| Phobia #1 If I am taking Enbrel I will be susceptible to | | | | have rheumatoid arthritis and they are exposed all the |
| infectious diseases | | | | time to people who are sick. Some catch that cold, |
| Phobia #2 If I am taking MTX, I stand a good chance | | | | others don't. Experience is your best teacher and you |
| of getting sick. | | | | should be extremely cautious in the beginning and |
| Phobia #3 If I am taking prednisone my immune | | | | lighten up as time passes and you become more |
| system will weaken and I'll be sick all the time. | | | | experienced. |
| Here is the first and most important aspect of any of | | | | Here are few things all rheumatoid arthritis patients can |
| these rheumatoid arthritis products. You can't get your | | | | do to safe-guard themselves. |
| hands on them without a doctor's approval (thank | | | | 1. Wash their hands frequently |
| goodness). If and when you are diagnosed with | | | | 2. Carry Clorox or Germ X Wipes with you when you |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA) your doctor will explain the | | | | are away from home |
| facts of each drug, including its side effects and what | | | | 3. Be careful of exposure to people who have cold, flu |
| to watch out for. He/she will inform you of your next | | | | like symptoms |
| visit and schedule regular checkups. They will be your | | | | 4. Wipe anything that your hands come into contact |
| best teacher so listen carefully to what they have to | | | | with-which could make you a germo-phobiac |
| say. | | | | What about the healing process of those who have |
| The most frustrating aspect of rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | rheumatoid arthritis? |
| "how your body can actually start attacking itself". | | | | Again, experience will tell you the truth and some |
| When the R & D companies figure this out, they | | | | people will take longer to heal and others will not. That |
| are going to be very rich and billions of people | | | | can greatly depend on many factors including how you |
| WORLD WIDE will be extremely happy. Now, let's talk | | | | treat the wound or cut, do you use topical anti-bacterial |
| about the phobia's that are of great concern to all | | | | creams and do you cover your wound up. |
| rheumatoid arthritis patients. | | | | One rheumatoid arthritis patient told me they visited a |
| If you talk to rheumatoid arthritis patients you are going | | | | allergist and had some blood work done. Thankfully for |
| to get a zillion different answers that all boil down to 2 | | | | this person, the blood work told the allergist they have |
| answers. Best wishes to you and I hope you have | | | | a very strong immune system and they do not be too |
| many arthritis pain free days. | | | | paranoid. Ask your doctor if they would recommend |
| - Yes, I am susceptible to flu's and infections | | | | visiting an allergist to determine how strong their |
| - No, I have not experienced more flu like symptoms or | | | | immune system is. |
| infections. | | | | I'm thankful I do not have rheumatoid arthritis, however |
| Just like anyone without rheumatoid arthritis, some | | | | some of my family members do. They try very hard |
| people will be more susceptible and others will not. | | | | to lead a normal life and the one thing I am most proud |
| According to the drug manufacturers fine print, taking | | | | of is: |
| Enbrel, MTX or Prednisone can lower your immune | | | | They are determined not to let rheumatoid arthritis |
| system and if you find yourself with a cold, flu or | | | | control their lives. |
| infection you need to stop taking these drugs. Many | | | | They came to grips with the fact they have |
| new rheumatoid arthritis patients are so worried about | | | | rheumatoid arthritis and they have gone through the |
| that they take extreme caution beyond what a normal | | | | mind games, depression and such, but they all came |
| rheumatoid arthritis patient would take. I don't blame | | | | out of it and are now controlling their attitude and that |
| them and you should be concerned as well. | | | | is probably what I am most proud of. They are taking |
| However, you have people in all walks of life; teachers, | | | | control of their lives and deal with it as needed. |
| bus drivers, executives, doctors, lawyers, etc. who | | | | |