Health Boards
Thu-26-07-2018, 18:54 PM
Ok. So, I had my first 300mg loading dose of Coxentyx (DAY 0) on Monday. It's now Thursday (DAY 3). Since I weaned myself off prednisone for an MRI a few weeks ago, I have been debilitated by PsA, Ankylosing Spondylitis & a flare of my skin. (I was on prednisone because Humira stopped working, dead in the water, at 6 months because I developed antibodies, same story for Stelara after 18 successful months.)
Since coming off the 'roids, I've been taking between 1200 - 2400mg of ibuprofen a day (sometimes more) and Ativan to sleep at night, just to exist. My PsA is like a pinball, changing locations over the months... but it affects the ligaments/tendons in my feet, ankles and palms, and the joints of my toes, my wrists, one thumb, one index finger, my shoulders, spine, hips, knees.... I mean, suffice to say, every kind of movement brings a symphony of pain.
In the last 2 weeks, my rather controlled (but still existent) psoriasis has been in rebound horror mode. Super flare. I have had psoriasis since I was 18 and I'm 44 now and though I've never had a total remission, I tend to only get psoriasis in certain locations. Until now. I've got wee spots forming in entirely new places! Not cool!
Anyway, today is Thursday. It's only DAY 3 of treatment, as I mentioned. So far, I've had stomach upset, diarrhea, a bit of a headache, a low grade fever on exertion and a great deal of fatigue - oh and a bit of an injection site reaction but only at one injection site (I have to use two). I mean, I never feel great, so it's not a huge difference to feel shit, but the stomach thing and headache is unusual and the fatigue is pretty extra.
HOWEVER... in the last 24 hours, I've only taken 200mg of ibuprofen. And I'm actually walking and getting about, able to pull up my pants and such without yelping and general devastation. Still inflamed, of course, but the difference is noteworthy. I want to say that it's the drug, working already.
But, me being me, I need to play devil's advocate: as my stomach has been upset, so I've been eating very little and only super basic unprocessed stuff, gluten free, avoiding any L-argenine containing foods (brown rice, chocolate, raisins, peanuts, etc. - because they cause cold sores if you have the virus and immunosuppression can really trigger that off).
Is Cosentyx helping THIS quickly?! (I had a sensationally fast reaction to Stelara, BTW, and my psoriasis was in partial remission within 2 weeks, so it's not totally unheard of)
Or
Is the starvation diet of upset stomach and clean eating to thank?
Not that I mean for anyone to actually answer that. Just food for thought. I posted photos a few days ago in my intro thread. I've decided to come off Dovobet ointment for my skin at the same time as starting the cosentyx, just to see the actual results of the medication. It's my goal to be ibuprofen free ASAP because I'm also trying to get my gut health in better shape with expensive probiotics and prebiotics and it seems a shame to keep damaging my digestive (and other) organs with so much of that if it's not absolutely necessary to function.
At any rate. I was nervous and resentful about having to go onto another biologic at first, fearing the worst in terms of side effects and being generally negative and depressed about the whole thing because I'm tired of all this BS.
Now, I'm relaxing and hoping for the best.
And to y'all as well. Good luck!
Moxie
Since coming off the 'roids, I've been taking between 1200 - 2400mg of ibuprofen a day (sometimes more) and Ativan to sleep at night, just to exist. My PsA is like a pinball, changing locations over the months... but it affects the ligaments/tendons in my feet, ankles and palms, and the joints of my toes, my wrists, one thumb, one index finger, my shoulders, spine, hips, knees.... I mean, suffice to say, every kind of movement brings a symphony of pain.
In the last 2 weeks, my rather controlled (but still existent) psoriasis has been in rebound horror mode. Super flare. I have had psoriasis since I was 18 and I'm 44 now and though I've never had a total remission, I tend to only get psoriasis in certain locations. Until now. I've got wee spots forming in entirely new places! Not cool!
Anyway, today is Thursday. It's only DAY 3 of treatment, as I mentioned. So far, I've had stomach upset, diarrhea, a bit of a headache, a low grade fever on exertion and a great deal of fatigue - oh and a bit of an injection site reaction but only at one injection site (I have to use two). I mean, I never feel great, so it's not a huge difference to feel shit, but the stomach thing and headache is unusual and the fatigue is pretty extra.
HOWEVER... in the last 24 hours, I've only taken 200mg of ibuprofen. And I'm actually walking and getting about, able to pull up my pants and such without yelping and general devastation. Still inflamed, of course, but the difference is noteworthy. I want to say that it's the drug, working already.
But, me being me, I need to play devil's advocate: as my stomach has been upset, so I've been eating very little and only super basic unprocessed stuff, gluten free, avoiding any L-argenine containing foods (brown rice, chocolate, raisins, peanuts, etc. - because they cause cold sores if you have the virus and immunosuppression can really trigger that off).
So. Here's my quandary:
Is Cosentyx helping THIS quickly?! (I had a sensationally fast reaction to Stelara, BTW, and my psoriasis was in partial remission within 2 weeks, so it's not totally unheard of)
Or
Is the starvation diet of upset stomach and clean eating to thank?
Not that I mean for anyone to actually answer that. Just food for thought. I posted photos a few days ago in my intro thread. I've decided to come off Dovobet ointment for my skin at the same time as starting the cosentyx, just to see the actual results of the medication. It's my goal to be ibuprofen free ASAP because I'm also trying to get my gut health in better shape with expensive probiotics and prebiotics and it seems a shame to keep damaging my digestive (and other) organs with so much of that if it's not absolutely necessary to function.
At any rate. I was nervous and resentful about having to go onto another biologic at first, fearing the worst in terms of side effects and being generally negative and depressed about the whole thing because I'm tired of all this BS.
Now, I'm relaxing and hoping for the best.
And to y'all as well. Good luck!
Moxie