Re: methotrexate and cellulitis

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynda, I havent had any of the problems you have had except the colds and sinis infections. Do you take folic acid every day. My doctor prescribes me Folic acid 1mg twice a day. It does seem to help, when I remember to take it . Hope this helps some. kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> wrote: Hi,I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore, specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had a thrombosis.After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I have been wondering if there is any connection between the methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this whilst on MTX.I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it has really helped with the RA.I have also been suffering repeated coughs and colds

whilst on this drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.Best wishes to allLynda

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

I haven’t heard of cellulitis being

linked to Methotrexate and a quick check of the web didn’t locate any

studies of this. It could be a relatively rare side effect but I don’t

know. As far as the lung problems, I have heard that they are rather

common with Methotrexate but less common with a similar medication,

Arava. If this gets to be a real problem you might want to talk to your

rheumatologist about a possible change of medication. I hope you get

things resolved. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of kenneth194542

Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:44

PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject:

methotrexate and cellulitis

Hi,

I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed

recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per

week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore,

specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago

I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had

a thrombosis.

After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had

phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for

routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I

have been wondering if there is any connection between the

methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this

whilst on MTX.

I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it

has really helped with the RA.

I have also been suffering repeated coughs and colds whilst on this

drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is

there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.

Best wishes to all

Lynda

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynda It is a question of weighing up the side effects against the progression of the disease. Is the metho stopping permanent joint damage. If it is, then are these minor irritations worth enduring? Ken.kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> wrote: Hi,I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore,

specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had a thrombosis.After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I have been wondering if there is any connection between the methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this whilst on MTX.I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it has really helped with the RA.I have also been suffering repeated coughs and colds whilst on this drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.Best wishes to allLynda

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Dear Lynda- Remember that anything that dampens or interferes with your immune system by suppressing it, will infact cause bacterial or viral infections. Such is my case. I was came back from the ENT specialist to find I have an infection the size of a walnut under the surgery site of a tooth extraction from last year!!! I have been on only MTX to manage my disease since then. I am on antibiotics and hope its enough to get rid of this. Since we have RA and our bodies see us as the infection, we can manifest all sorts of infections and syndromes. The wierdest thing is that being on remicade I didnt have any infections and I suspect that is because I had small flares and the disease was active in my entire body. Once off the Remicade, the process seems to manifest itself in specific areas like your legs and my jaw. My RD even said that very thing. The slighest bit of inflammation he has ever seen in the 5 years he has been treating me, but it all seems to have amassed in my jaw. He gives me Biaxin for an anti biotic to reduce the side effects of the usual drugs. I am on my fourth course of anti biotic. Having cellulitis is temporary and there are things you can do every day to reduce your chance of infectious syndromes. I drink alot of tea with splenda. Sugar is known for aggravating an infection or manifesting one so I have to be mindful of this. Try and eat as much dark greens as you can and load up on anti oxidant rich foods to help your immune system help itself. I am not on MTX now and am terrified I will start flaring again. If I do, and my jaw mass is resolved, my theory about the localized infection will have proven true!! You arent alone here!!!!!!!! Hugs, Deborah

On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 3:54 AM, Ken Pearson <maputo95@...> wrote:

Hi Lynda

It is a question of weighing up the side effects against the progression of the disease. Is the metho stopping permanent joint damage. If it is, then are these minor irritations worth enduring?

Ken. kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> wrote:

Hi,I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore,

specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had a thrombosis.After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had

phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I have been wondering if there is any connection between the methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this

whilst on MTX.I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it has really helped with the RA.I have also been suffering repeated coughs and colds whilst on this drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is

there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.Best wishes to allLynda

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Dear Deborah, Thank you for your thoughts. We RA sufferers have a lot to put up with, don't we ?what with one thing and another. Sometimes, I find the constant struggle with drugs almost as bad as the RA. However, 12 months ago, before starting on MTX I could barely walk, could not get in or out of bed and needed help with almost everything, so I know this drug has helped me immensely. My Rheumatologist is trying to get funding off our National Health service (here in UK) to get on one of the anti TNF drugs so I am hoping this might happen soon. In the meantime I shall heed your words and try to help my immune system along by improving my diet. I really hope your jaw problem improves quite soon - thinking of you - Lynda Deborah Bargad <dbargad@...> wrote: Dear Lynda- Remember that anything that dampens or interferes with your immune system by suppressing it, will infact cause bacterial or viral infections. Such is my case. I was came back from the ENT specialist to find I have an infection the size of a walnut under the surgery site of a tooth extraction from last year!!! I have been on only MTX to manage my disease since then. I am on antibiotics and hope its enough to get rid of this. Since we have RA and our bodies see us as the infection, we can manifest all sorts of infections and syndromes. The

wierdest thing is that being on remicade I didnt have any infections and I suspect that is because I had small flares and the disease was active in my entire body. Once off the Remicade, the process seems to manifest itself in specific areas like your legs and my jaw. My RD even said that very thing. The slighest bit of inflammation he has ever seen in the 5 years he has been treating me, but it all seems to have amassed in my jaw. He gives me Biaxin for an anti biotic to reduce the side effects of the usual drugs. I am on my fourth course of anti biotic. Having cellulitis is temporary and there are things you can do every day to reduce your chance of infectious syndromes. I drink alot of tea with splenda. Sugar is known for aggravating an infection or manifesting one so I have to be mindful of this. Try and eat as much dark greens as you can and load up on anti oxidant rich foods to help your immune system

help itself. I am not on MTX now and am terrified I will start flaring again. If I do, and my jaw mass is resolved, my theory about the localized infection will have proven true!! You arent alone here!!!!!!!! Hugs, Deborah On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 3:54 AM, Ken Pearson <maputo95 > wrote: Hi Lynda It is a question of weighing up the side effects against the progression of the disease. Is the metho stopping permanent joint damage. If it is, then are these minor irritations worth enduring? Ken. kenneth194542 <lynda.partonbtinternet> wrote: Hi,I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore, specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had a thrombosis.After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I have been wondering if there is any connection between the methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this whilst on MTX.I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it has really helped with the RA.I have also been suffering

repeated coughs and colds whilst on this drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.Best wishes to allLynda Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Dear - Thanks alot for your support. This infection is probably a form of cellulitis and if the mass is not better by midweek I am going to push for IV anti- biotic or surgery to clean out the area. Its very painful and being immumosuppressed is hard to treat. Its making me feel terribly ill and I know my body enough to see the warning signs. I will keep you all updated. Deborah

On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 10:32 PM, KENNETH PARTON <lynda.parton@...> wrote:

Dear Deborah,

Thank you for your thoughts. We RA sufferers have a lot to put up with, don't we ?what with one thing and another. Sometimes, I find the constant struggle with drugs almost as bad as the RA. However, 12 months ago, before starting on MTX I could barely walk, could not get in or out of bed and needed help with almost everything, so I know this drug has helped me immensely. My Rheumatologist is trying to get funding off our National Health service (here in UK) to get on one of the anti TNF drugs so I am hoping this might happen soon. In the meantime I shall heed your words and try to help my immune system along by improving my diet. I really hope your jaw problem improves quite soon - thinking of you - Lynda

Deborah Bargad <dbargad@...> wrote:

Dear Lynda- Remember that anything that dampens or interferes with your immune system by suppressing it, will infact cause bacterial or viral infections. Such is my case. I was came back from the ENT specialist to find I have an infection the size of a walnut under the surgery site of a tooth extraction from last year!!! I have been on only MTX to manage my disease since then. I am on antibiotics and hope its enough to get rid of this. Since we have RA and our bodies see us as the infection, we can manifest all sorts of infections and syndromes. The wierdest thing is that being on remicade I didnt have any infections and I suspect that is because I had small flares and the disease was active in my entire body. Once off the Remicade, the process seems to manifest itself in specific areas like your legs and my jaw. My RD even said that very thing. The slighest bit of inflammation he has ever seen in the 5 years he has been treating me, but it all seems to have amassed in my jaw. He gives me Biaxin for an anti biotic to reduce the side effects of the usual drugs. I am on my fourth course of anti biotic. Having cellulitis is temporary and there are things you can do every day to reduce your chance of infectious syndromes. I drink alot of tea with splenda. Sugar is known for aggravating an infection or manifesting one so I have to be mindful of this. Try and eat as much dark greens as you can and load up on anti oxidant rich foods to help your immune system help itself. I am not on MTX now and am terrified I will start flaring again. If I do, and my jaw mass is resolved, my theory about the localized infection will have proven true!! You arent alone here!!!!!!!! Hugs, Deborah

On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 3:54 AM, Ken Pearson <maputo95@...> wrote:

Hi Lynda

It is a question of weighing up the side effects against the progression of the disease. Is the metho stopping permanent joint damage. If it is, then are these minor irritations worth enduring?

Ken. kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> wrote:

Hi,I have been takking MTX for 12 months now for RA and I have noticed recently that following my weekly dosage (I am now on max dosage per week), that my legs have been feeling kind of tingly and sore,

specially round the ankles. Things got worse and approx. 2 weeks ago I was sent to emergency room as my general practitioner thought I had a thrombosis.After tests, thrombosis was ruled out, and I was told I had

phlebitis. However, last week I attended my Rheumatologist for routine 2 monthly appointment and it seems that I have cellulitis. I have been wondering if there is any connection between the methotrexate and this, and whether any others have also suffered this

whilst on MTX.I have been told to continue with the drug for the time being as it has really helped with the RA.I have also been suffering repeated coughs and colds whilst on this drug. I know that it is designed to lower immune system, but is

there anything I can do to prevent these colds etc.Best wishes to allLynda

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.