Re: Methotrexate Question (Sores? Bruises?) & Hello Again

[Guest guest]

Prakasha,

Make sure you mention the bruising to your rheumatologist.

Many people here have had less side effects from methotrexate when they

switched to the injectable form.

I hope the increase in folic acid does the trick.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Methotrexate Question (Sores? Bruises?) & Hello Again

> Good people of the RA Support group -

>

> I haven't posted here in ages, though I've been trying to keep up with

> reading and keeping you all in my prayers.

>

> Here's a little update and some questions:

>

> Well, thanks to all of you and all I've learned here, I finally went

> (with confidence) to a rheumatologist in mid May. She's a good one,

> recommended by my exceptionally wonderful pcp. Some of you may recall

> that I'd tried for the past 6 years to treat my RA with alternative

> medicine & diet. It helped slow the disease, but RA still

> unquestionably progressed; and I finally realized that I had to turn to

> regular medicine.

>

> My new rheumy said that my RA isn't as bad as it could have been with

> " untreated " RA for 6 years, but it's bad enough. :-( Knees, ankles,

> wrists all show " advanced " RA, with feet, toes and some fingers joining

> in but less damaged.

>

> Background for my questions:

> She started me on Methotrexate, and I've been thanking all of you every

> day. I just wouldn't have had the courage to plunge in without all of

> you. My starting dose was 10 mg Mtx pills per week with 1 mg Folic Acid

> per day. Not too bad. I had some fatigue and headaches with woozy

> stomach the 2 days following each Mtx dose but nothing dramatic. After

> 5 weeks, I started to feel benefits--better energy, less pain. Blood

> work fine. Hooray! Then, almost 2 weeks ago, my rheumy upped my Mtx to

> 12.5 mg per week. The day after I took this dose, I got a sore on my

> tongue and the back of my throat felt sore and very strange. Tummy very

> queasy and much fatigue. Though the sore on my tongue was gone in 24

> hours, I felt sick for 4 days. (Yipes! And things had been going so

> well!)

>

> My rheumy said to up the Folic Acid to 2 mg per day, just take 10 mg of

> Mtx next time (last Friday) and then go back to 12.5 mg on the

> following week (this coming Friday). Soooo, having already upped my

> Folic Acid all week, last Friday I took 10 mg of Mtx. I still got a

> little sore on my tongue the next day--though not as bad as the

> preceding week--and another little sore the next day. Throat got a

> little scratchy. But I didn't stay sick.

>

> Questions:

>

> Any comments from those with more experience? Are these sores just

> something to live with as we get increased doses of Mtx? Or do you

> think there's a potential problem?

>

> Also, I've been getting bruises (ugly quarter-sized) bruise for no

> apparent reason. Perhaps I'm bumping myself more than usual; but, in

> the past, something that caused a bruise was something I noticed and

> remembered. Is one more prone to bruising with Methotrexate?

>

> As always, I am so grateful for every insight, bit of advice, and so on

> that you share. I'm constantly amazed by the courage of each person in

> this group. God bless each one of you.

>

> Thanks & Love -

>

> Prakasha

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks so much for your encouragement.

I've been taking the double dose of folic acid for a week now; and, so

far, after taking last night's dose of Mtx, I don't have any sores. I

hope it stays that way. Yes, I'll definitely talk to my rheumy about

the bruising.

:-)

Prakasha

> Re: Methotrexate Question (Sores? Bruises?) & Hello Again

> Posted by: " " Matsumura_Clan@...   gina_nmi_walker

> Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:38 pm (PST)

> Prakasha,

>Make sure you mention the bruising to your rheumatologist.

>Many people here have had less side effects from methotrexate when

they

switched to the injectable form.

> I hope the increase in folic acid does the trick.

>

>Not an MD