Waiting to See if My Treatment is Working

By Cynthia Covert

2 min read

Last updated: December 2017

I do not treat PsA the same as I did when I was first diagnosed. In fact, my treatment plan has changed many times throughout the years. Some treatments helped for a couple of months, others didn’t help for more than a few weeks, and some did nothing at all.

Why do I feel fear when a treatment works?

I should feel joyful when I experience relief from a new treatment, but more often than not I am filled with fear. Is it really working or do I want it to work so badly that I am imagining the improvement? If it is working, how long will the relief last? I have learned to not allow myself to get my hopes up when I do experience relief. Don’t get me wrong, a lower pain level delights me, it’s just that I have a hard time accepting that there really is something out there that can improve my life when so many treatments have failed me.

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Has my new psoriatic arthritis treatment been working?

Until recently I have never experienced low levels of pain for more than 2 months at a time. I made some changes to my treatment plan earlier this year and I am kind of freaking out over the results. The pain level I experience on a daily basis from PsA has gone from 7-10 to 1-3! I held my breath for the first few weeks waiting for my winning streak to end, but it continued. There have been a few intense flares that caused me to doubt my improvements, but my pain level returns to the low range as soon as they pass. The consistency of experiencing less pain has surpassed any treatment I have tried in the past. Part of me is ecstatic while the other part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

How do we all view treatment differently?

I fully acknowledge that there isn’t a cure for PsA. But there are treatments that can improve our lives. For some, it may come from their doctor’s prescription pad and for others it’s a combination of alternative treatments.

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VickiN Moderator & Contributor
Cynthia, I hope there's another story in the queue about all your treatment changes that are working out so well! Very, very pleased for you 😀 You deserve all the happiness and low pain days in the world. -Victoria, Community Moderator
ilovejesusyesido Member
I find myself waiting much too long for a treatment to work. I should just admit it's quit working or never worked at all. My reason for waiting too long is the revolving Dr. Doors again. Tests, MRI, blood work. You would think Dr. Would fax this stuff to each other instead of they all want there own. When you can't hardly walk it's hard to walk miles in hospital halls finding testing room.
1. Leanne Donaldson Moderator & Contributor
 I agree <inline-mention user-id="3310375" username="ilovejesusyesido"/> I tend to hang on for a long time, waiting and hoping that the treatment will work. I keep telling myself, just one more round, then I will know. I've never been a very patient person, so it is especially difficult. Like you, the thought of the energy and time involved in changing treatments keeps me waiting much too long to try another. But I also think there is a more personal thought at the time, like admitting that another treatment doesn't work is somehow a personal failing. In our area, many of the hospitals and doctors offices can pull up all the tests on their computers so that has made changing meds at least a little easier. How are you doing today? Are your meds working or have you sought alternative treatment options? -Leanne, Community Moderator
ddavis Member
I've been on Taltz and Leflunomide for over a year (Taltz longer), but the Taltz doesn't work. I have pain daily and don't even really know what a flare is because, like I said, my pain never goes away. I have better days and worse days, but there's always pain and exhaustion. Last March, I flared with the psoriasis part, though. Pain and nasty places on my back, rather than annoying splotches. I tried Otezla this summer (samples for over a month), but with my IBS and taking Leflunomide, I was in the bathroom more than not. And my insurance never approved it anyway. I just got notice that they approved Rinvoq. So this will be my sixth biologic in seven years. Wish me luck!
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="ddavis" user-id="3282373"/> I hope this is the one and that you get relief without the side effects. Keep us posted if you don't mind. I'll be thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member)
ddavis Member
 <inline-mention username="Lori.Foster" user-id="3297576"/>, I will. I worry about heart attack and stroke effects because I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I'm going to a cardiologist next week and will be asking him about it.