Carol.
You must be your own advocate in healthcare. From knowing how your meds work, to asking for the radiologist report from your general doctor, to definitely getting and knowing every value on your lab tests. Just trust me on that!!!

I don't know about the depakote, I have been on Methotrexate more than 15 years, my labs are always fine. You do have to have labs every 8 weeks or so. Make sure you know your levels, don;t trust anyone else to do it. Again without it I am not functional, what is the choice.

My Rheumatologist does labs every three months. I have been on Methotrexate for a year and have had no abnormal labs. I talked to my Doctor about my concerns of the side effects of all the RA medicine and his reply is you have to weigh the benefits with possible side effects. All drugs and OTC medicines have potential side effects and as for me, I think about it sometimes but without the RA meds I don't think I would be walking or using my hands today. Get a good RA Doctor, and live you life to the fullest every day - and surround yourself with positive people!

Hi Philis thank you for your post. I self injected Enbrel (Etanacept) for a few years and enjoyed a pretty normal life while I was on it. Unfortunately I got an infection in my hip was very ill and had to stop the Enbrel and cannot resume that treatment. I remember the Enbrel took a few weeks to kick in but I felt so good when it did. I hope you feel better soon. I have had RA for over 40yrs and during that time have had various treatments and operations, flare ups and remissions. Although I have been told that there is no cure for RA it can 'burn itself out'. I'm still hoping for that to happen. I wish you well.

Carol, I have talked to many people with RA and they have told me that Biologic infusions have helped them tremendously. My Rheumatologist is recommending this treatment to me as Methorexate does not seem to be adequately controlling it. I will probably be going on Embrel infusions in January or February. When I was first diagnosed, I though one pill would fix everything and I would be on my Merry way - unfortunately it does not work like that most of the time. I wish you all the best in your quest for treatment. I am sure, like most of us you never thought this would happen to you. I did not even know the word 'Rheumatologist' until October, 2015 and still know very few people that have been diagnosed with it.