I was diagnosed in 2018 RA tough time finding relief

I've been seeing articles that nicotine patches help arthritis Alzheimer's ulcerative colitis and all kinds of stuff. Hard for me to wrap my head around. I'm still researching. A few videos too. Bryan Ardis was one of them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It affects skin with nodules and rashes as well as muscle weakness and pain. Also affects lungs and can cause several types of cancer. Treatments involve Rinvoq, methotrexate, IVIG infusions twice a month

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.

You have been on some journey, thank you for the information. I found out the rash was from niacin
In one of my vitamins. Stopped. Xeljanz is working slowly no longer fatigued I could sleep 24/7.
I had to come off RA meds 6mos last year because bacterial infection in my lung. Once the damage is done to joint it’s done. My right side is getting
Better I started PT strength in torso legs it is working. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Rituxin is amazing for me too!
I went through all the nasty po meds which destroyed my gut.
I am now on Rituxin IV every six months and low dose hydrocortisone because the prednisone caused secondary adrenal insufficiency.
My bone density changed for the worse too from the dreaded prednisone causing osteoporosis. I get infusions for osteoporosis.
So happy to be off prednisone and praying for my adrenals to come back.
If people only knew what we go through…

@pm56 You are lucky you didn’t have any bad responses to Rituxamab. I had three doses didn’t help the ra but wiped out my B cells forever! Which means my iggs are low , which makes it hard to fight infections. So now another infusion every week for the rest of my life. Like many of you I have tried a lot of the meds. The humira worked for 6 years then stopped working. It’s hard to get on another med due to my infections. Anyway I hope all goes well with you.

@pschulte I'm thinking of you. You write so well about all you have been through. I also have those times I learned what was going on with me just a little too late. Then there's a kind of payback by the body. I'm sorry to hear what you are going through with pulmonary disease.

Despite all of those trials, you do not come across as weak. But to go through all of this and still have hope for new treatments is your strength.

You show great kindness with your honesty and caring enough about others to share. You are in my prayers.

AWW, why thank you. If I can save one person from going through what I am going through. I will be happy. I trusted doctors’ way to long and now have learned that we need to be not just advocates, but nagging advocates.
Me and my Rheumatologist are fighting for the PrismRA test which can tell which medication will work better for each patient for condition. Nag for the PrismRA. Most of the things that have happened I could handle. The pulmonary disease I am really having a hard time with, but I’m still here today. If you gut is telling you something different than what the doctor is, please ask and if they just blow you off, find someone who will listen. We know our bodies better than anyone else. We deserve to have the best treatment possible. Thank you so much for your prayers, they are so much appreciated. Hugs.

Has anyone tried Cimzia for their RA? I started it a few months ago and can’t tell it’s working

She is being evaluated for MS.