Hi gofishto
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2016, however I had it will before I was diagnosed.
Finally, this year something worked, Rituxan. It is an infusion. I have been through hell. My first RA doctor put me on Methotrexate and 1000mg of naproxen which I believe caused my brain bleed. Had to have a craniotomy which then caused a stroke. I switched doctors and my current doctor has tried everything. Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, Orencia, Actemra, Simponi, Cimzia, Arava and Azulfidine, I was constantly on prednisone which has caused me to get thoracic back fractures, I've had 2 back surgeries. My spine some what collapsed and I have lost 7 inches in height which is causing sever lower back pain. Recently RA started affecting my lungs and I had an episode of pulmonary failure. I was in the hospital from November 21 through January 30 of this year. I had initially gone to the ER because I had a rash on my face and didn’t know what it was It turned out to be shingles in my eye. My husband took me to the emergency room 3 times before I was diagnosed with shingles. Now I am trying to deal with the nerve pain from the shingles. My ophthalmologist is trying to save me vision in my right eye.
I am now on oxygen 24/7 (Not happy about it), but apparently RA had been attacking my lungs and no one bothered to check when I was short of breath.
I am now on Rituxan and Plaquenil and I am praying that there will be something new to help my lung issues. I have pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial lung disease which is scary.
Nag your doctor about getting the inflammation under control, that is the best way to avoid off the issues I have had and am still going through. Try to stay off prednisone. I was on high doses when nothing was working because I had to get to work. I am happy that Rituxan is working, but I wish they could have found something sooner to control the inflammation.
Hang in there and I hope the medication you are on now works well for years to come.