Well, much to my relief, my first dose of Methotrexate (10mg) went rather well. I took it Saturday night about 2 hours before I went to bed. I snacked with it because I thought it might upset my stomach. (If it did, I slept through it.) The next morning I felt pretty much the same as usual, but I did notice my palms were red and my hands were swollen and that I was a little stiffer all day long. In fact, my hands are still red and swollen. But Im not feeling bad. I havent felt nauseous. I guess Im doing pretty good. I was scared and very nervous about it, and Im glad its over. Now I think Im ready to face this thing and beat it. I am still on the Prednisone (although this is my last week at 20mg, then I go down to 10mg). So that should help keep me comfortable until the MTX kicks in. Im hoping this works for me.

My mom wants me to try "visualization therapy" with her. She thinks I need to get my mind in the right frame to get this thing out of my body. I dont know if there is anything to it or not, but at the very least it would be relaxing for me. Right? I dont know if I'll do it or not, but thats something she's asked me to try. Have any of you done this?

Anyway, that sums it up. Its over. Im officially on MTX. I wont let this thing get me. I can beat it!

~Meg http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif
(on a Positive Mental Attitude day)

Do you have full prescribing information on your meds? If not, suggest you go to MedLinePlus and print it out and keep it on hand. You need to know which are mild, moderate and serious side-effects.

Also, keep a record of when you take your meds, foods and side-effects.

If your doctor hasn't mentioned it - be especially careful about hygiene [personal and food preparation] and avoid contact with anyone with a contagious illness. The reason for all these cautions is because both methotrexate and prednisone are immune-suppressants.

BTW - visualization therapy works for some people but not for others and it's been used with all types of patients - kids to seniors, cancer patients to professional sports training. It's especially effective when combined with physiotherapy and/or biofeedback. May be worth a try, but ultimately just use whatever makes you feel most at ease.

Good luck,
Jay


[This message has been edited by Jay Tor (edited 09-03-2002).]

Hi Meg -

I'm glad to hear the dose went well!! I'm sure if you were prone to an adverse reaction (like nausea) you would have it by now. Usually, medications get better as you take them, so I'm sure you're good to go!

As for your hands being red and swollen - I wonder if maybe that was just "weather" related? Maybe Sunday was a more humid day than normal? But definitely look into the side effects just to be safe.

How often are you taking this? 1/week?

I am to start Sulfasalazine this week. (I put off picking it up until tonight when I was back from my weekend away!) And I'm afraid to take that since so many people have had sulfa allergies. But, I'm hoping that it will be ok for me - I've never suffered from side effects from any medication before - and I don't want to start now!

Keep us posted on your progress. I'd like to know how soon you start to notice the MTX kicking in! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif


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~Allison~

Hi, Allison!

Thanks for replying! I really do feel better now that the first dose is done and over with. Im hoping that since the MTX didnt make me feel weird that I will be okay taking it. I realize Im only taking a very small dose of it (10mg per week) and that as its increased it might cause some problems, but Im at least on it and am doing something about this. Right?!

I hope you do well on the Sulfasalazine. I would have opted to take it, but since my mom is allergic to sulfa drugs and Im allergic to plaquenil, my doctor didnt think it would be good for me. Im sure you'll do fine if you havent had any problems with meds so far!

Let me know how it goes-- seems like we're in the same boat right now. LOL!

~Meg
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

How did the 2nd dose go this weekend? Still feeling ok?

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~Allison~

Second dose went okay. I wasnt so nervous or scared aout it. But I did feel achey the day after and still today. But its rainy here because of Tropical Storm Fay, so that probably made it worse than it would have been.

How are you feeling?

~Meg

Hi Meg -

Actually, I'm feeling pretty good lately (knock on wood). And I am finally getting some good sleep again. But, I have yet to start taking the Sulfasalazine. It took forever to get the prescription. Then I finally picked it up last week and noticed on the leaflet that it can interfere with my birth control pill. So I had to call the dr. and blah blah blah, I still have yet to start it, a week later! But, I am going to see a doctor in NYC this Thursday (second opinion b/c I don't like my current Dr.) so I am going to wait and see what he says. I just want to make sure it's the right thing. The last thing I want is to get pregnant when I am taking all these prescriptions. Guess I'll have to find an alternative to my birth control!

Glad to hear the MTX is going well so far. Probably another week or 2 and you'll really start feeling the difference. And I'm sorry about your weather. I know I always fret a little when I see rain in the forecast!!! Knowing I will have a stiffer than usual day. I feel a little stiff today, I think b/c we have rain coming tonight. But I am hoping for a good day b/c today is my husband's 30th birthday! Yikes - can't believe we aren't 21 anymore! So I want to go home and decorate the house before he gets home from work - then it's off to dinner we go.

How are your wedding plans going? I know how stressful and fun it can be! (Our 1 year wedding anniversary is October 6!)

Cheers to us all feeling in tip top shape VERY soon!!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

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~Allison~

[This message has been edited by Hellokitty1973 (edited 09-09-2002).]

Meg -

Just wondering, how is the MTX working out??? Have you noticed a difference yet?

Hi Allison! I havent noticed any difference yet. Tomorrow I take my 4th dose. I go back to my RD after my 5th dose, so we'll see what he says then. Im hoping it will kick in soon. Im so tired of all this. Today just isnt a good day in general.... I shouldnt even get started... Thanks for asking though. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bigcry.gif

how are you feeling?

~meg

Sorry to hear your're not having the greatest of days! This MTX has to start kicking in soon. It really is supposed to be a wonder drug for many people. Maybe it will just start working all of a sudden. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

As for me, things are still going pretty well. I can say I feel 80-90% myself. I'm not nearly as tired as I once was. I have noticed a huge difference getting in and out of my car (my knees used to hurt) and I am less stiff in the morning or after sitting for while. Those are (atleast I think) some of the key things to watch for. I'm also sleeping much better. I used to wake up atleast 3x per night - now I MAYBE wake up once. Start paying attention to how you feel in the morning especially and that should be a good indicator about the MTX working.

I'm also at sort of at a crossroad right now. I'm feeling really well, but now my husband and i want to "maybe" try for a baby in the spring. I'm just feeling so good I don't want to go off the meds. But, the doctor says he can treat me with steroids. I don't know - I'm so confused right now. I'm 29, my husband is 30. We don't want to wait too long, ya know?

Ok - I'm rambling now! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Feel better soon!

------------------
~Allison~

Allison, I can totally relate! I wanted to start a family too (in the spring after I get married of course) and Im 27 so I can defintely hear that clock ticking. My fiance (he'll be 31 in Nov.) on the other hand has a 7 year old daughter, so he's not upset about us not starting our family right away. But Ive always wanted kids and feel old now to be starting my family so late. I know its silly, but I do. (When I was a kid, I always said Id have my kids in my early twenties when I could keep up with them. LMAO!) And it scares me that the older I get, the more risks are involved. But I know I have to get my RA under control before I go off the meds and throw more at my body than its already dealing with. My plan is to take MTX for a year and then see (if it works anyway). If Im feeling better in a year, then I might go off and try to have a baby.

I wish you the best of luck on this one! Its a hard decision to make. But I have heard about people taking Prednisone and vioxx and got pregnant. Then they went into remission! Ah.... wont that be nice?! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

~Meg

Hi, I'm totally in the same boat... Meg, I've seen your posts of the insight board and I've shared some of this there too so I apologize if this is redundant info..

I'm 29, diagnosed 4 1/2 yrs ago... was on Plaquenil, then Arava, now back to Plaquenil as Arava stopped working, and now I'm in limbo.. my RD wants me to go on MTX and possibly Remicade, but I've been putting it off for a few months now as I'm scared about effects MTX may have on fertility, and on a fetus, even though I would definetly be off of it 6 months before conceiving, I've heard it still stays in the tissues.. if something ever did happen, then I would feel so bad.. Like you Meg, my husband already has 2 kids from a previous marriage, so he's not as anxious as me to have a child, but he does realize the importance of it to me.. I definetly would only have one child.. so I really don't know what to do, I would like to try to conceive one yr from now, so I may just try to grin and bear the pain and stay on just plaquenil and celebrex for now... and not worry too much about joint destruction that may happen in the meanwhile... this is all very frustrating

Nic

Meg & Allison, My mom was diagnosed with RA when she was in her 40's.She was hit hard and fast and was pretty close to being wheel-chair bound when she was started on Metho. For her it was a miracle!She was able to walk and returned to work and more importantly to her, she was able to dance again which had been one of her greatest joys.She continues to be on the Metho to this day though she has to use it in conjunction with the remicade. She has had to have a few liver biopsy's as her enzyme levels were creeping up but nothing serious ever became of them. She is 69 now and continues to work, has good days and not so good days but always seems to keep a positive attitude.I think that more then anything has gotten her through some bad times.I realize that you are alot younger then she when you got diagnosed and have a few different issues then she does.I hope the Metho works as well for you as it has for my mom.

God Bless,
Sam