As some may have read previously, I was diagnosed with RA in July. I am not entirely happy with my current rheumy so I was able to get an appt with a doctor in NYC - who was referred to me b/c he works at a very reputable hospital for rheumatic diseases.

Anyway, I went to see him today and was really impressed. The office and staff were extremely polite and everything ran so efficiently - no waiting! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

Currently I am taking Plaquenil and Celebrex. I believe the Plaquenil is starting to take effect as I have been improving over the last 2 weeks. My then current rheumy wanted me to start Sulfasalazine, which I wasn't going to start until after meeting with this Dr. today. Good thing - he told me NOT to take it. Stay on the Plaquenil another month and see what happens.

Oddly enough, he does not generally like to prescride Sulfa. or MTX. He actually likes to use Gold Injections for some of his mild - moderate patients. He believes I'm somewhere in between. I guess the Gold has less side effects and has been very effective in his work.

We aren't going that route yet as the Plaquenil may be enough for now, but I wanted to see if anyone has ever been treated with this. I totally trust this doctor - he's been around a while and works at a TOP hospital - he too was voted one of the best in NYC. He even said that Gold has been around for about 50 years and maybe only "old dinosaurs" like himself still like to use it, but he prefers it to other drugs... amazing how Dr's opinions differ.

Sorry for the ramble... I just felt the need to post this experience and see what anyone thinks.

I'm happy I saw him, but am just more confused about treatment than before!!!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

Allison,

Im so glad your appointment went well!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

However, Ive read on some message board that the gold shots are being discontinued. Im not sure if its true or not, but the woman who posted it was asking people for med recommendations because her was having to go off of Gold shots because of the discontinuation. Im not sure when or even if its true, but I thought Id let you know.

Im glad the Plaquenil is working for you! I wish it would have worked for me, maybe Id be feeling better too.

Sorry about not responding to the other post, I did actually but when I went to submit it, my password was wrong and then all I had written disappeared and by that time I was tired and my hands hurt so I just game up and went ot bed. So I'll respond now, if thats okay---

By the way, congrats on the upcoming 1st anniversary!! Sounds like these next few weeks will be good ones fro you as you improve and have something to look forward to!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wow.gif

As for my wedding plans, things are basically on hold for now while I get my RA under control. I will probably just have a small, intimate, romantic wedding someplace with just immediate family and friends. That way less stress to plan (hopefully). Thank you for asking though!

Hope you have a great night!!

~Meg

One of my mom's friend's daughters also has SLE (as well as two girls that I grew up next to!) and her doc has had her on gold injections for at least 2 year. She raves about it. From what I've read, it's been a long-standing treatment for SLE. Are there side-effects that we're not hearing about?

I guess if worse comes to worse, we can melt our jewelry and start shooting up! LOL

Hiya!

When i was first diagnosed with RA, i was started on Sulfasalazine, then about half a year later my doctor added gold injections to the Sulfa. This didn't help, even though i kept taking the injections for 1,5 years. I was also taking Hydroxychloroquine at the time. Here in Finland at least RA doctors like to use the combination medication as it's been proved efficient. However, this combination didn't help me.

At least over here gold is labelled as the most poisonous RA med there is as it stays in your system. I had no side effects from it as far as i can remember.

It's wise to wait a while still especially if your current med is starting to work for you. I really hope it does!!!

Anu

Hi, I just read your post about Gold injections. MY Grandmother use to have Gold injections done over 30 years ago for her severe arthritis. The injections worked very well on her. She was able to function very well with this treatment. I was just told by two of my Dr.'s that I might have Rheumitoid Arthritis. Both of my brothers suffer with the Gout. I have to go to the Lab on MOnday for a blood tests. The DR. started me on Lodine to see if it will help the pain level. I also have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. COuld you please tell me what hospital you went to in NYC as well as the Dr.'s name? I would really appreciate it very much. Good luck and I wish you the best!
Sincerely,
Tooth

My boss' daughter had Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and was able to put it into remission by doing exercises. She went all over the country trying the pain institute, different therapies, etc going from Texas to California and Chicago. The exercises worked for her (when not even the electrode treatments worked). Hope you get better soon!

~Meg

Hi Toothfairy -

Sorry to hear of your possible RA. Definitely get to this hospital if you can. It's the Hospital for Special Surgery and I saw Lawrence Kagan. Anyone there is very good, though. They have something like 30 rheumatologists. They are 3rd in the country for Rheumatology and 3rd for orthopedic surgery. I work with a guy who's mother has had RA for years and that's how I heard of it. He too said they are some of the best around. It's on the upper east side.

Good luck! And keep us all posted.


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~Allison~

Hi Kitty. I have never had the gold injections, but many moons ago I took ridaura (aka auranofen) (sp?) which is the oral form of gold. After about 10 years, it had lost it's effectiveness, but I have to say I find it worked very well for me.

Did your rheumy say why he didn't like to prescribe sulfasalazine? (I've been on it for about 8 years now.)