Terminology for medical ID bracelet?

Subject: Terminology for medical ID bracelet?

deerslayer wrote:this is what mine says: MEDICAL INFORMATION:
AORTIC, MITRAL & TRICUSPID INSUFFICIENCY. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE. SLEEP APNEA. ___________________________________________________________ just prioritize ,i couldn't tolerate the bracelet and ended up wearing the medalion on my silver neck chain(out of sight). not a bad idea to have one. .....man that shot of cortisone today into my trigger finger knuckle was an experiance + five days of prednasone ... anything to not go back on methatrexate . good luck *

What is it that you didn't like about the methatrexate?

in hindsight Gumby perhaps i should have stayed on methatrexate . people supposedly in the know were telling me it would make an old man out of me. so i asked my (fantastic) reumatologist from the VA if i could get off it. he grudgingly said ok.
fast forward two + years and symptoms getting unbearable and now going to a new civilian doc who starts me on this stuff.....Within two days i get hammered with another severe case of bronchitis/ sinus infection/coughing blood.....coincidence ? dunno but was enough to make me stop taking until i called reumatologists office about symptoms/ dosage . so am now on 1- 200 mg tablet a day instead of 2...am just now getting my lungs back with help of symbacort, albuteral inhalers but have no energy still...
o well, getting ready to ride to the Pentagon next sunday & ride to the Viet Nam Wall with Rolling Thunder for awareness of our POW-MIA's . ...thanks, Gumb

Methotrexate is virtually the DMARD (Disease Modifying Arthritis Drug - to slow progession of the disease and help prevent deformaties) of choice upon RA diagnosis. It was pretty new almost 20 years ago when my Rheumatologist put me on it and I am on it to this day and expect to always be on it. I am now in a drug trial for one of the new Biologics but still take the Methotrexate, which together, do a pretty good job for me. I have had a few flares over the years and, in the 20+ years I have had RA and been through a lot of other drugs (DMARDS), I have ALWAYS been on Methotrexate. I have also been in remission several times.

I am now 72 years old and can can still walk quite a distance, drive and do most of what I need and want to do. I attribute a lot of that to Methotrexate.

Who told you it would make an "old man" out of you???? Was it a medical person? I should say, was it an experienced Rheumatologist?

I am just surprised since almost eveyone I know with RA, is on Methotrexate, unless they had the side effects and those side effects did not clear up over the first little while on the drug.

It is never too late to start Methotrexate. Unless you had bad side effects (bad nausea and mouth sores) that did not clear up in a few weeks, you should look into taking it.

Of course, that is just my experience and, hence, my opinion.

Hugs Hawthorne
a chiropractor & a well meaning nurse for the most part. ..don't recall any side affects.
i asked this young Reumatologist if it would be ok for him to get me on prednisone for awhile for some motivation.... he was totally against that notion ....maybe at some point i can switch back to methatrexate, i still have a few left from before, sigh

I couldn't help sharing my experience because of all the good Methorexate has done for me over the years. I was terrified of taking it at first.

Prednisone is good for short term relief - maybe until Methotrexate kicks in - if you decide to start it again. Prednisone is a drug I would be more worried about than Methotrexate. It is very good in the short term but the long term side effects are not good. I can understand the reluctance of your new Rheumatologist when it comes to Prednisone!

RA is a bummer but it can be managed pretty well with the right drugs - for you since everyone reacts differently to different drugs - and a good exercise routine that will not damage your joints any further.

Keep in touch, by PM if you like since this is OT somewhat. I would like to know if you go back on Methotrexate and if it works for you. I suspect it might but, as I said, everyone reacts differently. You didn't have any side effects from Methotrexate so, in my opinion, it is worth a try. Ask you new Rheumatologist!

Hawthorne wrote:Keep in touch, by PM if you like since this is OT somewhat. I would like to know if you go back on Methotrexate and if it works for you. I suspect it might but, as I said, everyone reacts differently. You didn't have any side effects from Methotrexate so, in my opinion, it is worth a try. Ask you new Rheumatologist!

Originally I thought of asking Tim via PM. Then had a Snoredog memory and thought, there could be others that would benefit from the reply and sure enuff there are yet others who have more to offer.

Thank You