Glenda's journey with prescribed treatments

[Quest4Cure]

Reading you whole journey is very incouraging. THANKX for sharing. Most of all I am glad that you are clearing and your skin looks soooo much better.

Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread. I get a bit ADHD!!!!!

Have a great summer!

[glenda grant]

Hi Glenda!  It seems that Enbrel is working for you?  Is you PsA better also?  I am sorry to hear about the Remicade reaction you had.  I am going to the doctor tomorrow to get my 4th Remicade infusion.  So far no hives and my pain level has eased as well.

Hi Connie I am back on Enbrel 50mg self inject auto pen.I had blood work and got the results my ast is 90 my alt is 89 so it's staying the same although it's still high but not as bad as when I was in the Hospital . It was 272 which is 9 times normal.Normal 0-34 for one and 0-55 on the other one. I will stay on Enbrel for another month as long as the count doesn't keep going up.I guess time will tell my skin is pretty good on the Enbrel I have some plaque on my thighs and some on my left side but not bad.I did good on Remicade but kept getting hives and the last time I had to go to the ER as I couldn't breathe so that was it for me.I was taken off Remicade.I wish you well on it and hope it helps you. I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and many other ailments but I keep fighting to get well.Take care

[glenda grant]

Reading you whole journey is very incouraging. THANKX for sharing. Most of all I am glad that you are clearing and your skin looks soooo much better.

Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread. I get a bit ADHD!!!!!

Have a great summer!

Thanks for your well wishes Quest and you have a great summer also. I am hanging in if I can get my thyroid and gastro-paresis under control.I have to eat 6 small meals a day because the food doesn't digest as it should.You would think I'd be losing weight but no I'm gaining I think my thyroid needs to be regulated. I called my Dr and see what they are going to do.My psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are good with Enbrel I hope my liver count doesn't go up more than it is. Take care

[jiml]

Hi Glenda I just noticed it's been a while since you updated and I was wondering, are you still on Enbrel? And is it effective
Is your skin clear yet ?
And how's the arthritis? I know you have other health issues as well and I hope they are getting better

[glenda grant]

Hi Glenda I just noticed it's been a while since you updated and I was wondering, are you still on Enbrel? And is it effective
Is your skin clear yet ?
And how's the arthritis? I know you have other health issues as well and I hope they are getting better

Yes I am still on Enbrel and it has really helped my skin I only have a few patches of Psorosis but nothing like before.So yes for me it's a good drug.My problem is my knees it's the Psoriatic Arthritic and I was told I need a new knee maybe both who knows.I am holding off on knee surgery for now.Also have another health issue Gastroperesis in which my food doesn't digest like it should.So it lays in my gut and makes me so sick.I am supposed to eat 6 small a day and sometimes it's hard to do.I am trying to do as they say.Also have thyroid issues under-active thyroid and I am on synthroid 50 every morning an hour before I eat.I am having a hard time losing weight due to the thyroid I hope we get it regulated.So it's one thing after another but I won't give up.Hope everyone is doing well and I'll keep you updated with all my issues.

[jiml]

Thanks Glenda I'm glad the psoriasis is not to bad ( liveable with) what a shame about your knees, I don't blame you holding off on the surgery, for now
What a shame as well about your stomach issues and thyroid it would be nice to be able to sort those out
It's no joke getting older. It seems to bring with it a multitude of problems .
Stay strong my friend, better times ahead  

[Fred]

My problem is my knees it's the Psoriatic Arthritic

Glenda am I right in saying I seem to remember your are only on 1 shot of Enbrel per week ?

The reason I ask is that the usual dosage is two shots per week, this could be worth you asking about as that could be the reason for the psoriatic arthritis problem.

[mataribot]

Fred, the two shots per week is the loading dose for plaque psoriasis. There is not any evidence that two shots per week benifits PsA. Sadly, most people do not see much more than 20% reduction with tnfs.

[Fred]

Fred, the two shots per week is the loading dose for plaque psoriasis. There is not any evidence that two shots per week benifits PsA. Sadly, most people do not see much more than 20% reduction with tnfs.

Mmmmmmmm well I was on two shots per week for about 1 year before it stopped working on me for psoriasis and I also know of others that have also been on 2 shots per week. Fred goes off to investigate.  

OK It looks like there is a 25mg and a 50 mg. I must have been on the 25mg as were the others I had spoken to. I don't know if that is a difference because of location, weight, or because it was a long time ago. But it looks like the going dose is 50mg per week.

I will say that Enbrel worked better for me with psoriatic arthritis than Stelara has, so it just goes to show that we don't all conform to the evidence. I also said a long time ago that Stelara can help psoriatic arthritis, yet it took the professionals a long time to realise it.

Thank you Matari. Glenda I would see if you are on 25mg or 50mg before taking my advise in my last post.

[glenda grant]

My problem is my knees it's the Psoriatic Arthritic

Glenda am I right in saying I seem to remember your are only on 1 shot of Enbrel per week ?

The reason I ask is that the usual dosage is two shots per week, this could be worth you asking about as that could be the reason for the psoriatic arthritis problem.

Fred yes I am on one shot a week and I will ask my Rheumatologist when I see him November 18 th.I doubt my insurance will pay for a second shot as it's $750. a shot so that's $3000 a month.I will be on Medicare here in America they will take $104 a month out of my Social Security check.Then once I get the Medicare from our Government the Embrel Co wont't help me like they are doing now.Right now I pay for my own health Insurance and Enbrel pays $600 a month to help me out.My Blue Cross/Blue Shield pays the $2400 for me.I am going to a place that specializes in Health Insurance and hopefully they can help figure out what to do.Maybe I might have to opp out of Medicare and keep paying for my own Insurance if they let me.I will find Out Tue what I am going to do.Right now I pay $235. a month and $5000 out of my own pocket then after that I am covered 100%. There is no free insurance in America like some countries in other parts of the world.I hope this makes sense!