Guest guest Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 Sounds like your new rheumatologist is great, Rick. I think your wife had it right - of course you should have seen a woman in the first place! I hope you get the answers and treatment you need very soon. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] NEW Rheumy Finally, went and saw the new rheumy today. She was very pleasant and actually seemed concerned both about my conditions and about the treatment (or lack of) that I had been receiving. She completely changed my meds because the ones I was on weren't aggressive enough and once I get use to these meds she is going to put me on some even stronger meds (kind of working me up to it). I have never been one to go to the Dr. when I needed to, which may have contributed to some of the extent of problems I have now, but the difference between the rheumy I had been seeing and the one I saw today is like night and day (that would even be an understatement). Needless to say, I won't be going back to the other rheumy anymore. Of course, my wife says I should have gone to a " woman " to begin with. LOL She has me on Arava, Fosomax, Plaquenil, Flexeril, Loritab and Calcuim with Vitamin D. The others she mentioned putting me on are Cytoxan and Imuran. I don't know anything about these but she suggested I do some searches on the internet to read everything I wanted to about them and let her know about any concerns I have. She is also going to be calling my Pulmonologist tomorrow to discuss the lung problems and ask him why he hasn't ordered a Biopsy and repeat MRI and tell him to get an MRI ASAP and to make arrangements for an open lung Biopsy to figure out exactly what has been going on with my lungs so they can figure out , together, how to get me off the steroids.SOON. She also has referred me to see an Ophthmologist for my eyes because she is concerned about my eyeglass prescription more then doubling in 1 ½ years and then almost doubling again in the right eye just 6 months later. She says it could be from the RA or the steroids or another condition or syndrome which I can't remember what she called it but it started with an M. It seems strange but I am actually excited about having this Dr. I guess because for the first time, between the VA and my other rheumy, I feel like a Dr. is actually going to take care of me. Quite a change of 13 years of untreated RA and 1 year of poorly treated RA, OA and osteoporosis and neuropathy. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2004 Report Share Posted July 10, 2004 I took MTX in OJ for quite a while. I had slight nausea for a day or 2 after ingesting it. I also had diarrhea in the beginning of being on it but that got better. There is no taste what so ever. Terri [ ] New Rheumy > After my last Rheumy yelled at me at the last visit I had with her in April, I found a new one. She was unhappy with my gastro dr., wanted me to go from Humira to Remicade because of the RA and Collagenous Colitis. The Gastro told me it wouldn't make any difference, Remicade helps Crohns, not what I have. > I think it was a good move. He agreed with my Gastro and said I have very fast erosive RA which is out of control. The old Rheumy was also treating a thyroid and para thyroid condition. This Dr. has sent me to an Endo to be evaluated, another good move, I think. > He prescribed Methotrexate injectable, .25 mg .4 cc twice weekly. He said I could inject it, OR I could mix it in orange juice and drink it. Has anyone heard of that before? He said the injectable is much cheaper that the oral and it could be taken orally or injected. I'm to continue on the Humira every other week and return in 5 weeks. If I haven't had any side effects he'll raise the dosage of the Methotrexate. > Welcome to all the newbee's!! I don't post often, but this group is truly my support!! Becky, I too loved your picture! You looked great! and a, you do a great job!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Happy to hear that you found a new rheumatologist, Colleen. You can take the methotrexate in orange juice, but then it will pass through your GI tract - more chance for adverse reactions and less of it available to your body. Are you sure about that dosage? Can you clarify that? Because of toxicity concerns, MTX is taken ONCE per week and usually the maximum is 25 mg/week. Typically, the solution is 2.5 mg/0.1 cc which is equivalent to 25 mg/1 cc or 25 mg/1 ml. Thanks for your kind words! I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] New Rheumy > After my last Rheumy yelled at me at the last visit I had with her in April, I found a new one. She was unhappy with my gastro dr., wanted me to go from Humira to Remicade because of the RA and Collagenous Colitis. The Gastro told me it wouldn't make any difference, Remicade helps Crohns, not what I have. > I think it was a good move. He agreed with my Gastro and said I have very fast erosive RA which is out of control. The old Rheumy was also treating a thyroid and para thyroid condition. This Dr. has sent me to an Endo to be evaluated, another good move, I think. > He prescribed Methotrexate injectable, .25 mg .4 cc twice weekly. He said I could inject it, OR I could mix it in orange juice and drink it. Has anyone heard of that before? He said the injectable is much cheaper that the oral and it could be taken orally or injected. I'm to continue on the Humira every other week and return in 5 weeks. If I haven't had any side effects he'll raise the dosage of the Methotrexate. > Welcome to all the newbee's!! I don't post often, but this group is truly my support!! Becky, I too loved your picture! You looked great! and a, you do a great job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Monday I went to my new Rheumy! I love him! He was great. He explained everything, he also agreed with me, that I shouldn't have been on Methotrexate. He said I am too young for that, I have a 2 year old son and would like to have another child. I also told him I do not want to go back on the Prednisone. It was so nice to have a Dr. who listened and explained things. My old Dr. never told me about any side effects of MXT, I had to find out on my own about the weakend immune system, when I came down with a horrible cold and a fever of 104. The new guy has me on Plaquinil (sp). I just started taking it on Monday, so I have a while to see if it works, but since I am still in the early stages here, I am keeping my fingers crossed. thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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