New to posting

[Guest guest]

Hey there. I am glad that you found this list. As you already know there is

a wealth of information for many of us so called " veteran's " and even many of

the newbie's such as yourself.

Congratulations to Kailey for doing the shot! That is awesome!! She should

be VERY proud of herself. You too! As far as the MTX, many of the warnings are

for dosages much higher than what we give our children. I have NEVER worried

about gloves or spilling.

As far as the flu shot is concerned there are many opinions - BOTH ways.

Caroline's doctor's REQUIRE her to have the flu shot, there fore she gets it

every year. It's a decision that you and Kailey's doc's should make together...

Take care

Alia and Caroline, age 4, poly and uveitis

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome to our group...I am glad that you have felt

comfortable enough to post your questions and am sure that you will

this group to be very caring and informative!

We dont give our daughter the flu shot but that is just a personal

choice. She is also on inj. mtx and we have been told that the flu

virus is a dead virus and therefore it can be given if you desire to

do that.

As far as protective wear such as gloves...we don't do that but if

any mtx spills I use a paper towel to clean so that I can dispose of

it, then clean the area with lysol and wash my hands good...I would

say that if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant then I

would choose to use gloves and be more cautious...again, thats just

me...

I would say go ahead and get Miss Kailey some pretty new

earings...she deserves a sweet reward after having to endure the

shots...just speak to the people that are using the guns and ask

them about steralization or have them steralize it in front of you

after you explain the need to really reduce any possible

infection...I think she will be fine! :-)

My daughter is 11 and she takes 20mg of mtx sub Q. She usually

chooses the back of her arms or tummy...never tried the legs yet.

She has a nice pinch of skin on the back of her arms that works out

pretty good for her.

Hope this helps a little with some of your questions.

blessings,

(Aundrea 11 systemic jra/gerd)-

-- In , " kzmomi " <DBeckley@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone. I have been lurking for awhile and have learned

quite

> a lot from all of you and received much support as well from all

of

> your answers. Sorry it has taken me so long and I have saved up

> quite a few questions so sorry if this is very long. My daughter

> Kailey just turned 8 and she was diagnosed with Poly JRA almost a

> year ago although I believe she has had it since she was about 3

or

> 4. She is on naproxen, MTX, and folic acid and today we started

MTX

> SubQ injections. She did really well with the injection as she

> always does with the blood work thank god. I was suprised because

I

> read some info on the MTX injections and it mentioned wearing

> gloves, not getting the medication on your skin wearing

protective

> clothing and cleaning it up a certain way if spilled, that all

made

> me a little nervouse then today the nurse was showing us how to

fill

> the syringe with no gloves it dripped on the table and she was not

> at all concerned. Do any of you wear gloves or anything special

when

> administering the MTX? Kailey did really well, we gave it on the

> stomach althought I think we will do the leg next week. She seems

> fine but her belly button is red and itchy. What does everyone do

> regarding the flu shot for your kids when they are on MTX. It is

> hitting my area now and the rhemy is on vacation but the nurse

said

> she would try to get a message to her and then call me when she

gets

> an answer. We are in the central FL area and we see Dr.

Hasselbring

> in Orlando. Another question I have is regarding ear piercing,

> Kailey wants her ears pierced and the rhemy has told me that it is

> ok to have done and keep taking the mtx. I was going to take her

to

> s to have it done but then saw horror stories about the guns

> giving infections because they can not be sterilized. Any advice

or

> suggestions on the best place to have this done? Sorry this is so

> long I will save more for a later time. I am glad I finally had a

> chance to pop in and say hi. I hope everyone is doing well.

>

[Guest guest]

Robbin, if cares properly for her ears she will likely do fine. I

know a whole lot of YA's and kids who have pierced ears, among other things,

even tattoos and they have done fine. if infection does occur simply remove the

earrings and let the whole close up......

happy piercing!

Donna

[Guest guest]

1.) MTX-No we have never used gloves or taken special precautions. The

JRA dose is low and risk is therefore low.

2.) Flu shot. The risk of the flu is great with a weakened immune

system. Having the flu can result in hospitalization and can even be

fatal with a weakened immune system. The shot is a dead virus and is

safe. Do NOT use the inhaled mist. This is a live virus and can NOT be

given. My daughter and I both got ours today while at the rheumy

clinic. We also have the whole family get it because she doesn't make

the antibodies very well.

3.) Ear piercing is okay. Be vigilant with the cleaning, twisting and

seek antibiotics ASAP if signs of infection develop. Keep the original

earrings in longer than 's or wherever recommends to give

greater chance of healing properly.

4.) One more vaccine that is good is the Pneumovax for prevention of

pneumonia. It is a dead one too. The chicken pox vaccine is a live

vaccine. If your child has not had the chicken pox and gets exposed

our rheumy recommends Igg (I think that is what she called it) shots

to help prevent infection.

Ask away if you have other questions. Some one will always chime in

with an answer.

e, mom to joe 19 poly + lupus

[Guest guest]

I always wear gloves, and an apron when I do the Mtx shot for Bayly.

I never worried about handling the tablets, even crushed them up and

gave them to him on a spoon, but then when we switched to the SubQ

shots- I FREAKED, as I was given all these strict instructions on

handling, drawing, injecting, and disposal (special purple sharps

container). Bayly has 0.4ml- the equivalent of 10mg- once a week.

The Rheumy has never advised us to get a Flu shot for Bay, nor did

he worry whenever Bayly's been due for his age-appropriate

immunisations. When his older half-bro came home with Chickenpox two

Christmases ago, we had to get the Zoster Immunoglobulin- ZIG- shot

for Bayly, and special permission for the Chickenpox vaccine for his

little sis Violet (who was 11 months old at the time). Bayly still

got the chickenpox, but only a small dose- right on New Year's Eve!

Hope my chiming-in helps.

Oh, and I hope to hell he NEVER gets his ears pierced!

LOL

Jo

Bayly, 4, extended oligo

>

> 1.) MTX-No we have never used gloves or taken special precautions.

The > JRA dose is low and risk is therefore low.

>

> 2.) Flu shot. The risk of the flu is great with a weakened immune

> system. Having the flu can result in hospitalization and can even

be > fatal with a weakened immune system. The shot is a dead virus

and is > safe. Do NOT use the inhaled mist. This is a live virus and

can NOT be > given. My daughter and I both got ours today while at

the rheumy > clinic. We also have the whole family get it because

she doesn't make > the antibodies very well.

>

> 3.) Ear piercing is okay. Be vigilant with the cleaning, twisting

and > seek antibiotics ASAP if signs of infection develop. Keep the

original > earrings in longer than 's or wherever recommends

to give > greater chance of healing properly.

>

> 4.) One more vaccine that is good is the Pneumovax for prevention

of > pneumonia. It is a dead one too. The chicken pox vaccine is a

live > vaccine. If your child has not had the chicken pox and gets

exposed > our rheumy recommends Igg (I think that is what she called

it) shots > to help prevent infection.

>

> Ask away if you have other questions. Some one will always chime

in > with an answer.

> > e, mom to joe 19 poly + lupus

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so much for your replies, they were all very helpful.

Kailey did have the Pneumovax and Chicken Pox vacines prior to being

diagnosed. She had Pneumonia when she was around 3 and part of me

thinks that is when all of this started. My other problem with the ear

piercing is that Kailey has an allergy when she wears certain jewelry

or if a metal clip from clothing touches her skin she gets and awful

rash. I have purchased nickel free jewelry for her that seems to be

fine so we are pretty sure nickel is what she has the alergy to so we

just have to be real careful that the earings they use are pure silver

or gold. Between the JRA and the alergy we buy mostley elastic waist

pants, lol.

Thank you again for all the great advice.

Donna

Kailey (Age 6 Poly JRA)

[Guest guest]

I have pierced ears - had absolutely NO problems.

Good luck - either way.

love, prayers, and blessings

(age 37 - dx poly @ age 3)

[Guest guest]

Hi...my name is Trish. My husband is bigjkahuna here in the group. I

was just wondering if any of you know if there is any connection

between MTX and anxiety. I also want to thank all of you for being so

supportive to . This group has really helped him a lot and he

talks about you guys all the time (all good of course). I am going to

get more active in this group...I don't support him like I should I

suppose, but I'm sure he's told you all our situation. I just started

work about 2 months ago, so I'm hoping my income will take some stress

off of him. Well, thanks again...hope to hear from some of you soon.

If you want to add me, this is also my messenger screen

name...I would love to chat with some of you.

" Trish " <trishkitchens@...>

[Guest guest]

Hi Trish,

Welcome. I applaud your commitment and caring about your husband's

health. Many of us wish our spouses and/or families learned more about

PA or did a bit of research on their own. Too often, I feel like no

one REALLY wants to hear about my disease even though I'm often asked.

hint: the eyes glazing over is a big giveaway.

Anyway, I would guess that MTX can affect different people in different

ways, as it helps many people like myself, yet it doesn't help others.

But, I've never read anything about it causing or fostering anxiety.

I certainly doesn't in my case.

Be supportive, help him to find choices and make decisions regarding

his health. Be a good sounding board. Luckily my PA is pretty much in

remission due to my taking MTX. But, I still have concerns that I must

take MTX for the rest of my life and have some trepidation that it may

mean increased dosages over time. But, my partner is a good

stabilizer. He helps me to not get too far ahead of myself. Warns me

to worry about the " what ifs " when they become " what nows " and not

before. And it always helps to remember that I gotta live today,

before I can live tomorrow.

Stay Well,