My Dilemna

 I'm in remission from Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is, I'm told, classified as an auto- immune disease. Something triggered my immune response some years ago to attack my own body, is how it was explained to me. The something trigger? Noone knows for sure what it was. It may well have been allergic reaction to sand fly bites in the month or so before onset, but that is my opinion only, not shared by medicos. 

I don't want to go over this history in much detail or this post will become too lengthy for my patience. But summarizing it may help me with my dilemna. Briefly, when I was wracked by soreness and stiffness which came on quite suddenly, I was diagnosed as having polymyalgia and given daily cortisone tablets which did alleviate the pain and enabled me to work and function reasonably normally. After about 12 months on the cortisone the doctor said my blood test markers still indicated a problem and it seemed my polymyalgia had morphed into Rheumatoid Arthritis, this an official diagnosis after referral again to the specialist (Rheumatologist). I was put on a drug called methotrexate and weaned off the cortisone over time. A year or so later the methotrexate seemed to be working as I functioned normally but yes with some discomfort and pain fluctuating in my feet and shoulders particularly. The Ologist, whom I was seeing every six months, after analyzing my 3 monthly blood tests, said I should try a second drug to more fully alleviate the symptoms, sulphur something or other. Some months on this did not improve my discomfort or blood test markers, but by having been on two drugs and not reaching a particular level of improvement measured by the blood tests, I now qualified to take Abatacept (a Biomard, all these things apparently supress the immune system) treatment done by self injection. This I could get on the PDS at a cost of $40 per month for four weekly injections. The full cost it said on the box for four injections was $1000. I was on this for two years or so and the pain reduced further and my markers improved but were always a bit above normal.

A couple of years ago a friend who had suffered RA told me he had been on the methotrexate and sulphur drug for years but he took tumeric supplements and weaned himself off the drugs and was now fine. His example enboldened me to try. First I stopped the methotrexate weekly tablet, against the advice of the Ologist who said I needed both in tandem. Some months later after no deterioration I took the plunge and stopped the injection, again against advice. A year or so on I'm the best I have been for years, no drugs, no pain other than sore toes now and again which is temporary, alleviated by a couple of doses of Ibuprofen. And I have not even had that for a couple of months.

So my dilemna is? Do I want to play around with my immune system by vaccination that introduces something to my immune system in order to teach it to fight the same thing in the form of Covid transmission via the community? There has been 16 months of hysteria about pandemic and vaccination and yet I'm in good health and there's no Covid where I live, nor where I have lived during that time. I don't know anyone, friend, relative or neighbour who has been Covid positive. Do I take onboard the medical advice that says everyone should be vaccinated? If I followed medical advice I would be on Methotrexate, Abatacept (immune suppressants) cholesterol lowering drugs and blood pressure drugs, none of which I currently take (all of which I have taken in the past). I'm happy to be taking none of these and be 69 and in good health. I accept I have a limited life span that is nearing completion.

It's joyful not to be getting blood tests every few months. My dilemna is with me every day but I take comfort being drug free. I gave up smoking 30 years ago, and alcohol 18 months ago. Freedom is precious. I started going AF 4 days a week because methotrexate and alcohol do not go well together and liver function needs monitoring. Lib's breast cancer came, treatment followed. I gave up alcohol altogether, to help Lib in her recovery. Alcohol and cancer/drugs do not go well together. Then Covid came. Through all this I continued operating the business of Chamomile Farm up to March this year. We've moved interstate.

I'm so grateful to have good family, friends and colleagues to have supported me through this tumult. I don't know if it will be heart attack, stroke, cancer, Covid, car accident, falling tree, who knows what, that will take me. Better not to spoil life by fear of death, which is inevitable no matter how many drugs you take. Some may bring it sooner. All have side effects.