Re: Methotrexate and fibrosis

[Guest guest]

A friend of mine took methotrexate for 5 years and is now diagnosed with

pulmonary fibrosis which they believe is methotrexate induced. I also have heard

of 2 others with the same diagnosis. Hopefully this is not the case for you.

All these meds have such long lists of possible side effects that it really is a

catch 22.

Hope you get to feeling better and praying you receive good results.

>

> I went to visit my RA doctor yesterday and although I was happy with my being

relative pain free, except for lower back and knees...he was not happy with how

I appeared. I had told him last visit how I thought that the weakest part of my

body was my lungs as I have had multiple pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis in my

60 + years of life. He ordered a chest x-ray yesterday and told me that he is

looking for fibrosis in my lungs. I also told him last visit that I have become

short of breath doing things that I feel should not cause me to be short of

breath.

>

> Although he is a big proponent of Methotrexate and does not believe it does no

harm, he did say that there is talk in the field about a possible relationship

between methotrexate and fibrosis in the lungs.

>

> Any research or experience one can speak of?

>

> Thank you my partners in this disease journey....

>

> Rojo in Grass Valley, CA

> Oh! If the x-ray comes back with something...he is ordering me to a lung

specialist for base line lung testing. He is also hinting at different RA drugs

for me. So far, I just take 20mg. Metho. once a week with no real side effects

except fatigue...of course that may just be the disease and not the drug.

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[Guest guest]

Hi .

 

I am glad your Dr. is following up on your lung issues.  A chest x-ray is a

good test to begin with.

I too have had all 3 illnesses too many times in my life.

 

Two years ago, I was in the hospital with Bronchits, Asthma and Pneumonia. 

They found many nodules in my lungs, in the lower lobes.  I did see a lung Dr.

in the hospital and in his office.  I had many chest x-rays, and my

lungs stayed the same.  I had a MRI and they were there still.  I was on the

Nebulizer, inhalers, etc.  I then had a P.E.T. lung x-ray.  I had this test 4

times before my lungs were clear.  He was concerned that it was lung cancer. 

Thank God I did not have that.

 

I was a wreck while dealing with all that.  My lung specialist is a great Dr. 

I also had many breathing tests in the office.  I almost made it one year

without getting sick like this.  I am on my second week and begining to feel

better.  The cough is still there but going slowly.  I was disappointed that I

did not make a year of being healthy.  I have not had my MTX injection in 2

weeks and so want to get back to them.  I don't want my RA to flare.

 

I hope you find out what is causing your shortness of breath etc.  It can be a

scarey time.  I will be looking for your post about your x-ray results etc. 

 

Take care and rest as often as you can.  I have been down more then I have been

up in the past 2 weeks.  The asthma cough just wears me out.

 

Wishing you many better days ahead.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara 

[Guest guest]

Thank you , Barbara and others. Lot's of reading to do....sometimes I

wonder if any treatment is valuable and harmless.

Here is something I have experienced about my own personal pain.....I don't feel

much pain, if any, when I am engrossed in something that I truly enjoy. Touble

is....there is a lot of daily work and duty that is not all that enjoyable.

Thanks again,

Rojo

Noble Beasts Ranch

Grass Valley, CA