Yvon is going on Humira

[YvonS]

I went to the Reumatoligist today. Because we had never met, we discussed my past with all the symptoms and treatment.
She said I had a lot of diagnoses, fibromyalgia, arthrosis, calcific tendonitis in both shoulders, cervical spondylosis and arthritis psoriatica. It’s unclear to her wich pain is from wich diagnose. And to get a better understanding, she wants to start all over again with the examination of the joints.

I have to stop the adalimumab, to see if the imflammation comes back and in wich joints. Have to get ultrasounds of the joint in my thumb and achilles heel. Than bloodtesting again. And come back for the results and see if there is change.

She also stated as for the arthrosis, there is no treatment but only painkillers if they help at all, most of the time they don’t. 
So I told her that for her as a docter it’s nessesssary to get a diagnose to start a treatment, but I realy don’t care which or what it’s called. I just want less pain and fatigue, I want a better quality of life, because I’m done with it.

Perhaps it’s for the best, that she is researching it all again, but for me it feels like I’m starting all over again, and i’m done after 11 years….

Last Tuesday I went to the orthopedist again for my shoulders, got an x-ray, and this showed calcific tendonitis.  In the upcoming weeks I will be getting invite for a ultrasound guided barbotage for the calcific tendonitis in both shoulders. Hopefully this will bring some releaf…

On my way home from the orthopedist, I was driving home and crashed my car into the back of another car…. Stupid and painful. But no physical damage except for some muscle pain, only my car is total loss.

So, I’m not very happy today, it feels like starting all over again and beaten. To tired to have a good cry.

[Fred]

Sorry to hear about the car crash Yvon, but at least no one was hurt.

I get what you say about starting all over again, but sometimes it may be a good idea to start from the beginning. Treatments have moved on a lot since 11 years so it could be a blessing in disguise.

Good luck, keep us updated and don't hesitate to start new threads about your journey if you wish.

[YvonS]

Thanks Fred, for your support.

[Forest Walker]

Oh, Yvon, so much all at once.  An auto accident and loss of car are awful for someone in perfect health.  Everything is so much more difficult combined with pain and illness.  

I hope you will find another car and that the whole process is smooth and quick.  

Was the new Rheumy the one you had chosen, the one who is best with PsA?  

I had a shoulder injury with calcification in the tendon, and it hurt badly for a long time.  I cannot even imagine it in both shoulders at the same time.  

You are really a strong person, dealing with so much.  

How long are they asking you to go without Humira to re-check symptoms and come up with their own diagnosis?  That may not be easy. Or maybe you won't notice a difference if the Humra wasn't working for you. 

In January, I had a blood test called:  Adalimumab Level and Anti-Drug Antibody for IBD.  This test would show how much of the Humira was in me on the day before my regular injection.  (I take it for Crohn's Disease.)  It would also show if I had developed anti-bodies to this.  It helped my doctor to know if he would increase the dosage or stop prescribing the drug or keep things as they are.

I have no idea if this test is available in your country.  In USA, it's not an FDA approved test, but the gastroenterologists use it, anyway.  I don't think it's specific to inflammatory bowel disease.

Fred is right.  You have more treatment options now than 11 years ago.  Maybe this is, indeed, a blessing in disguise.  I hope you feel better soon, Yvon.  And I hope you get a really nice new car.  

[YvonS]

Thanks Forest, for your kind words.

The test you are talking about, it's availible in the Netherland, but they don't do this test at all clinics, mine doesn't. They only look al the symptoms, if they are less, and do a bloodtest to see if the inflammation is less.

Yes my shoulders hurt a lot, so hopefully the barbotage will help.

We will see what happens, i just got a new invite, so on the 22th of march i will see the reumatoligist again. So the time till that date, i have to see what "not injecting" Humira will do to me. And before i see the Reumatoligist on the 22th i'll have a ultra sound and bloodtest to see if the inflamation has come back or not.

And it's like you and Fred say, perhaps it's better that this docter is looking better into all my symptoms, and i just have to waith a little bit longer

The car, yes it's my only way of freedom. But nothing that can't be replaced, so i will wait to hear from the insurance company. But it is also just material, there are way more worse things in life, it is just a car. 

[Kat]

Sometimes it can be best to start over even though it's frustrating. I do hope they find answers for you soon.

Sorry to hear about the car accident, but glad you are okay!!

[Caroline]

With all the trouble you have, also a car accident… I can feel that a good portion of crying would help.

I really wonder what your rheum want to investigate concerning your Psoriatic Arthritis and the other problems.
Certainly it would not be nice if your joints would start to inflame again during the process of reinvestigation.
But despite that, it does open possibilities as medicine has made progress, so there are more and perhaps better possibilities.

Keep us posted when you have been there again in March.

[YvonS]

Thanks Kat and Caroline for your support.

i will keep you informed of the process, either here or i will start another topic

[Wooley]

Sorry to hear you are suffering so much Yvon, I really hope you get some respite from the pain soon....like everyone has said it might be best to go back to the drawing board and hopefully get better treatments all round 11 years later.

Also sorry about your accident, really glad no one was hurt though - not nice all the same but hope you manage to get another car sorted soon.

[YvonS]

Thanks Wooly, i appreciate your kind words.