Guest guest Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Hi everyone, I've been a member of this group off and on for a year, which is when I was DX'd with RA. I've been on MTX and Prednisone for a year, in varying amounts, then started Arava as I was still flaring. The side effects of the MTX have become too much for me to handle lately and I am stuck at 6mg of Prednisone and flare when I try to go below that. I've been taking MTX pills for a year, but my Rheumy wanted to switch me to the injectable kind. I had my first injection this past Thursday and about an hour later felt like I was going to pass out. (I looked like I was going to pass out too.) I went home, went to bed as I was so exhausted and headachy. Then woke up at 2 am this past Friday vomiting, and continued to do so and was unable to keep a small amount of fluid down. I called my Rheumy, he said to take Maalox. Vomiting continued until I had my sister drive me to the ER Friday evening for IV, pain meds and anti-nausea drug. The ER doc wasn't sure if it was from the MTX injection or a virus. MTX makes me almost incoherant too. I am being switched to Enbrel ASAP and just had the TB tests today. Anyone have good luck with Enbrel or know someone who has? Thanks, Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 hi, Becky! so sorry to hear about all your troubles with MTX. I tried to take it, but my monthly lab test showed elevated liver/problems, so we abondoned it. I have been on/off enbrel for two years = off for two hip surgeries = now on again, and it is a wonder drug for me. I don't mind the twice a week injections; do it myself. I am walking well and my hands are working again. I am still working full time also. my pain is minimal as is the fatigue. good luck to you. gentle hugs! Marcia in western New York StateBecky <StarsHutch@...> wrote: Hi everyone,I've been a member of this group off and on for a year, which is when Iwas DX'd with RA. I've been on MTX and Prednisone for a year, in varying amounts, then started Arava as I was still flaring.The side effects of the MTX have become too much for me to handle latelyand I am stuck at 6mg of Prednisone and flare when I try to go below that. I've been taking MTX pills for a year, but my Rheumy wanted toswitch me to the injectable kind. I had my first injection this pastThursday and about an hour later felt like I was going to pass out.(I looked like I was going to pass out too.) I went home, went to bedas I was so exhausted and headachy. Then woke up at 2 am this pastFriday vomiting, and continued to do so and was unable to keep a smallamount of fluid down. I called my Rheumy, he said to take Maalox. Vomiting continued until I had my sister drive me to the ER Friday evening for IV, pain meds and anti-nausea drug. The ER doc wasn't sure if it was from the MTX injection or a virus. MTX makes me almost incoherant too.I am being switched to Enbrel ASAP and just had the TB tests today.Anyone have good luck with Enbrel or know someone who has?Thanks, Becky __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 In a message dated 8/11/2005 11:02:09 A.M. Central Standard Time, marciastoyle@... writes: hi, Becky! so sorry to hear about all your troubles with MTX. I tried to take it, but my monthly lab test showed elevated liver/problems, so we abondoned it. I have been on/off enbrel for two years = off for two hip surgeries = now on again, and it is a wonder drug for me. I don't mind the twice a week injections; do it myself. I am walking well and my hands are working again. I am still working full time also. my pain is minimal as is the fatigue. good luck to you. gentle hugs! Marcia in western New York State Hi Marcia, Thanks for your response. I had my first injection of Enbrel today, so far so good. The doc prescribed 50 mg once a week, mid-week. The needle hurt a little going in, whereas the needle with MTX was pain-free, so there might be a difference in needles. I swore I wouldn't be able to inject myself, but the side effects with MTX and Arava are terrible. The RA doc said to just take Celebrex and the 6 mg of Prednisone for now. No more Arava or MTX. Yippee! It saves me some co-pays not having to buy all these pills and no more stomach aches! I had gained 20 pounds when I started Prednisone and once I started tapering off, I lost 8 pounds and the swollen face right away! I haven't had a flare (and when I do, it's just one or two joints) in about a month. Most of the time I am 99.99% pain free, just really exhausted a lot of the time. I hear that Enbrel might give me some energy... That would be nice. It's been a few years since I have had any energy. Take Care, Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: StarsHutch@... > I had gained 20 pounds when I started Prednisone and once I started tapering off, I lost 8 pounds and the swollen face right away! Just be sure to take your calcium and vitamin D if you are taking Prednisone. I have lost the bulk of my bone density from the prednisone which is why they thought my back problem might be a fracture. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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