Re: how bad is methotrexate?

[Guest guest]

In my experience MTX is a good thing to take along with the AP. I

take ten mg of it now, so I don't have to take Ibu except

occasionally, and although there were a few unpleasant side effects of

it for a few days, it now is no problem at all.

On Mar 31, 2009, at 12:08 PM, Beth Fletcher wrote:

> Hello, Group.

>

> I'm really struggling here with AP. I have done nothing but get

> worse for 4 months now. The only thing that's getting me through is

> 800 mg of ibuprofen and I know that's not good for my stomach. I

> can barely walk everyday until it kicks in.

>

> So, I'm beginning to wonder...just how bad is methotrexate? Do I

> need to wait it out longer on AP? What do I do? Dr. Sentef seems

> to think I just need to suffer through it, but I've got two small

> kids to take care of and it's not easy when you can walk or lift the

> baby until noon every day.

>

> Beth

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I feel so bad for you. I was in the same boat 3 years ago. Unfortunately I

started MTX first and then found AP. I do believe they are both helping me, as

I tried to stop MTX and when I did OMG!! Anyway, I didn't have any side effects

from MTX, maybe a bad headache the next day, and I know some of the serious side

effects may not show until years later but for me I had to weigh the pros/cons

and realized that I need to raise my kids first and that means functioning day

to day. I didn't have the luxury of only thinking of myself, when they are

grown I will and then I will try to become an AP purist....until then this is

the route for me.

Best wishes,

Sue

---- Beckman <beckman5@...> wrote:

> In my experience MTX is a good thing to take along with the AP. I

> take ten mg of it now, so I don't have to take Ibu except

> occasionally, and although there were a few unpleasant side effects of

> it for a few days, it now is no problem at all.

>

>

> On Mar 31, 2009, at 12:08 PM, Beth Fletcher wrote:

>

> > Hello, Group.

> >

> > I'm really struggling here with AP. I have done nothing but get

> > worse for 4 months now. The only thing that's getting me through is

> > 800 mg of ibuprofen and I know that's not good for my stomach. I

> > can barely walk everyday until it kicks in.

> >

> > So, I'm beginning to wonder...just how bad is methotrexate? Do I

> > need to wait it out longer on AP? What do I do? Dr. Sentef seems

> > to think I just need to suffer through it, but I've got two small

> > kids to take care of and it's not easy when you can walk or lift the

> > baby until noon every day.

> >

> > Beth

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth;

I did use MTX for a couple of years.It took about 2 months to get

some benefit and my dose was a low 7.5 mg once a week.By the end of year

2 I was almost in liver failure.It happened very fast as I had had my

liver enzyme test done every second month and did not see it coming.The

pain was excrutiating.I could not sit and could barely lie down.The only

comfy position was standing up and I often wished that I could do like

the horses across the road who can slepp while standing.During this time

AP did not do much to help as MTX suppresses the immune system just when

you need it to fight the disease.All in all it took over 4 months for

the liver inflamation pain to go away.

Some people do quite well on MTX but it is just a question of time

before you have to stop it.Maybe you can try it until you get some

relief and taper off as fast as you can.Everyone is different and what

works for one may not for the next.

By the way,I am in total remission from SD but it took 6

years,major diet changes even though I had a very good diet,Found out

that I had celiac disease like many people with chronic

diseases,multiple food sensitivities,a sky high vit. D 25 that had to be

knocked down and a combination of 3 different antibiotics that were

rotated to 3 different ones every 6 months.

Lynne

> Hello, Group.

>

> I'm really struggling here with AP. I have done nothing but get worse

> for 4 months now. The only thing that's getting me through is 800 mg

> of ibuprofen and I know that's not good for my stomach. I can barely

> walk everyday until it kicks in.

>

> So, I'm beginning to wonder...just how bad is methotrexate? Do I need

> to wait it out longer on AP? What do I do? Dr. Sentef seems to

> think I just need to suffer through it, but I've got two small kids to

> take care of and it's not easy when you can walk or lift the baby

> until noon every day.

>

> Beth

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth, I took the Methotrexate firs for 6 months t though it didnt do any good.

Then I tried Minocycline 50mg twice a day because the doctor wanted to slowly

wean me off Methotrexate. The combo of Methotrexate and AP did wonders for me as

I didnt have any pains for days. However, as soon as I got off from Methotrexate

completely herx really knocked me off. So I took Prednisone 5 mg a day for two

weeks and then slowly cut it down to 1 mg a day for a week. Now I am only taking

AP 100 mg three times a week twice a day and Celebrex and my pain and stiffness

are both gone.

>

> > Hello, Group.

> >

> > I'm really struggling here with AP. I have done nothing but get

> > worse for 4 months now. The only thing that's getting me through is

> > 800 mg of ibuprofen and I know that's not good for my stomach. I

> > can barely walk everyday until it kicks in.

> >

> > So, I'm beginning to wonder...just how bad is methotrexate? Do I

> > need to wait it out longer on AP? What do I do? Dr. Sentef seems

> > to think I just need to suffer through it, but I've got two small

> > kids to take care of and it's not easy when you can walk or lift the

> > baby until noon every day.

> >

> > Beth

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

hi

it worked well for me, but you have to take double the folic acid-it counteracts

the side effects.....I was weaned off gradually........had no

problems..........have been doing pretty well so far and that was a year ago.

>

> > Hello, Group.

> >

> > I'm really struggling here with AP. I have done nothing but get

> > worse for 4 months now. The only thing that's getting me through is

> > 800 mg of ibuprofen and I know that's not good for my stomach. I

> > can barely walk everyday until it kicks in.

> >

> > So, I'm beginning to wonder...just how bad is methotrexate? Do I

> > need to wait it out longer on AP? What do I do? Dr. Sentef seems

> > to think I just need to suffer through it, but I've got two small

> > kids to take care of and it's not easy when you can walk or lift the

> > baby until noon every day.

> >

> > Beth

> >

> >