Hi Jeanna,
Seems to be a good bit of interest/concern about Remicade. I have just had my 1yr. anniversary on Remicade, and for me it has been a life saver. Or at least has allowed me to regain a life.
For the new folks, a year ago I was about as down as you could get. My rheumy, my wife and I were seriously fighting my insurance company for Remicade(all of the usual remedies had failed me), while honestly looking at a future that wasn't so great. We were at a crossroads, either get the Remicade and pray it worked or go on disability at the ripe old age of 41. I made him a deal, I would continue work as a paramedic, and lay-off making fire runs. That cut me deep but it allowed me to keep my job, and stalled for time. Finally with a whole lot of help from my rheumy, his staff, and the drug rep, I was approved for the Remicade. Since the first treatment I haven't looked back, even though I was able to again. And hopefully will be fighting fires again very soon.
As for the TB concerns...unfortunately all drugs have their drawbacks. Being in the medical/public safety field, I have to take a TB test yearly. For the past umpteen years, like somany in the medical field, I have always tested "false positive" from being exposed to the disease while working. So I always have to get a chest xray also. This years was no different...big ol' red spot on my arm, and films as clear as could be.
I have blood tests every other month to monitor my liver and kidney function as well as the regular panels of CRP's and ESR's... We are currently working to remove the MTX from my med list. Hoping that by increasing the Remicade we can reduce the MTX, thus eliminating the possibility of liver damage from the MTX. Fingers crossed, so far its working.
Sorry for the long winded post. Remember this is how Remicade works for me.. As we all know, unfortunately, it might not work for others. There are other ASKickers that have had the same unreal results that I have. And others that have been helped with Enbrel. My rheumy told me at my last appt. that Remicade has finally been approved for the treatment of AS. I hope this is so, and from what I am hearing it must be.
Keep Kickin'AS
Chris
