So last summer I went off HCQ (long story don’t ask) and had a horrific flare. I couldn’t walk, had to call into work, etc. Restarted my HCQ, saw my rheum PA, and she toyed with starting me on immunosuppressants.
We opted to put me on max dose Celebrex while waiting for the HCQ to reach therapeutic levels. Well the HCQ is back to normal, I feel better, no flares, but the Celebrex is fighting for its life yall like I can slowly and subtly tell the disease is progressing.
Here’s my hang up; my baseline pain is probably 1-2/10 and maybe 3-5/10 with my period, minor exertion, after a 12hr shift, etc. I *personally* don’t feel like that pain level would necessitate in escalation in medication, but my rheum team might disagree when I see them next?
When did YOUR rheum and YOU decide or know that it was time for immunosuppressants? Did your pain have to get high, like 7-9/10? Or is it silly to think your pain has to get to that point to move to immunosuppressants? Were you debilitated? Did you have elevated markers in your labs?
Tell me about your personal journey, TYSM