I have made a few resolutions for 2012. Nothing big, just some small changes I'd like to try making over the year. I want to say "yes" to new things more often, find a bit more time to do things I love, and stop skipping ahead to the ends of books (I have already broken this one - it is so hard! I have an uncontrollable urge to know what happens).
Another of my resolutions is to be more aggressive in my approach to RA. In the past few weeks it seems to have moved into my feet, where it's never been before. My hips seem worse, too, and I'm starting to wonder if that replacement might happen sooner than I thought (some days I really hope so!). I already knew Enbrel was no longer working as well as it used to, but this seems to confirm that my disease is changing and getting worse despite my meds.
My rheumatologist has always been reluctant to switch me to a new biologic. She's found that as patients switch from their first, they see diminishing returns with each new one they try. I've been injecting Enbrel for ten years, though, and its returns are already significantly diminished. I'm definitely not ungrateful. Enbrel has been an enormous help to me for a very long time, but I think it might be time to try something new.
I'm feeling uncertain, though. School has been stressful this year, and I also need to be thinking about getting a job in law - if not this summer, then absolutely an articling position for the year after next. It's not an ideal time to start fiddling with treatment plans and potentially making things worse. Then again, things are already worse. I'm not sure what to do.
I suppose resolutions have to start somewhere, though, and I am getting started on this one by promising to devote more time to thinking constructively (meaning not just moping) about what I can do to improve my health. Meds, exercise, surgery, diet, meditation: I will think about all of it. It's time for a change.
6 comments:
I'm sorry that the Enbrel has lost its effectiveness. Any idea if your rheumy will look at a different TNF inhibitor, or switch to a different type of biologic? Whatever happens, I hope it works well for you. Good luck in the coming year!
I like that you are always on the look out for ways to improve yourself Helen.
Good luck in all your resolutions. I like saying "Yes" to more things. Maybe I will add that to my list of resolutions too. :)
I hope you and your rheumatologist are able to figure out what will work best for you.
And good luck with all of your resolutions!
:) L
P.S. Love the new look of your blog!
Thanks everyone!
WarmSocks - I'm not sure if she would try another TNF inhibitor or another kind of biologic. We haven't talked about it in detail before. I'll be interested to hear her take on what we should do next.
So how long until you get a new hip?!
I'm not sure... I'm thinking maybe after my last year of law school (which is next year) but before I start my year of articling. I could take a few months off to recover and then start work. Maybe - who knows! Sometimes I feel like I want them right now and other times I feel like I can wait.
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