Is this the norm or a flare?

[mishb]

I'm sorry to hear that your markers have gone up........and how dare your rheumy go on holidays, when you need him

I hope things start to improve quickly

[Dirty Don]

Latest update - the pains increased and continually move around. Mild rash is developing on my lower legs. A blood test a few days ago is bad with the markers leaping up - trying to see my rheumy but he has gone on holiday! ..... watch this space for further news!

Funny...but you're definitely flaring...darn...get in soon, and if the 'idiot' doesn't get back soon, get to an ER! Best to you!

[RudiK]

Pw, does your Rheumy have a back doc you can see? If not, I would not wait for the Rheumy to come back to work, I would go to the ER, get taken care of.
Best of luck.

[annekat]

Ooh, that does sound a bit flare-ish! I had a bit of a flare this winter but have gotten over it with an increase in my MTX and pred. I suspect my MTX dose, after having switched from CTX, was too low to begin with... only 10mg. Now at 15mg and hope to convince my doc to let me stay there to avoid future flares.

I've only had a very slight rash on my forearms when flaring. But I recognized it as the WG rash.

I've had the joint pain, but not at all since treatment. I never had red or swollen joints and didn't notice it moving around, really. So not typical Wegs joint pain, I guess, and less severe than some of you. Had been tested for RA in the past but with no positive results.

Anyway, good luck, pwc51, in getting it looked at and dealt with soon!

[pwc51]

I managed to see a doctor who seemed to know what he was doing. He agreed with my thoughts that the increased pain etc was a flare (slight?) - as a holding measure he has put me on pred (30mg) but thinks when my rheumy is back next week he will suggest going through RTX infusions again.
Feeling so much better after only 1 dose of pred - it is amazing stuff!
More news soon .....

[Jaha]

I do hope you are feeling much better, it is amazing what raising the preds will do. Wish all the best for you!

[annekat]

I agree that pred is amazing stuff. It is the drug we love to hate. I've always kind of liked it, with some reservations.

[pwc51]

The pred is fantastic - I did not realise how bad I was feeling before I went back on this! It obviously creeps up (runs you down) without you noticing! Seeing my rheumy on Monday but he has been working away already and I have dates for my next two doses of RTX - fantastic news (1st and 15th May).

[marta]

Peter, sorry to hear this flare is going on. Let's call it a smoulder and it's not as ominous as a full on-go to the hospital and hang out there for days - kinda flare.

I hope that they don't keep you on the pred for too long and I'm thrilled to hear that you have RTX booked. Nip that baby in the bud.

All the very best to you - I think those lower pred taper moments are super tricky and individual... I hope that this is not the cause of the flare, ooops, I mean smoulder.

xxx
m

[pwc51]

Thank you Marta - I like the style!

It is very hard to say what the trigger was - I had been stable on 5mg for some time and actually the pains had started before I began the final taper. It suggests I might have needed a higher level, say 7.5mg all along. The taper had been very slow - almost 2 years to get to zero. Mentally / psychologically I felt so much better on the lower doses but once teh pains returned I realise that I must have been going down in other respects. Oh, the joys of this wonderful condition! At least the sun is shining today!