Had to stop all meds

That sounds really tough, . I’m so sorry you're going through all of that. Dealing with a flare-up is already bad enough, but having to manage liver issues on top of it must feel so frustrating. Have you been able to talk to your doctor about other options? Maybe there’s something else they can try, like different meds or therapies that won’t mess with your liver. I really hope you find something that gives you some relief soon. You deserve to feel better. I hope things turn around for you soon. -Latoya (Team Member)

You have my empathy- a few years ago I had to stop all RA treatments for nearly a year due to an acute kidney problem being investigated and it certainly brought home to me that despite my RA generally not being very well controlled ( due to limited treatment options caused by other diseases) it was being controlled to an extent and the pain and inflammation without any treatments was shocking to my rheumatologist as well as to me!
The impacts of joint damage in untreated RA are not to be underestimated and also the impact on other organs and body systems from the inflammation levels. There are now strong links being made between inflammation in the body and brain and depression and anxiety and more severe mental illnesses like Bi-Polar and Schizophrenia.
One way of mitigating the effects of inflammation on the brain/body
is to avoid as much as possible Ultra Processed Foods as they increase inflammation in our body systems -and to avoid the stress raising levels of Cortisol and Adrenaline caused by a high- stress lifestyle. All of these are ‘easier said than done’ but any effort that you make will reap benefits 😀 Insulin Resistance is high in patients with both anxiety and depression and those more acute mental health illnesses. Sugar is a cause of inflammation.
What I am trying to say is that there are things that you can do to help yourself with reducing inflammation in your body but RA is an inflammatory condition that only the immunosuppressant drugs can truly have an impact on. I hope that you are able to get back onto treatment again before too long but meanwhile avoiding UPF’s and white sugar in particular and eating home cooked meals using cooking ingredients that our grandparents would recognise may well bring you some relief.
I made big changes to my diet back in 2020 and started using 16:8 intermittent fasting and it has made a big difference both to my weight, my gut biome and inflammation levels. Now on the rare occasions that I do have processed sugar (grandchild’s birthday cake) as well as it tasting way too sweet it also has a big affect on my joints in terms of pain, heat and swelling. Hope this is helpful😀

Warmly,
Cece x

Thank you so much for your words! I’m very lucky that my grandmother taught me how to cook with natural ingredients and fresh local ingredients!

Hi . It is certainly understanding to be concerned by both the high liver enzymes and being taken off the RA meds. Have you been directed to see a hepatologist for further tests to determine next steps for any liver issues? I know that elevated AST and ALT can be from inflammation, so hopefully this can be remedied and allow you to get back on some form of RA treatment. Please feel free to keep us posted on how you doing. Best, Richard (Team Member)