat healthy and do all the right things. I think I'm going back to Fl. for awhile after my surgery and take a break from these drs..I seem to do better without them.
    Thanks, Debra. You have a lot more to worry about than I do at this point. Taking a break in Florida sounds like a great idea.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    386
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    They usually increase my Pred for awhile if I start flaring. Hate the Pred so hard to decrease always have to suffer to get down on it. Hope your
    feeling better soon. I was on MTX before they put me on Cyclophosamine infusions. I was advised by new Rheumy that I should not have been on MTX for two years as I had never been in remission or medicated remission. Apparently MTX is to maintain and manage remission along with low dose pred.
    Thought I would share this as the Cyclophosamine infusions have helped alot. Just started them up again after 6 month break, make me sick for about 5-6 days and then I come good, working on remission this year....
    Col 23

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    386
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    All the best
    Col 23

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Olympia, Washington
    Posts
    6,992
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Col 23 View Post
    They usually increase my Pred for awhile if I start flaring. Hate the Pred so hard to decrease always have to suffer to get down on it. Hope your
    feeling better soon. I was on MTX before they put me on Cyclophosamine infusions. I was advised by new Rheumy that I should not have been on MTX for two years as I had never been in remission or medicated remission. Apparently MTX is to maintain and manage remission along with low dose pred.
    Thought I would share this as the Cyclophosamine infusions have helped alot. Just started them up again after 6 month break, make me sick for about 5-6 days and then I come good, working on remission this year....
    Col 23
    Thanks, Col 23. I was on CTX first, during my sickest period with WG, because I had lung involvement. That is gone now and I'm on MTX because you shouldn't be on CTX for too long and it did its job. I still have the sinus issues and MTX is more appropriate for that. I've been on a pretty low dose, 10mg. a week, because I was doing pretty well. I was thinking of myself as close to medicated remission and that that was sort of like a maintenance dose. Now with the flare I'm up to 15mg for awhile. So, no, not in remission. I guess he didn't see fit to raise my pred dose but I'll see him in a couple weeks and I guess that could be an option if I'm not improving much. I hope not, since I'd rather start getting off it, but on the other hand, pred is not as much of a problem for me as for many on here, that is, I tolerate it pretty well. Thanks for the well wishes.
    Anne, dx'ed April 2011

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    386
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    So pleased that you got to some sort of medicated remission. Yay. Hopefully your flare is just a minor and all goes well. I too keep getting the lung involvement. Have you had any advice on how long you are meant to be on CTX? I was on it for 8 months before but it didn't get me into any sort of remission. Hard to knock out this monster.
    Having another flare at the moment just waiting on blood test to see if ESR and CRP are up. Col 23

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    2,751
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    12 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default

    I'm sorry things have gone a bit askew for you Anne,
    I hope the MTX increase helps and that you are feeling some relief very soon.

    Enjoy some sleep in's and your rest's
    Keep Smiling
    Michelle


    Live your life in a way that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip - WILL ROGERS

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •