MTX question

[Guest guest]

>

> , knowing how I am going to feel. Will it get

> better as you take it more times?

>

> When I first started taking it, it made me nauseous for about a day

and a half. A year later, I take 9 every Friday along with all my other

pills and it doesn't bother me a bit. I even look forward to it,

because around Wed, I can start feeling that it's almost time as the

aches creep back more. I hope it gets better for you, too, and I hope

it helps your pain.

:0) Tammmie

[Guest guest]

Sorry One more quick question. Does it help to continue to take

benadryl for a day or 2 if feeling bad? Do you find it helps still, or just

the initial 1/2 hour before.

Thanks

Ontario

[Editor's Note: I don't think so. I think if it is going to help, you have to

take it shortly before and/or shortly after taking the medication. It is meant

to be a preventative since it is an antihistamine. If it hasn't worked to

prevent a headache or to stem off a headache from getting worse, then it seems

to me, it won't work later on. However, the would probably be a question for

your doctor - but again, I don't see this working much beyond the ingestion of

the medication. Kathy F.]

Re: [ ] MTX Question

> Kathy, I didn't realize that the Benadryl was for headaches etc. as well.

> I

> assumed it was for nausea only??? Hmmm.... My dr. gave me some migraine

> meds last night and I am feeling good right now. I was also mistaken

> after

> my husband re-read my prescription and I am to continue taking 5 pills for

> a

> month. I almost took 6 pills this Friday. I really need to pay more

> attention or could be in trouble.

>

> Thank you so much for replying, I know you are answering these questions

> over and over and over. We all appreciate it.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Ontario

>

> [Editor's Note: I'm so glad the migraine pills are working. IF the MTX

> works some magic on you, you may have found a way to eliminate the

> headaches. Chemical changes (such as those caused by taking medication)

> can bring on migraines. Benadryl is often used as a PREVENTATIVE

> treatment as it has been shown to lessen the severity and frequency of

> migraines, particularly if a migraine is caused as a reaction to chemical

> changes from medication. So - you might want to try Benadryl an hour or

> two before you next take MTX and if it doesn't help, you can then use the

> migraine pills. Please let us know how it goes for you - and, yes, your

> body MIGHT become used to MTX over time such that you become symptom free.

> Kathy F.]

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi! I had a really bad headache around the time I started MTX. So bad

in fact that I ended up in the hospital in severe pain. It was so bad

they thought I was having a stroke. A huge hospital bill later and it

turns out it was the Naproxen. I forgot a pill or two when I started

the MTX (huge mistake!) and it kicked off a horrible headache. Now I

make sure to take all my meds when I'm supposed to - and I don't miss a

pill! No massive headaches since. I would doublecheck your other

meds (if you're on anything else). It could be related to another drug

and not the MTX....you never know!

Ironically, MTX only caused me some nausea. No headaches. I cut down

on nausea by taking it before I went to bed. For some reason, that

helped significantly.

Good luck!

Patty

Re: [ ] MTX Question

Sorry One more quick question. Does it help to continue to take

benadryl for a day or 2 if feeling bad? Do you find it helps still, or

just

the initial 1/2 hour before.

Thanks

Ontario

[Editor's Note: I don't think so. I think if it is going to help, you

have to take it shortly before and/or shortly after taking the

medication. It is meant to be a preventative since it is an

antihistamine. If it hasn't worked to prevent a headache or to stem off

a headache from getting worse, then it seems to me, it won't work later

on. However, the would probably be a question for your doctor - but

again, I don't see this working much beyond the ingestion of the

medication. Kathy F.]

Re: [ ] MTX Question

> Kathy, I didn't realize that the Benadryl was for headaches etc. as

well.

> I

> assumed it was for nausea only??? Hmmm.... My dr. gave me some

migraine

> meds last night and I am feeling good right now. I was also mistaken

> after

> my husband re-read my prescription and I am to continue taking 5 pills

for

> a

> month. I almost took 6 pills this Friday. I really need to pay more

> attention or could be in trouble.

>

> Thank you so much for replying, I know you are answering these

questions

> over and over and over. We all appreciate it.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Ontario

>

> [Editor's Note: I'm so glad the migraine pills are working. IF the MTX

> works some magic on you, you may have found a way to eliminate the

> headaches. Chemical changes (such as those caused by taking

medication)

> can bring on migraines. Benadryl is often used as a PREVENTATIVE

> treatment as it has been shown to lessen the severity and frequency of

> migraines, particularly if a migraine is caused as a reaction to

chemical

> changes from medication. So - you might want to try Benadryl an hour

or

> two before you next take MTX and if it doesn't help, you can then use

the

> migraine pills. Please let us know how it goes for you - and, yes,

your

> body MIGHT become used to MTX over time such that you become symptom

free.

> Kathy F.]

>

>

[Guest guest]

Keri,

I have never heard of this, but I suppose that since the MTX is

suppressing your immune system, it could make you more susceptible to

viruses as well as bacterial infections.

Here are some articles that discuss this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=9577814 & dopt=Abstract

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PDG/is_6_3/ai_n12418270

With all the confusion with diagnosis, it wouldn't surprise me if the

warts were actually more related to your disease than the

methotrexate. I was diagnosed with JRA and had a terrible outbreak

of warts when I was 12 or 13. I endured months of cryotherapy, which

just left me scarred and with new warts erupting in new places. I

think the episode lasted less than a year, at which time the warts

went away on their own and I have (knock on wood) not had one since.

I hope you start feeling better soon. If it is the treatment, then

you start wondering sometimes whether the side effects of the

medications are as bad or worse as the symptoms from the disease,

don't you?

Jo

>

> Hi everyone-

> My doctor has told me that me getting warts is due to the MTX. I

do self-injections every week .7 and I have been doing this for 4

years and before that I was taking MTX orally, higher dosage, 25mg a

week.

> My question I guess is does anyone else get warts because of any

immune suppressing drugs? My body is just popping up with them

everywhere. I have gone once a month to get them frozen off and in

between I use the over-the-counter stuff. But they keep coming back

and bring friends with them:(This is really nasty, acne and weight

gain due to prednisone, warts due to MTX, the list goes on for sure.

> Anyway, please let me know if I am on the only one this is

happening too.

> Thanks

> Love and Support,

> Keri in CA

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives

you all the tools to get online.

> http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Keri,

Well I cant believe it, the same thing is happening to me. I used to take mtx

orally but have been on the injection for 2 months now 20mg and have them coming

by force, especially all aroung my neck, just teeny weeny ones.

Its amazing what you learn on this forum, and what a great comfort we are to

each other.

I am getting loads of red marks on my stomach (where I inject) and they really

itch - anyone got any ideas how to relieve them??

Love Ruth x (UK)

MTX Question

Hi everyone-

My doctor has told me that me getting warts is due to the MTX. I do

self-injections every week .7 and I have been doing this for 4 years and before

that I was taking MTX orally, higher dosage, 25mg a week.

My question I guess is does anyone else get warts because of any immune

suppressing drugs? My body is just popping up with them everywhere. I have gone

once a month to get them frozen off and in between I use the over-the-counter

stuff. But they keep coming back and bring friends with them:(This is really

nasty, acne and weight gain due to prednisone, warts due to MTX, the list goes

on for sure.

Anyway, please let me know if I am on the only one this is happening too.

Thanks

Love and Support,

Keri in CA

__________________________________________________________

Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the

tools to get online.

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting

[Guest guest]

RACHEL, HI. IT'S NOT A SILLY QUESTION- THERE ARE NO SILLY QUESTIONS. I'VE TAKEN

MTX FOR 14 WEEKS NOW AND FOR ME I FELT RELIEF OF ABOUT 50% IN FIRST 2 WEEKS AND

NOW I'M NO WORSE BUT NOT BETTER. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS HOW IT WORKS . ( AT

LEAST FOR THE PATIENTS I TALKED TO AND CONFIRMED BY MY DOCTOR) HOWEVER MY DR

DID SAY THAT OIT DOSEN'T WORK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE SO I WOULD GIVE IT MORE

TIME. HOPE THIS HELPED AND I HOPE YOU FEEL B ETTER SOON. MARYLOU

[Guest guest]

, you will know because you will begin to feel better! If you

have joint swelling, it may subside. If you are having trouble

sleeping, you might find you are resting better. Your joint pain may

lessen, though not necessarily in all the joints at the same level at

once. You may feel less stiff in the morning or after sitting for a

while. Your skin may begin to clear, though not always all over at the

same rate.

For me, I was bedridden for all practical purposes. After about 10-12

weeks on MTX, I was able to walk some and to sleep better. The

pustular P on my hands cleared totally, but not on my feet. Gradually,

things got better and better. Just be aware that it typically takes a

few months for things to get noticably better - don't give up too soon.

best regards,

sherry z

[Guest guest]

I will have been on MTX for 2 years in December and it took about

six weeks for me to see a difference, but it was a BIG difference. I

also had no big side effects...a little green around the gills for a

day the first few weeks and a little listless for the day or two

afterward but that cleared up...I am going through it again since I

have had to be switched to MTX injections after having gastric

bypass and was not absorbing the MTX as well. Gave myself my first

injection yesterday. Nothing to it. Good luck!

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Great news with no side effects!!

I don't recall your symptoms, but for me the sausage fingers and toes

started decreasing in size and continued until normal. Also, I had

decreasing pain in my joints until it went away completely.

It can take time, up to 6-8 weeks before you start getting results.

I started 5 years ago, so I can't honestly remember how long it took

for me, but I know I planned to give it 8 weeks ans was planning to go

off it if I didn't have results by then. I know I wasn't normal by 8

weeks, but I know I saw definite results by then.

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for the replies to my question. I really appriciate the response.

I think I feel somewhat better, but I know to give it some more time to see for

sure. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Engle

[Guest guest]

Cross your fingers ??? Could you do that before you started taking MTX?

I know I couldn't. )))

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/18/07 4:40:24 PM, dave@...

> Cross your fingers ??? Could you do that before you started taking

> MTX? I know I couldn't. )))

>

----------------------

Great reply! I just tried it and found out I can't cross my fingers on either

hand. (Fingers not crossed behind back.) Who woulda thunk it. It must be

due to the joint erosion in my fingers.

Regards,

BeingIrish

[Guest guest]

,

Do yourself a favor and make sure that you take Folic acid along with

the MTX. First time I was on MTX I was taking 400Mcg of Folic acid

per day as a supplement. I found myself not tolerating MTX at all

well. I'm on it again, in addition to the Remicade infusions. This

time, I'm taking 1Mg of Folic acid each day and I'm seeing no

side-effects. Good luck to you.

Mark

>

> Hi all.

>

> I've been on 15 mg of MTX (once a week), for three weeks now. As far

> as I can tell, haven't had any negative side effects. *Keeps her

> fingers crossed* I do have a question, and it may sound a bit silly,

> but how do I know when the MTX is starting to work?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

About 6 weeks after I started taking it, the aching and joint pain subsided

in my hand, my ankles didn't kill me when I first tried them out in the

morning, and my wrists no longer felt swollen and the effects of carpal

tunnel disappeared. It was like a miracle. Bottom line...give it time, and

you will know for sure, if you respond like most have.

Jeff from Oregon

[Guest guest]

Graham, I'm glad you posted this. I've been taking 2mg of Folic acid for years

and it helped but now that I'm on mtx I feel as though I need more but my doctor

says I don't I'm going to mention this to him and hopo to get an increase when

he sees that it is done. heck i may just try it myself and tell him how it

works. lou

[Guest guest]

Graham - my rheumy here in the USA prescribed 1 mg per day for me but

she also told me to take up to 5 mg per day as needed to control

nose/mouth sores and other side effects. Most of the time 1 mg was

enough for me, but I sometimes had to take 2-3 mg for a few weeks at a

time. I think the problem here is that many people don't continue to

keep their rheumy's informed as to how badly they are suffering with

side effects. As soon as I told my rheumy that I was still having

unacceptable effects from the MTX, she told me to up the dose of folic

acid.

I know we don't like to " complain " but the one person we SHOULD

complain to is our rheumy. I can't emphasize enough how important it

is to be honest (not stoic!) with your rheumy about your pain level,

your stiffness level, your side effects, etc. Don't wait for your next

appointment if you are suffering - call the rheumy's office and ask to

speak to the nurse. If a treatment has helped you, but you are still

not satisfied with the level of relief, say so. That is how my

insurance company eventually approved me for twice the dose of Humira

they normally like to allow. And for me to be able to combine that

higher dose of Humira with MTX, which they usually don't cover

together. It's because I worked closely and honestly with my rheumy

and didn't always wait (in suffering) until the next appointment to

report what was going on.

best regards to all,

sherry z

>

> Hi All,

>

> I have been on MXT (22.5mg per week) for 20 plus years without any

serious

> side effect.In South Africa all those on MXT treatment receive Folic

Acid

> 5mg daily (the normal strength available) which is significantly

stronger

> than that in the USA and we appear to have less side effects. Just a

thought

>

> Regards

>

> Graham

>

[Guest guest]

I'm currently taking a multi-vitamin that my drs. all say is pretty good for the

time being. I see my rheumy here in a couple of weeks, I may ask him if I need

to have a bigger dose of Folic Acid. As for crossing my fingers *grin* I

couldn't do that before the MTX, and not able to do it yet. I'm still hoping

the the pointer finger on my left hand will be able to close the rest of the

way.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeff,

I have been on mtx for a long time, too. It keeps me going but sometimes still

makes me nauseous sometimes, no matter what I take or do. It does well enough

though that I don't want to go through the pain and discomfort of changing. By

the way, Oregon is my home state. What part do you live in. I am from the

Roseburg area, my children and all the extended family live there. I hear it's

been rainy and windy there. Have a great week end and God Bless,=!

Janet in Ca

[Guest guest]

with the mtx my first revelation that it was working was i was able to wear my

rings. simple.....casey

<dave@...> wrote: Hi ,

Great news with no side effects!!

I don't recall your symptoms, but for me the sausage fingers and toes

started decreasing in size and continued until normal. Also, I had

decreasing pain in my joints until it went away completely.

[Guest guest]

how funny i thought the same thing! crossing fingers is a good thing!

<dave@...> wrote: Cross your fingers ???

Could you do that before you started taking MTX?

I know I couldn't. )))

Stay Well,

[Guest guest]

Me either, and I just now realized it!

Sharon

>

> In a message dated 10/18/07 4:40:24 PM, dave@...

>

> > Cross your fingers ??? Could you do that before you started taking

> > MTX? I know I couldn't. )))

> >

[Guest guest]

You guys are all so wonderful and helpful. I'm so glad that I was able to find

this group. Even though I had already knew that I would have to wait for the

MTX to take affect, you guys are making the wait a little easier by giving me

the reassurance that it will get better.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Nice to hear from you, Heidi!

Sorry for your troubles. Maybe you should give your rheumatologist a call.

Not an MD

On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 11:00 PM, Heidi Oliveri<sposy1584@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I think switching to gmail was a

> bad idea.  I was wondering if taking MTX makes any of you cold, or cold to

> the point where you get the chills?  This just started for me about a month

> ago, maybe 6 weeks.  I've been on it for almost 2 years now.  My Dr. tried

> to ween me off, but I couldn't get past 5.  I'm at 6 pills every Thursday

> and it seems to be a decent amount. I spoke to my Rheumy yesterday and

> forgot to mention this.  I've started getting small rashes, more fatigue,

> comical memory loss (forgot my addr) while talking to NSTAR...lol, and

> beautifully colored bruises all over my legs and arms.  Right now I'm all

> cleared up. Anyway, hope you are doing well and able to stay cool.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

[Guest guest]

Goodness, Heidi! Good to see you here again, but so sorry you're feeling so bad.

I've not experience the cold with MTX. Your bruising concerns me. When is the

last time they did a complete work up on your blood? I get the brain fog

frequently which I think is more RA/FM related rather than from the meds. IDK.

Maybe it would be a good thing to call your Rheumy back and mention these

symptoms.

Praying you're feeling better again soon.....Doreen

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I think switching to

> gmail was a bad idea. I was wondering if taking MTX makes any of

> you cold, or cold to the point where you get the chills? This just

> started for me about a month ago, maybe 6 weeks. I've been on it

> for almost 2 years now. My Dr. tried to ween me off, but I

> couldn't get past 5. I'm at 6 pills every Thursday and it seems to

> be a decent amount. I spoke to my Rheumy yesterday and forgot to

> mention this. I've started getting small rashes, more fatigue,

> comical memory loss (forgot my addr) while talking to NSTAR...lol,

> and beautifully colored bruises all over my legs and arms. Right

> now I'm all cleared up. Anyway, hope you are doing well and able to

> stay cool.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

> Hating hot weather, grateful for 2 cool days!

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi: I was so sorry to read that you have been feeling awful.. I

hope you put a call into your Rheumy. I have never had these symptons.

I knew when I didn't see any posts from you, that you must be sick.

I hope you get some answers, and that you start to feel better soon. I

am especially concerned about all your bruises. I pray things get

better for you.

Glad you have had some cool days. August is a tough month in Mass.

I was happy to get your letter last night, and I answered it this

morining. In my thoughts and prayers.

Here are some monster hugs from me to you...........

Barbara

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I think switching to gmail

was a

> bad idea. I was wondering if taking MTX makes any of you cold, or cold

to

> the point where you get the chills? This just started for me about a

month

> ago, maybe 6 weeks. I've been on it for almost 2 years now. My Dr.

tried

> to ween me off, but I couldn't get past 5. I'm at 6 pills every

Thursday

> and it seems to be a decent amount. I spoke to my Rheumy yesterday and

> forgot to mention this. I've started getting small rashes, more

fatigue,

> comical memory loss (forgot my addr) while talking to NSTAR...lol, and

> beautifully colored bruises all over my legs and arms. Right now I'm

all

> cleared up. Anyway, hope you are doing well and able to stay cool.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

> Hating hot weather, grateful for 2 cool days!

>

>

>