Living with Psoriatic Arthritis
Click here to view a NZ Herald article about my experience with the arthritis drug Humira.
As a postscript to the above story, Humira started to lose its effectiveness in early 2008. Inflammation was slowly returning to my body. Luckily I switched to an Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) funded similar TNF-Inhibitor called Infliximab (sometimes known as Remicade).
I am essentially pain free. Blood tests show that I have no inflammation. Life is great! I am an active, hard-working, successful real estate salesperson and a proud father of three young children.
I feel that I have chosen a good path managing arthritis and I am in a very good space both physically and mentally. I welcome questions from anyone with arthritis (especially psoriatic arthritis – closely related to rheumatoid arthritis). I may be able to help you if you are trying to navigate a path out of pain. With respect, I don’t welcome questions from people offering magnetic mattresses and herbal pills!
Getting on and off various arthritis drugs can be a minefield. I was on methotrexate for about 5 years and it didn’t agree with me at all. I interviewed virtually all Auckland Rheumatologists until I found one I could relate to and who I felt was best equipped to help me navigate the minefield (Fiona McQueen). Being persistent, not taking “no” for an answer, searching for solutions, I arrived in a good place. Other rheumatologists I interviewed were too quick to prescribe, too slow to listen!
(PS - after writing the second last para above I deleted the word “my” from in front of “arthritis”. Part of my disease management process is to “not” take ownership of the disease. A simple shift in thinking. Works for me!)