Medication Complications

[DaisyGirl]

Let me start with a little background information. I started taking Plaquenil for RA when I was first diagnosed, but I started having vision disturbances almost immediately, so they took me off of that. I tried MTX but I hated how it made me so tired all of the time. So I went off of that and tried the corticosteroids. Well I gained a lot of weight very fast. And we HAD to take me off of that. So I went back to the MTX. My doctors and I could see that it wasn't controlling the RA at all, so my doctor decided Remicade was best. He felt that Enbryl wouldn't last long enough in my system to really control the RA and that we would have best luck with Remicade. Well, I've had two treatments and I noticed that I'm having slight visual disturbances again. I read the literature that I requested for the drug and sure enough it can cause vision problems. So not ready to lose my vision I got to digging into information on all of the biologicals and wouldn't you know it, they all seem to have the possibility of causing me to lose my sight or have problems with my vision.

It would seem that I have a predisposition to having this problem with any medication that might cause it. So here's the rub.... Do I discuss it with my doctor and possibly get off the Remicade and any biological in which case I will lose mobility in a few short years? (I've only been diagnosed for two years and I already need a wheelchair at times.) Or, do I control the disease, and go blind?

I don't like either option and it's not looking good out there that I will find a medication that does not have the potential, or been seen in some patients, to cause vision problems.

Any advice?
Given the choices, which would you choose?

Thanks for any feedback,

Sandi

[savvyeyty]

What medication is giving you the water retention?

Personally, I find the ones that give some really undesirable ones are anti-histamines.

Anti-histamines can lead to fat gain, especially around the stomach area.

Increased appetite is another side-effect.

Really? I've been using anti-histamine for a while now and I do gain some weight. Thanks for sharing it here. Now I know, that may be the cause of it.

[Heather]

Well, I don't know about Remicade, but my grandfather was on steroids for decades (on & off) and went on Enbryl almost as soon as it came out. The Enbryl was like a miracle and cured all of his inflammation problems, including psoriasis. Unfortunately, for the last year, he has been in the hospital, literally at death's door, due to the most minor infections. All because of those two drugs. But he sure doesn't have any inflammation.

[faith]

Really? I've been using anti-histamine for a while now and I do gain some weight. Thanks for sharing it here. Now I know, that may be the cause of it.

yeah i could say that it is partly true since that what i had observed too..

[bangaram]

yes one of my friend was using plaquenil recently and he discontinued immediately as he was facing the same problem of visual disturbance.

[naturelover]

I really feel sorry for the pain you are undergoing. It will dishearten you if you know that my sister who is having shoulder pain for more than 4 years is taking treatment with our local doctor and at times the doctor himself wondered how my sister is able to control the pain. I have to accept that I have dwelled into the details of the type of medicines she is using. But one thing is for sure, she is very much taking control of diet with some natural therapy. Why not you too try at your place with natural therapy if your current position allows to take it.

[DaisyGirl]

Thank you to everyone who had such great advice on the medicine complications I was having. Luckily, my vision problems have let up, probably due to the fact that I stopped taking the Remicade. As it stands I am just on the MTX, and while it doesn't do a great job on my RA, it is better than nothing. I've been put on some pretty serious pain medication, and it helps, but most days I just try to live with the pain. It's great to know so many of you are out here to support me and each other. Thanks again. I know we're all in this together, even when it makes us feel alone.

[naturelover]

Thank you to everyone who had such great advice on the medicine complications I was having. Luckily, my vision problems have let up, probably due to the fact that I stopped taking the Remicade. As it stands I am just on the MTX, and while it doesn't do a great job on my RA, it is better than nothing. I've been put on some pretty serious pain medication, and it helps, but most days I just try to live with the pain. It's great to know so many of you are out here to support me and each other. Thanks again. I know we're all in this together, even when it makes us feel alone.

I clearly understand that the pain is really making every RA patient to feel alone, whenever they are feeling some severe pain. I could not feel, but see the pain in my wife, who is started having pain in her foot, shoulders and at knees. But the foot is most painful.

[DaisyGirl]

Naturelover,

I'm sure it's hard to watch you wife in so much pain. I hope they find a good way to manage it for her. Sometimes we forget how hard this is on our families too. For me, the best gift my husband can give me is his sympathy and patience. I'm sure your wife appreciates you getting involved and trying to see things from her point of view. I know it touches my heart when my husband does the same.

[naturelover]

Daisy wrote:
I'm sure it's hard to watch you wife in so much pain. I hope they find a good way to manage it for her. Sometimes we forget how hard this is on our families too. For me, the best gift my husband can give me is his sympathy and patience. I'm sure your wife appreciates you getting involved and trying to see things from her point of view. I know it touches my heart when my husband does the same.

thank you. I want to state here that I am really seeing the pain of my sister for the past four years. During day times, she will be doing her daily chores without showing any fatigue. But, will suddenly start to show some uneasiness of pain in her shoulder. she knows about to handle that. Whereas for my wife, I am not available at home at day times and really feel sad about her complaint of pain in the foot. We are treating and hoping for the best. I do hope you are doing well.

[naturelover]

Yesterday, after long time we had a good time by going out and having a long drive just to kill the attitude of thinking about pain. Do you also go out daisy.

[crimson]

Unfortunately, for the last year, he has been in the hospital, literally at death's door, due to the most minor infections. All because of those two drugs. But he sure doesn't have any inflammation.

Maybe that is one side effects of combining this 2 drugs but I guess we really don't know the answer to this.