Hi RA Friends

[Guest guest]

I've been lurking again. I figure I shouldn't say as much since I

don't have the RA, but the MS. Dh and I went to his first rheumy

appt. last Thursday. Because of hanging out with this group, I had a

clue about what was happening. And was actually able to ask

some " pertinent " questions.

DH is on the beginning dose of MTX: 6-2.5 mg one day a week. He's

doing 1200 mg(I think) of Folic Acid daily to counteract side

effects. (This is a little more than he was told to take because he

picked up a good multi-vitamin with no iron and it has some Folic

Acid in it to which he added a little more separately.) He was

extremely paranoid about all the side effects listed on MTX.

Understandable. He's still working full time...on his feet 12

hours/day. Mornings are difficult. He's in so much pain and he's

working so hard anyway. I love him for what he's doing. It makes me

want to find ways to help him.

Dh is still taking the prednisone...10 to 20 mg daily as needed.

Today was a 20 mg day. He doesn't like to take the 20 mg because the

pred makes him more " angry. " It affects his mood. That's a side

effect I have from taking pred as well. The rheumy said this

was " bridge therapy. " Taking the pred until you start the MTX and

then trying to wean off or quit the pred. But from your experiences,

I think dh will end up taking more than one drug to get some

control. I hope we get to a place of pain control! :0)

He's having worse pain this week since he started the MTX. Ironic.

He's unsure about taking ibuprofen with it as he didn't ask the doc.

I don't know of any reason not to take it, do you all? I have seen

that you shouldn't take aspirin with MTX, but not ibuprofen and as

some of you are taking Naproxen(which is also a NSAID), I would

think it would be fine. Advice?

I am curious about how you guys are all coping with work, disability

issues. There has been some talk about it, but not much. I

purposedly did not apply for social security this month as I heard

somewhere 2 people in same household could not draw it. And if dh

needs it, he has a better work history and could get bigger amount

per month if this is true. I am better able to work a part-time job

and possibly learn to ebay or tutor to pick up money here and

there. I am already a skilled frugalist from living on one income

for 10+ years.

Have a blessed day.

Hugs n prayers,

Nita