Rheumatoid Arthritis

Im 55 years old and work full-time as an employee benefits analyst. I was diagnosed with RA at age 40, suffered for 5 years without much relief from the meds I tried. As I was getting progressively worse, I was about ready to try methotrexate (reluctantly) when I happened upon Henry Scammells book at a bookstore. (Prior to finding the book, I had clipped a short newspaper article about AP and took it to my rheumatologist&.this was before the Internet. She refused to write the script.) Armed with Dr. Browns info, I found a doc who would write the RX, but said he didnt think it would work. Within 3 weeks of starting treatment, I experienced the Herxheimer effect, which made me realize the Minocin was probably working. Within a couple months I was almost back to normal. I probably continued Minocin for a year or 2. It seems that once every year or 2, I start feeling systemic joint inflammation and fatigue, so I start therapy again for a couple months. I always wonder if these relapses are hormone or stress related. Im now using the generic form due to insurance constraints, but I think the brand name may have worked better. I believe AP has been a lifesaver for me. I would probably be disabled now without it. Although I occasionally feel less than great, as just mentioned, overall, Im in very good health. I try to exercise at least an hour a day, which I could not do during that awful 5 year period of active disease. I actually bicycled 50 miles in Traverse City, MI on my 50th birthday!