Re: Starting mtx

[Guest guest]

Hi KD: Just wanted to tell you I have been on MTX from day one of my RA

diag., which was almost 5 years ago. I couldn't take the pills as they

made me so sick to my stomach, and nausea 24/7. She taught me how to

inject. myself, and that works great. She added Sulfasalazine and

Plaquenil over a 1 1/2 years ago, and all 3 work well for me.

I wish you good luck with your MTX. Don't be afraid, it is a good drug,

and works well on our RA. I knew nothing about RA or ever heard of it

before I got diag. I looked it up once, and got good and scared. But

not anymore. Plus, you are in the perfect group for all your support,

and any questions you may have about RA, etc.

Good luck tomorrow.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Well ... I saw my Rheumy today. I've been on sulfasalazine for about 7

> weeks. I have minor improvement with morning stiffness, but the pain

in my

> hands, elbows, & shoulders has gone from a dull pain to a sharp pain

and

> fatigue is still kicking my booty. Fatigue is more of a factor than

the

> pain even. I often find myself sitting and crying because I'm so

exhausted.

>

> I will start mtx tomorrow. I've read all the papers and websites I

could

> find about it and the side effects, but I wanted to ask y'all what

your

> experiences have been. I've not had luck with plaquinel and minimal

help

> with the sulfasalazine. I'm a little worried about starting the mtx,

but I

> think it's more because I'm afraid it wont work either than it is

because of

> what it is.

>

> Thanks!

> KD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been taking mtx by inj since may. I feel " fuzzy " within an hour

or two of taking it so I usually take it near bedtime. The first time

I took it I was nauseated the next day, but since then as long as I

make sure to be well hydrated, I'm fine.

My doc added enbrel in July and I felt so much better. I missed my mtx

once because my son had emergency surgery in another state and I just

forgot it and I could tell. Or maybe it was the stress

Hope the mtx helps you, but it will take time. Also hope you don't

have any side effects, if thats possible.

Diane

[Guest guest]

Hi KD,

I've been on the pills for a bit over a month and just starting the

injections this coming weekend. I'm one of the lucky ones that

experience a hang over from the MTX pills. Basically a headache about

18-24 hours after taking them. I was taking the pills Saturday night

so the hangover would hit Sunday night and would sleep most of it off.

Don't expect side effects. Most people don't have any side effects

at all. I think if you expect them, you probably will have a better

chance of having the. The power of suggestion is powerful.

I decided to go with the injections because I knew that after the

obligatory blood test to make sure your liver and kidneys are handling

the MTX well, my Rheumy was planning on increasing the dose, which she

did. I understand there is a much lower incidence of side effects

with the injections versus the pills so that was fine with me.

Best of luck.

Bob

>

> Well ... I saw my Rheumy today. I've been on sulfasalazine for about 7

> weeks. I have minor improvement with morning stiffness, but the

pain in my

> hands, elbows, & shoulders has gone from a dull pain to a sharp pain and

> fatigue is still kicking my booty. Fatigue is more of a factor than the

> pain even. I often find myself sitting and crying because I'm so

exhausted.

>

> I will start mtx tomorrow. I've read all the papers and websites I

could

> find about it and the side effects, but I wanted to ask y'all what your

> experiences have been. I've not had luck with plaquinel and minimal

help

> with the sulfasalazine. I'm a little worried about starting the

mtx, but I

> think it's more because I'm afraid it wont work either than it is

because of

> what it is.

>

> Thanks!

> KD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi KD,

I hope the mtx works for you. I also take mtx injections, and I really

have no bad side effects. I was on the mtx pills, and I just had to

many side effects, so I went with the liquid form. It is very hard to

start a medication, when you see all the horrible side effects staring

back at you. When I was first dx with RA, it just seemed like

everything just crashed. It will get better, you just have to stay

positive, and talk with others, and you'll get through. Make sure you

take your folic. I wish you lots of luck, and keep us posted, Tawny

>

> Well ... I saw my Rheumy today. I've been on sulfasalazine for about 7

> weeks. I have minor improvement with morning stiffness, but the pain

in my

> hands, elbows, & shoulders has gone from a dull pain to a sharp pain

and

> fatigue is still kicking my booty. Fatigue is more of a factor than

the

> pain even. I often find myself sitting and crying because I'm so

exhausted.

>

> I will start mtx tomorrow. I've read all the papers and websites I

could

> find about it and the side effects, but I wanted to ask y'all what

your

> experiences have been. I've not had luck with plaquinel and minimal

help

> with the sulfasalazine. I'm a little worried about starting the mtx,

but I

> think it's more because I'm afraid it wont work either than it is

because of

> what it is.

>

> Thanks!

> KD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/9/2010 6:47:15 A.M. Central Standard Time,

hlhsinfo@... writes:

How bad is the nausea? I have a family to take care of and not sure how

I'm going to take care of them and feel sick to my stomach. How bad is it

when you say fatigue? Will I just want to sleep all day?

I get very sick (nausea) when I take an adult multi vitamin. When I do

take them I have to take a child's flintstone. This is why I worry about

feeling sick being on this MTX. >

I have several friends who have taken Mtx for years without any

side-effects. My nausea was very similar to what I feel when I am really

fatigued.

Not like I'm going to vomit, but like something is pinching my tummy, so I

don't really want to eat. It was worse when I first started. But I was taking

6 pills then. My RA doc kept lowering the dose, so at the end, I was

taking 6. It was scary to take.

I've seen others here whose docs started them lower and worked up.

dd

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheli,

Everyone has different experiences with MTX. You can space yours out throughout

the day, take some crackers with them, see how you feel. Perhaps start them at

night, after the biggest part of your day is done, it might be some trial and

error. PIck a good day of the week best for you. The good news is that is does

help. I take 7 a week on Thursdays.

I've had to space mine out during the day, if I have appts. I will wait until

later. Sometimes the day after, I'm tired, but it isn't the kind of tired that

I need to stay in bed all day. I might just be at 70% instead of 100% , I'm

fine by Saturday. Give it a try.

Heidi in Mass.

Re: [ ] Starting MTX

How bad is the nausea? I have a family to take care of and not sure how I'm

going to take care of them and feel sick to my stomach. How bad is it when you

say fatigue? Will I just want to sleep all day?

I get very sick (nausea) when I take an adult multi vitamin. When I do take them

I have to take a child's flintstone. This is why I worry about feeling sick

being on this MTX.

Cheli

-

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

..