Arthritis update – three months on Gold Injections

I’ve been receiving gold injections once per week to treat my rheumatoid arthritis.  It is supposed to take 3-6 months to see the effects.  I am now 3 months in to my treatment.  While I am not symptom free and still have inflammation in my knee, I am significantly better than I was 3 months ago.   My Rheumatologist feels I am doing well and says the next step is to see if I can continue to improve or have reached a plateau.  I am feeling very lucky not to be experiencing any of the typical side effects which are itching, rashes and mouth sores.  I’m also hoping I continue to improve and have not reached a plateau.  It feels so good to have some of my energy back.  I find the fatigue factor one of the most challenging part of having RA.  When I start to feel better and get my energy back after a flare I find that I feel so happy.  I work full time and this week was particularly draining so I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend and am staying close to home.  There will of course be cooking going in the Arthritis Kitchen during the weekend.  Tonight I’m going to be making stuffed peppers.  I’ll post pic’s and recipes later.

Ouch! Not so fast please

Got my gold shot an hour ago and now have an absolutely aching butt.  There’s this one nurse that pays no heed to the recommended practice of doing the injection slowly.  She just pushes it fast and quick.  I’m going to have to say something.  They ask you each week how everything is going and if you have any side effects to report etc.  I was going to say something this time re: the area where the injection is done is achy afterwards from the last time and ask if she could go slower especially seeing as that is what is supposed to happen.   I didn’t say anything today and now I’m paying for it.   I think the reason  I kept quiet was that that things are going so good and I don’t have any side effects so I’m thinking I have no reason to complain.  However as I write this I have an ice pack on and am experiencing moderate discomfort.   Really shouldn’t have to suffer unnecessarily if there is a way around it.  I will for sure mention it next time.

It is a good reminder to speak up and be an advocate for your own health.  There are enough things about having RA that are out of ones control so its important to ensure that you manage the things that you are able to have control and influence on and this is a situation where that applied.

Rant over – back to icing.

Are you kidding me…I’m feeling too good?

After the 3^rd week – my energy was back and I was feeling GOOD.

Still had my joint symptoms but I was feeling better energy wise and than I had in several months and my inflammation was not getting worse.   When I went for my next injection I was so happy to report this.  Not only no negative side effects (rashes, itching) but I’m feeling better. They tell me …. hmmm you should not be feeling so good so fast so we should cut your dose back a bit.

What the…..?  Feeling better is not a good thing? Are you kidding me?  The clinic nurse explains that the fact that I am experiencing an improvement this fast is to be considered a “reaction” and if left as is – I would next likely experience the side effects of mouth sores and skin rashes.   The recommended course of treatment is to back off the does for this week and see how that goes.  I will have to say that I was initially disappointed but of course I trust the experts.

I continue to be impressed with the level of patient care at this facility.  I am fortunate to be able to have  the specialists here at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre as my care givers.  There is a lot of research and study that comes out of this place and the Dr’s are truly leaders and innovators in the field or Rhuematology.   I have heard the the Dr that oversees the Gold Clinic at the centre is one of the worlds leading authorities on gold injection treatment for RA.  I trust that I am in good hands and will see what this week brings.

Week 3 Oh Wow – my energy is back

June 26, 2009

I am feeling so good.  After my gold injection yesterday, week 3 as early as that night when I was cooking dinner I had a spring in my step, I was doing a bit of a dance.  Holy Smokes …my energy is back … I’m actually feeling good.  Not 100 percent, but something …an improvement….a difference… wow.  This feels great.

Woke up full of energy (this feels oddly familiar and is making me very happy).  Was on fire at work.  People were noticing.  Wow – what’s up with you – where did all this energy come from?  What are you on?!

While it seems too soon to be experiencing benefits from the gold – something is definitely making me feel better.  I’ll take that for now.  Looking forward to my next appointment.

Starting Gold Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

June 12, 2009 today is the day I begin my gold therapy.

Myochrysine (Gold Salts)

My treatment takes place at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre.  My first appointment will include a consultation with  the clinic nurse to go over the program, inform me of side effects and what to watch for and to basically make sure I am well informed and prepared for what is ahead.

I’m excited and a bit nervous.  It can take up to 3 months to see any effects.  I really hope this works.

I was really impressed in the time that the clinic nurse spent with me to go over all of the information.  They also gave me print outs of all the info.  Good to have because as much as you think you are paying attention and taking it all in you can’t possibly retain all the info.

The regular dose is 50mg.  They start you off slowly at first so today I received and injection of 10mg.  Next time it will be 25 and then the full 50 if I am tolerating it.

The shot is best given in the buttock muscle and apparently can cause discomfort if injected too fast.  They put some freezing into the shot and then in it goes.  Honestly…I could hardly say I felt it at all. Less than a mosquito bite, way less than the blood test that comes after.  Easy Breezy.

Week 2 – so far so good

I’m on my second week now.  Not reporting any side effects.  Every once in a while I think that maybe I feel itchy but really it is so light it hard to tell.  Is it that I’m expecting it and watching for it that I feel this way?  The nurse said that if I felt I needed it I could pick up an allergy medicine from the drug store.  At this point this is totally not necessary.  Nothing as far as a hint of mouth sores.  So far so good.  RA wise…feeling about the same.

Changing Medication – Going for the Gold

There are a few reasons my Dr. and I have chosen Gold injections to treat my Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I have been experiencing a severe flare up since May of this year.  I need to alter my medications.

My Dr. initially wanted me to go on Methotrexate.  I have been fighting going on that for a long time, over a decade.  I just don’t want to go there.  One reason for this is that when on Methotrexate you have a compromised immune system.   This is something I would like to hold off from doing for as long as I can. An additional and important to me part of it is that on Methotrexate you are not supposed to consume alcohol.  I am a passionate cook and along with that enjoy my wine so that made it not a good fit for me.  Because of these reasons and that my RA aside from this recent flare is concentrated mainly in just one knee, we chose to give gold a try.

One of the challenges with gold is a weekly injection.  Currently that has me going to the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre each week for my shot.  Usually on a Thursday.

The most common side effects for gold are itching and rashes and/or mouth sores.  Some people it seems have a chemical reaction and are not able to tolerate it in their system.  If you experience symptoms they cut back on your dose and try again to see if you still experience the side effects with a lower dosage.  You are required get your blood and urine tested each week to start.  They monitor levels of (more later don’t have my hand out).  The thing that I like is that with this close monitoring, if at any time your blood work comes back with higher levels the treatment is stopped and all side effects are reversible.

So, I am going for the gold and have an appointment for my first treatment in 2 weeks.