Re: mtx - need some advice PLEASE READ THIS REPLY!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Ken,

Thanks for speaking up... You are right, the only people who understand what we

go through are those who are also living this night mare. I've been on

methytrexate for 2 years now, with the amount changing based on my symptoms...

My doctor is very good and I have my blood tested normally every six weeks to

look for adverse effects. I think its always best to be proactive...

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Ken:

Thanks for the 411, I have blood scheduled every month. I too wondre how my

perfectly helthy liver is gonna handle " all this jazz "

OKD

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> Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2009 1:27:18 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

> Subject: Re: [ ] Re: mtx - need some advice  PLEASE READ THIS

REPLY!!!!!!!

>

> Greetings!

>              You probably don't know me, as I post very

rarely......my name is " ken:, or : squarehead " , which ever you prefer.......but

after reading your post, about methotrexate injections, I feel it would be an

injustice if I didn't.

>              You see, I, myself, took thee pills, then switched to

injections, and used then for about three years.....until I went into the

emergency room at the V,A, unable to stay awake, in pain from my back.......it

turned out that my liver was failing! And the cause was Methotrexate .....which

I no longer take!

>            Please, Please...if you must use this often dangerous

drug, PLEASE, once a month, get a blood test! Tho' I do not know you, I am a

Christian, and YOU are part of a small and growing group of people who suffer

from a terrible disease...and I CAN say that I love you, for your daily

courage,for your pain, that only one who suffers from this knows....

>        and I would be amiss if I didn't warn you.

>                            Take care, and be

happy...................love, ken

>

>

[Guest guest]

So Stan:

Can you play with the levels of MTX/Prednisone and just take them when you need

it, or does it have to build up in your system to work?

OKD

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>

>

> RA really is a nightmare isn't it! When I was first diagnosed last year I had

no idea what I was in for, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a

Rheumatologist. I sorta knew it wasn't gonna be good when I found this Newsgroup

because it had only one primary topic: Rheumatoid Arthritis. Lol, that was sort

of a clue. And then I learned that if the RA doesn't kill you the treatment

will. I mean 'cmon, who takes medication that makes you feel worse than you did

before you took it? Then doctors start tellin' you things like " this is sixty

percent effective " and you're really really happy for it (thank god I might get

some relief you think to yourself). What I personally hate most about it most is

just when you think you are getting a handle on how life is gonna be here comes

Fat RA again to change everything up (thinking of Bill Cosby's character Fat

Albert, Hey, hey hey). It really is a nightmare.

>

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> Stan

>

> Seattle, Dark.

>

> Fat RA, hey hey hey...

[Guest guest]

Do you ever feel the RA Flares coming on, like the heat before the pain and

swelling? What do you do when you feel it coming on?

Do you ever get RA in the jaw, my jaw has been aching alot lately.

OKD

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> In my experience and from what I've read in the Group most doctors will start

you out on a low dose for four to six weeks and may increase the dose based on

how you respond to the medication and what your lab work indicates. But I am

only taking MTX. I don't know anything about Presdnisone.

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> Stan

>

> Seattle, Sun!

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>

[Guest guest]

So in reading all of these replies, there is really nothing one can do to

immediately relief the burning of the flares. The pain, I understand can be

relieved right away, but not the burning....

OKD

>

> MTX takes months to build up in your system, and conversely, months to

completely leave your system. Prednisone works immediately if the dosage is

right. Both medications need to be taken as dosed, especially the prednisone.

You have to follow the dosing guidelines to a " T " , else you could find yourself

in some trouble.

> Lori

> http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

> http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Stiching Queen:

No pool accessible at work though. I can take cold shower afterwards though.

Maybe cold water on the face will snap the hots off my shoulders.

With the 'Predni', I up the dose to 10mgs when I dont feel well, but the hots

come right back, as the predni wanes, so far the 'inflam' is laying low though.

I am just listening to all your writings on how flares let you know they are

coming, everybodies is different.

Once I learn this " bad-boy " (the RA) and how it climbs up me, I will get the

hang of it.

This is all new to me, so please forgive me if I ramble a bit.

OKD

>

> Sorry, there is no immediate relief. The quickest would be prednisone. After

a day or two on the proper dose, you should begin to feel better. If you have

access to a pool, and can immerse yourself, you'll feel wonderful while you are

in there. The only problem is that you eventually have to get out. :-)

>

> One of the biggest shocks of having something like RA is that there is no

quick fix, let alone a long standing one. When you're used to going to the

doctor and getting a script for antibiotics and being better in a week or two,

learning (and fully realizing) that you have a chronic condition is a big life

change.

> Lori

> http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

> http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Lori, I also had a lot of jaw troubles early in the course of my disease but

for some reason I don't really have them anymore. That was also my daughter's

first symptom of her RA. Over time you'll have aches and pains just about

everywhere Michele BB

>

> I've had a flare up in my jaw, but only once so far. It was by far one of the

most miserable things I've ever dealt with and the only thing that worked for me

was going back on the prednisone.

> Lori

> http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

> http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

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