I got new meds today!!!

[MarkP_1972]

@garedenlover

Yep, we're all good here. We are in Mineral Wells,TX...50 miles west of the Ft Worth/Dallas Metroplex. We did have T-storm warnings, hail, heavy rain and high winds. There was a tornado warning for the county east of us (Parker county) during the time my wife had to drive to work in Weatherford,TX(in Parker Co.). She was OK though, by the time she got to work all the bad stuff had passed, but I worried about her and texted to her phone to pull over and wait it out for a bit until it passed...so, she did and made it safely.
I have 3 cousins that live in the Metroplex and they are all OK.

Thanks.

[gardenlover]

I'm really glad to hear that, Mark.  It looks so devastating. I've never been through something like that!  Please take care.

[Winnie]

Don't forget to ask about getting a baseline eye exam from an opthamologist because of taking the plaquenil.

Winnie

[Gayle]

Great news but.... be careful with Acetaminophen as this can cause liver damage. It is in a lot of other medicines too so read labels. Just stick to correct dosage... more is not better in this case! Glad you liked the Dr! It is a wonderful feeling!

[MissyLouWho?]

Great news Mark!  I wish you super luck with your new rheumy  and hope the salagen works as well for you as it did for me (minus the nausea, and sweating of course  ).  I had so much saliva I was like a teething toddler in a half an hour 

[MarkP_1972]

@ Gayle, WinnieYeah, Madison Granny,Irish and all you guys n' gals...
Thanks Everyone for the support!
I guess a lot of these meds that help us are hurting us in other ways too...always seems to be the liver,huh?
Oh yes, and the eyes because of dryness with SJS and meds.
Oh well, I'll watch what I am doing and do the best I can with what I've got...

[MarkP_1972]

Thanks MissyLouWho?,
Yep, I took my Salagen earlier and I'm making all kinds of slober now! lol!

[Skylar]

My PCP prescribed me Plaquenil (200mg 2xday) and Salagen (5mg 2xday) today! Just took my 1st dose of both - Maybe I'll get some relief...
Oh, he also prescribed Celebrex, but I can't afford it and there is no generic form! I'll just double or triple up on Ibuprofen for the time being!

Glad to read that your PCP has stepped up to help you. But I would contact your PCP, let them know that you can't afford  Celebrex - some doctors will be able to give you free samples. Definitely let them know that you are changing your pain medications and are considering increasing the dose - let them or a pharmacist assist you.


thank goodness you and your family are safe - OMG, the video of those storms were incredible and very scary.

[gold55]

Good for you Mark!  I will pray for improvement in your pain and overall health!!!  Hope you like your new rheumy!

[cipsta]

Thats great news about the Plaquenil and Celebrex. I currently take both as well. Hopefully they work for you:) Hopefully you don't have many side effects from the Plaquenil. Let us know how you go

[engy]

Mark, good luck on the plaquenil, it took months to build up but it gives me wonderful relief!

I take milk thistle for my liver which my doctor said was great! I have no problems with my liver other than some benign masses I had biopsied (NOT FUN!) but I take it more as a preventative from all the meds I take.

Carie

[A66eyroad]

Mark, it was mentioned briefly in this thread but I want to be sure you know this.

Plaquenil can sometimes -- usually after prolonged use -- cause some changes in vision. That's why those of us who take it should have a baseline exam within the first three months of taking the medicine by either an optometrist or ophthalmologist, and follow-up exams every six months.

[MarkP_1972]

I get my eyes checked fairly often anyway just because they often bother me...I've got 2 different eye docs I go to, 1 backs up the other, both are good,thorough and give me prescription eye drop sample medicines if I need them. I've never had to go to the pharmacy with these Doctors! 

[Nymph]

N-Acetyl Cysteine is also good for detox of the liver. It's what they use in the ER if you've had an acetaminophen OD. You can buy it as an OTC supplement. Good stuff, esp is you take acetaminophen on a regular basis.

[MarkP_1972]

Nymph, that's interesting...I'll have to research that sometime...