Guest guest Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 I know I don't contribute much, but you guys really are my family in this illness! I'll remind you that I am new to RA treatment. I started MTX in November, and I am mom to 5 kids, ages 9, 7, 6, 4, and 2. The MTX has done wonders for my pain levels. I have the shot (15 mg) on Wed am. I don't eat much wed-fri. By fri evening I can stand real food again. I am exhausted wed and thurs, have a migraine on fri, and by Sat I can function some again. By Tuesday, i am no longer tired, but I am in pain again. My DH feels like I traded the pain for fatigue. I am less functional over all than I was without the MTX. I feel much better in my joints, but crappy in my stomach and head. I've now lost 21 pounds, since Nov 10th (and I am NOT complaining about that!) OK, so here's my question. What do I do? I want to quit the MTX, but I'm not convinced any of the other meds are better. Do the biologics cause stomach side effects? I am really bad with nausea on most meds anyway. What can I say? Nervous stomach! I don't want the RA to go unchecked. I need my hip! I don't want to have to ignore my children because of the fatigue. I don't want to be in pain. Boy, I don't want much, do I!?!?!? : ) My doctor really wants to put me at 17.5 mg and let it level out. I can't decide!! All advice is accepted! Thanks people! I really appreciate you! Lissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 Lissa, These decisions are not easy. If the mtx was making you feel better, it would be easier to accept the side effects. How long have you been on the MTX? Trying to find the right meds that help the RA and have manageable side effects can be tricky, but many of us have been able to find them. I'm on Enbrel and have no problems. Stomach problems are a listed side effect of Enbrel, so that means some people have reported it as a side effect. Here is info on Enbrel: http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/drugs.html#enbrel a > I know I don't contribute much, but you guys really are my family in > this illness! I'll remind you that I am new to RA treatment. I > started MTX in November, and I am mom to 5 kids, ages 9, 7, 6, 4, and > 2. > The MTX has done wonders for my pain levels. I have the shot (15 mg) > on Wed am. I don't eat much wed-fri. By fri evening I can stand > real food again. I am exhausted wed and thurs, have a migraine on > fri, and by Sat I can function some again. By Tuesday, i am no > longer tired, but I am in pain again. > My DH feels like I traded the pain for fatigue. I am less functional > over all than I was without the MTX. I feel much better in my > joints, but crappy in my stomach and head. I've now lost 21 pounds, > since Nov 10th (and I am NOT complaining about that!) > OK, so here's my question. What do I do? > I want to quit the MTX, but I'm not convinced any of the other meds > are better. Do the biologics cause stomach side effects? I am > really bad with nausea on most meds anyway. What can I say? Nervous > stomach! > I don't want the RA to go unchecked. I need my hip! > I don't want to have to ignore my children because of the fatigue. > I don't want to be in pain. > Boy, I don't want much, do I!?!?!? : ) > My doctor really wants to put me at 17.5 mg and let it level out. > I can't decide!! > All advice is accepted! > Thanks people! I really appreciate you! > Lissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 Hi Liss, My husband (age 49) has had PA for 3 years and has taken a varied dose of the Mtx all that time. He has gone from 12 tablets to 6 and anywhere in between. He takes it every friday night. He has the side effects you mention...nausea, fatigue, headache, lack of appetite (Lordy I wish he'd lost 21 pounds!) On the plus side, like you he is relatively pain free...You should have seen him before! He had to descend the stairs backwards for months because he could not put pressure on the ball of his feet, and his toes looked like sausages.(going up was OK because he could place his full foot on the step) Are you taking Folic acid?? He has to take a folic acid tab daily and when he forgets he feels like shit. The folic acid counteracts some of the *evils* of the Mtx.(although I have heard different things from folks who do the injections...I guess you can't take it on the same day??) I am not an expert...but I thought I would let you know you are not alone with the Mtx. I have RA and I am guessing that mtx is my Rheum's next step for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 Are you faithfully taking folic acid each day, Lissa? If you are, are you taking enough? [ ] OK, advice please! > I know I don't contribute much, but you guys really are my family in > this illness! I'll remind you that I am new to RA treatment. I > started MTX in November, and I am mom to 5 kids, ages 9, 7, 6, 4, and > 2. > The MTX has done wonders for my pain levels. I have the shot (15 mg) > on Wed am. I don't eat much wed-fri. By fri evening I can stand > real food again. I am exhausted wed and thurs, have a migraine on > fri, and by Sat I can function some again. By Tuesday, i am no > longer tired, but I am in pain again. > My DH feels like I traded the pain for fatigue. I am less functional > over all than I was without the MTX. I feel much better in my > joints, but crappy in my stomach and head. I've now lost 21 pounds, > since Nov 10th (and I am NOT complaining about that!) > OK, so here's my question. What do I do? > I want to quit the MTX, but I'm not convinced any of the other meds > are better. Do the biologics cause stomach side effects? I am > really bad with nausea on most meds anyway. What can I say? Nervous > stomach! > I don't want the RA to go unchecked. I need my hip! > I don't want to have to ignore my children because of the fatigue. > I don't want to be in pain. > Boy, I don't want much, do I!?!?!? : ) > My doctor really wants to put me at 17.5 mg and let it level out. > I can't decide!! > All advice is accepted! > Thanks people! I really appreciate you! > Lissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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