Originally Posted By jakc
Originally Posted By FightingBack11
...but just wondering if you've considered going straight to biologics.


Sorry for late response. I have, but...
In Australia you have to try two different types of NSAIDs for I think it is 4 months each, before going onto biologics.

I was only diagnosed 9 months back, only did a 1 week course of NSAIDs, before doing a lot of reading and realising that I wanted to try the diet approach (which is working, not 100% but enough to convince me it was the right choice).

Going back to the rehumy first week of Jan. He originally dismissed diet as too restrictive/not enough evidence, so not looking forward to telling him that I have gone this path. Was contemplating bending the truth and mentioning that I have been taking about 1-2 a week but upsets my stomach (which it did during that 1st week), but sensible half is saying to stay truthful. Thing is, the truth will unlikely get me the option to move to Biologics if I did want to explore that.


I'd be honest, but too, if one tries a bunch, and stops each one as soon as one either has negative side effects or realizes one doesn't work, and does that for up to the 8 months total. Or better yet, if you can't find one that works without side effects, then find one that doesn't work but also doesn't have side effects and just take that one or two for the 4 months each to get to the biologics.

By the time I was offered a biologic, I had been through 11 nsaids and cox 2 inhibitors (8 nsaids, 3 cox2 inhibitors. I wasn't on any of them for very long, but it added up. I tried all but one class of them. The ones that did nothing, good nor bad, those I tried for a month each, but it was kinda pointless except to get me to the other side...the side that would allow me to get on a biologic.

Play the NSAID game if it will get you to the biologics to try, just do so carefully. First hint of negative side effects and I was like "next please!" Don't play around with them if you notice anything negative. And some people can tolerate them on a daily basis; I couldn't. Not any of the 11.


sue

Spondyloarthropathy, HLAB27 negative
Humira (still methylprednisone for flares, just not as often. Aleve if needed, rarely.)
LDN/zanaflex/flector patches over SI/ice
vits C, D. probiotics. hyaluronic acid. CoQ, Mg, Ca, K.
chiro
walk, bike
no dairy (casein sensitivity), limited eggs, limited yeast (bread)