Good Stories with the Drugs especially DMARDS / Biologics

[LondonKate]

One of the posts today reminded me yet again that we don't get enough posts/ reports from people who are happy with their drugs and the quality of life achieved so I decided to start a thread and make it sticky...

So please, if you're happy with the quality of work and lifestyle achieved with  a particular drug  please make a post so we can keep things balanced! It will help newcomers who might otherwise be a tad anxious after reading some of the posts!

Thank you Sue from Yorkshire who gave me the idea! I hope you don't mind my making your comment the first post!

[LondonKate]

From Sueyorkshire on Sulphasalazine

Hi, I was diagnosed with PA 11 years ago, I had terrible pain in my hands which brought it to light.  I went on sulphasalazine and have been on them ever since.  My hands are so much better, any knuckle swelling has stopped and I am left with just a couple of bumps which have been there all along.  I do suffer with back pain when walking distance, hoovering etc but nothing I cant deal with.  I do not believe I have deteriorated in the last 7 or 8 years and to be honest I am not worried at all about the future.  I did worry at first, and I know everyone is different but in my case I suspect I will probably stay the same for quite some time, and at this stage I do believe I will be able to cope with the future.  I do try and walk quite a bit and swim as it is essential to keep fit.  I am 51 years old now. Hope this helps.

[robsonw12]

           Hello,i was diagnosed 20 months ago with PA and put on methotrexate which helped a bit after couple of months,then found that i just couldn't get on with them,feeling sick and groggy,so i was put on sulpphasalazine and found i was only able to take half the amount perscribed and so wasn't really getting the full benefit from them.Anyway i've now been put on humira and having taken the first dose last saterday i can honestly say that i feel better already,although i know its still early days yet,this has given me new hope and something to look forward to.Just felt like sharing this and would like to think can give hope to others.

[IHPA]

I was diagnosed with PA about 5 years ago.  The pain started in my hips but rapidly progressed to every joint in my body.  The pain would swing from one joint to another.  However, I got onto Methotrexate pretty quickly, and am a lot better.  Currently at a relatively high dose ( 20mg - I was at 25mg but decided that was not helping any more than the 20mg level) of Mtx and hoping to go on Humira soon.  I'm wayyy better than I was at the start of treatment, have no deformed joints, and am going onto Humira simply because I have heard of some wonderful results for other people on it, and I'm determined to go into remission.  I'm not pain free but compared with how I was, I'm a whole lot better. 

[neil.chase]

Humira has nade an enormous difference to me in the short six week period since I started.

I am a 55 year old man who has had PA since the age of 21 and has had a lot of joint damage.

Within the first week I felt able to start an active exercise program and I am now in the gym or pool virtually everyday.

The P is now 95% clear. I reckon it will be completely clear within the next few weeks.

I am still taking 17.5mg MTX

[Aginoth]

I miss my humira, been off it since april due to a massive related infection that laid me out in hospital for 3 weeks.

being reviewd in November...I was clear of P for a whole Year and had massively improved PA on it.

[Chinaski]

While I was on it, Enbrel was a remarkably efficient drug for controlling my PA. It was effective within the first week of starting it - fatigue lifted, swelling disappeared and I felt I was in remission. Even stopped taking Ibuprofen; was completely drug-free apart from the Enbrel (and alcohol!).

Unfortunately, two years or so down the line I have had to stop due to (perceived?) side-effects. However, I was what you might call sporadic with my treatment, using it symptomatically, and I was not on MTX, which can help stop side-effects.

Starting Humira on Weds. Hope it's as effective as the Enbrel.

[dub07]

Good idea, Kate.

I've been on Enbrel for 16 months, and it's amazing. Two injections a week, totalling four minutes of discomfort/biting my lip, and the rest of the week I have clear skin and far less ache in my joints.

I'm just amazed at how good it is, almost to the point that I'm scared they'll decide to take me off it. Hopefully they won't because the few times I've had to miss doses due to infection my PA worms back in very quickly. For anyone with a fear of needles like me, I'd encourage you to bite the bullet and just do it. The benefits far outweigh any pain. I've even bought a sleeveless dress to wear to a wedding in a couple of weeks. That is such a huge change from the long-sleeves and trousers I've had to wear previously. 

[The__Pict]

Looking back, my P started 25 years ago and PA started about 16 years ago.
I had about 15% coverage of P. Of course I, nor the GP, made no connection between the P and the aches and pains that
were getting progressively worse.
3 and a half years ago I was finally sent to the Rheumy who diagnosed me within a couple of minutes.
The GP had told me 3 times I did not have PA each time I asked him.
I started on MTX working up to 20mg. Within 6 weeks I was practically clear of the P and a few weeks later it was 100% cleared.
However it did nothing for the PA.
I was born on the 30th May 1945 but was REBORN on 27th March 2007. That was the day I injected ENBREL.
Within 3 days I had taken my last Co-Codamol and have not had a painkiller since.
I feel I am 100% cured, although I know the disease is incurable, so I hope as many of you as possible can get the same relief
My MTX has been slowly reduced to 10mg but that is as low as they want to take it.
One happy man on one miraculous drug.

[savva0122]

I think Enbrel has been wonderful, although it hasn't really helped my skin.  I did have 3 infliximab infusions back in 2004, now that is a miracle drug - cleared myt skin and joints for 6 months - unfortunately did not persist to stay on it and because of the risk of hypersensitivity I can't have it again :-(