Feels like a set back...

[Rini]

ok but with the drugs, how am i to know when i'm getting better?

[Sangye]

Rini, there are 3 types of indicators that our docs use to measure disease activity: 1) Signs and symptoms, 2) Lab tests (eg, inflammatory markers, creatinine, urine tests) and 3) Diagnostic tests (eg CT scans, x-rays)

The ANCA is one lab test that is just not accurate for most people.

[Rose Cozzette]

Went to see the Reaumy a week or so back.. Was complaining that I have been on Methotrexate for a year now and feel no better at all.. I was on a pred reduction plan by 1mg per month and was down to 8mg per day although starting to get side effects when I reuduced to 8mg. Nose starting to run again and getting so tired and lethargic...

I know I shouldnt moan when I go see them as they took me off methotrexate and bumped up my pred to 10mg per day.. And I was doing so well on the reduction plan too.. Did a blood test and if all is well the plan is to start me on Imruan later on in July. Now I have a fear of the unknown again!! At least while I was on Mtx I knew what to expect and it was only a once a week thing.. Not so sure about this daily tablet business of imruan or aza-blahblah whatever its called. Would love to know when this thing will settle down so I can be "normal" again whatever that is.....

Oak, I hear you, it is tedious. I had to increase the preds and now on 6 mgs daily. so will try and go slowly again as my goal is to get off the preds. I take cellcept and look forward to getting off it. last week had pain on inhalation and was like pleurisy, so thats when increased the preds to 10 and then to 6 until see how I do. argh do hate this but just can go as fast as body allows. do feel better now but hate that its due to increase in preds. its like an addiction.