Guest guest Posted July 3, 2003 Report Share Posted July 3, 2003 I believe the Folic ?Acid needs to be taken daily. Also it may take 8 or more weeks for the Methotrexate to start working. Jay > Well after reading a lot of your emails - and sending all this info > on to my sister, she went to her rheumy yesterday who, after looking > at all the different medications, explained the pros and cons of them > all. He has put my sister on the following (I have checked on the > internet for the US equivalent). I would be interested in your > thoughts. > > Methotrexate - 10mg once a week for four weeks and folic acid also > once a week. > > Ansaid - 100mg morning and 200mg night > > Tramadol - 50mg to begin with (not sure of the frequency) > > She has also been prescribed stomach lining pills. > > I must say my sister is sounding so much more positive now that > something definite is being done. > > How does this all sound? > > Thanks so much. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2003 Report Share Posted July 3, 2003 I'm surprised that the folic acid is only once a week. Most rheumatologists prescribe it either every day or all days except the Methotrexate day. It helps to suppress the side effects of Methotrexate. A similar but stronger medicine is Leucovorin that is normally given only once a week. Methotrexate may cause nausea or hair loss that your sister can see and also can cause liver problems. If any of these start to show up I suggest calling the doctor promptly. Other than that I see no problem with the medications (but remember, I'm not a medical professional). If your sister still has troubles functioning I suggest that she inquire about Prednisone for a short time until the Methotrexate has a chance to work. Other than that she needs to be patient because medicines need their time to work well. Good luck and God bless both of you. ----- Original Message ----- From: deuxplustrois Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 8:03 PM Subject: Update on my sister Well after reading a lot of your emails - and sending all this info on to my sister, she went to her rheumy yesterday who, after looking at all the different medications, explained the pros and cons of them all. He has put my sister on the following (I have checked on the internet for the US equivalent). I would be interested in your thoughts. Methotrexate - 10mg once a week for four weeks and folic acid also once a week.Ansaid - 100mg morning and 200mg nightTramadol - 50mg to begin with (not sure of the frequency)She has also been prescribed stomach lining pills.I must say my sister is sounding so much more positive now that something definite is being done.How does this all sound?Thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2003 Report Share Posted July 3, 2003 I'm on Methotrexate & I take Folic Acid every day except the day I take Methotrexate. Your sister should call her doctor to confirm his instructions on taking Folic Acid. Also, her doctor should periodically check her liver function while taking Methotrexate to make sure it's not causing damage to her liver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2003 Report Share Posted July 3, 2003 --Hi. I noticed that you said Folic Acid only one day. My rheumy says it is imperative to take daily, 7 days per week. Also, she should have regular blood checks to make sure her liver can handle all this to begin with. In a few months they will check less and less but for now she needs to be checked at each visit. Hope this helps! Neicee- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " deuxplustrois " <davantis@h...> wrote: > Well after reading a lot of your emails - and sending all this info > on to my sister, she went to her rheumy yesterday who, after looking > at all the different medications, explained the pros and cons of them > all. He has put my sister on the following (I have checked on the > internet for the US equivalent). I would be interested in your > thoughts. > > Methotrexate - 10mg once a week for four weeks and folic acid also > once a week. > > Ansaid - 100mg morning and 200mg night > > Tramadol - 50mg to begin with (not sure of the frequency) > > She has also been prescribed stomach lining pills. > > I must say my sister is sounding so much more positive now that > something definite is being done. > > How does this all sound? > > Thanks so much. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 Sis ~ I am so sorry your sister is so ill ! ! God Bless you all ! You are in my thoughts and prayers ! Hugs ~ DedeSee what's free at AOL.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 Sis, this is such sad news, but there is hope. Would you like to join the MM group? I have been a member of the group for many years, when I was diagnosed with MGUS. They do give wonderful support and hope. How do they know that your sister has MM, because the doctors must do a bone marrow biopsy to diagnose this disease, or am I wrong? Many women who have had silicone/ saline have been diagnosed with MM. The chemicals in the implants can cause many forms of cancer. Honey, just know that we are here for you...sending love and hope......Lea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`` Update on my sister Hello All,A few weeks ago, I posted that my sister had a "thyroid storm", which is considered very rare. Her blood pressure was also extremely high. Her hemoglobin was 7, which is very low, and apparently was another sign that things were terribly wrong. It turned out that she didn't have a thyroid storm after all, but instead she's been diagnosed with a type of cancer called Multiple Myeloma, which I believe impacts the plasma. We're very close and I'll do everything I can to help her through this. Not sure yet what the treatment options are, or what stage or grade the cancer is. She's having a bone marrow biopsy today that should tell more. What I have read is that possible causes are exposure to pesticides, herbicides, etc. Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Thanks Rogene, Luckily she has the family sense of humor and that is going to help her tremendously. Plus, even though I don't have cancer, she keeps relating back to things I've said during the past 2 years of illness. She remembered that I told her that I did not " become " my illness, and that after the initial mourning period I got back out in the world, and while I was going through the worst of my illness I pushed myself and earned 40 credits towards my degree. P.S. I just got downsized again two months ago and am enrolling at college again to finish up the last 25 credits so I can finish that degree. She and I were laughing yesterday at an unfunny subject - but we made it funny. She said that it's possible she might need a bone marrow transplant and the doctor said siblings are the best donors. We have a raging alcoholic sister, and obviously she's out of the question. Then we discussed my immune system problems and ruled me out. So that leaves my one other very healthy sister that she's looking at her like she's a big juicy pork chop!! Sis > > Sis, > > I'm terribly sorry to hear about your sister . . . > > I know advances are being made in cancer treatments all the time . . . I hope your sister can find a program that works for her - and quickly. > > We'll keep you and your sis in our prayers. > > Rogene > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Thanks, Lea, Yes, I would like information on the MM group. I think this would help my sister tremendously. I was just reading yesterday about MGUS and the relationship to MM. My sister just had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday and she's stage 3. She will be taking steroids, thalidimide, and some other medication. When she's gotten the MM into remission, there will be chemo or possibly some stem cell replacement, or perhaps a bone marrow transplant. I appreciate your prayers. Sis > > Sis, this is such sad news, but there is hope. Would you like to join the MM group? I have been a member of the group for many years, when I was diagnosed with MGUS. They do give wonderful support and hope. How do they know that your sister has MM, because the doctors must do a bone marrow biopsy to diagnose this disease, or am I wrong? Many women who have had silicone/ saline have been diagnosed with MM. The chemicals in the implants can cause many forms of cancer. > > Honey, just know that we are here for you...sending love and hope......Lea > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`` > Update on my sister > > > Hello All, > > A few weeks ago, I posted that my sister had a " thyroid storm " , which > is considered very rare. Her blood pressure was also extremely high. > Her hemoglobin was 7, which is very low, and apparently was another > sign that things were terribly wrong. It turned out that she didn't > have a thyroid storm after all, but instead she's been diagnosed with > a type of cancer called Multiple Myeloma, which I believe impacts the > plasma. We're very close and I'll do everything I can to help her > through this. Not sure yet what the treatment options are, or what > stage or grade the cancer is. She's having a bone marrow biopsy today > that should tell more. What I have read is that possible causes are > exposure to pesticides, herbicides, etc. > > Sis > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Lea, Thanks again for all the love you share with us here. I don't think my sister ever had implants - her life is an open book and I have the feeling she would have told me if she had them. However, you're right, you never know for sure. She said that she has come in contact with alot of solvents over the years, and I even wonder about where she lives because it was farmland before it became a development and pesticides were likely used. I haven't been tested for MGUS, because I wasn't really familiar with it, but will ask my doctor to test me when I go for an upcoming exam. Sis > > Dearest Sis: > > My heart is breaking for you and your sister. Did she have breast implants? As you know, many women do not want to tell, because then they are treated differently. MM is more common in older black men. I have had a black friend in New York who died from MM, and she had breast implants. > > Honey, my doctors treated me with Biaxin, when I became positive for MGUS. Thalidomide and Biaxin are part of the treatment, that many doctors use. This is so sad, because you have been through so much. Have you been tested for MGUS? My son told me that he would be a donor, if I should ever need him. > > Good luck to you both....love always....Lea > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`` > Update on my sister > > > > > > Hello All, > > > > A few weeks ago, I posted that my sister had a " thyroid > storm " , which > > is considered very rare. Her blood pressure was also extremely > high. > > Her hemoglobin was 7, which is very low, and apparently was > another > > sign that things were terribly wrong. It turned out that she > didn't > > have a thyroid storm after all, but instead she's been > diagnosed with > > a type of cancer called Multiple Myeloma, which I believe > impacts the > > plasma. We're very close and I'll do everything I can to help > her > > through this. Not sure yet what the treatment options are, or > what > > stage or grade the cancer is. She's having a bone marrow > biopsy today > > that should tell more. What I have read is that possible > causes are > > exposure to pesticides, herbicides, etc. > > > > Sis > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Thanks, Dede. You are always there for everyone, even though you're suffering as well. God bless you, too. Sis > > Sis ~ > I am so sorry your sister is so ill ! ! God Bless you all ! You are in > my thoughts and prayers ! > Hugs ~ Dede > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2007 Report Share Posted May 31, 2007 Thanks so much Dede. I think it's wonderful that you put aside a special day and time each week to pray for everyone. I think I'm going to follow your lead and so something similar. Sis > > Sis ~ > Just want you to know you all are in my prayers ! ! Every wednesday > evening at 7:30 I light candles and say special prayers for everyone. > God Bless you all and keep everyone safe during this trying time. > Love Dede > > > > ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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