Methotrexate and cycling - so far so good
crustyjuggler
Member Posts: 2
A Positive Story about Drugs and Cycling.
2008 was a bad year for me.
In March 2008 I was made redundant from my job at Waterstone’s and the following month I turned 40. This coincided with a big deterioration in my general health, and also some difficult family issues came to a head around the same time.
I’ve had Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2002 but until the beginning of 2008 the symptoms were pretty much under control. I’d been taking sulfasalazine for 6 years which had kept the symptoms at bay but early 2008 saw a big increase in pain and inflammation.
June was a real low point. I went camping with my wife on a church outing and was so sore during the night’s I could barely move. Getting up and out of my sleeping bag was a real ordeal which left me crying and frustrated. I had some steroid injections in March, April and July but the benefits of these were short-lived.
When I saw the specialist in July she offered me a drug called Methotrexate. It was explained to me that in larger doses it’s used as a chemotherapy drug and it can cause unpleasant side effects. Also, if I went on it I would need monthly blood tests and I wouldn’t be able to have children or drink alcohol. As it happened I wasn’t planning to do either of those but overall it sounded pretty scary and I decided to give it a miss.
I’d started to feel like someone with a disability. Simple things like putting on shoes, getting lids off jars, carrying shopping and walking freely had become painful and frustrating. In addition to the RA, I also suffer from really dry eyes and a dry mouth.
But the worst thing was I was losing my cycling. Just doing a few miles was a struggle due to wrist, elbow, foot and shoulder pain. I ended 2008 barely able to look at a bike, never mind ride one. In November I rode to Stokesley and back (about 16 miles in total) with my wife Ruth and friend Graeme and I felt like an absolute wreck.
And yet 2009 has been my best cycling year ever.
Why?
1) In January I started taking the Methotrexate. I decided not to be afraid of what damage it might do. I figured it couldn’t be much worse than the arthritis itself.
2) By May I reached my first turning point. Suitably pumped full of drugs I cycled Glasgow to Inverness with my wife Ruth, 215 miles over 6 days stopping in B&Bs and enjoyed all the scenery and hospitality that Scotland has to offer, as well as fantastic sunny weather. Due to lingering doubts about my health I decided to only pedal when necessary on this trip which was somewhat frustrating for Ruth as she had to keep coming to look for me as I ground to a halt on the brow of a hill. I had a couple of days where I felt shattered but over the week I could feel my love of cycling returning.
3) After Scotland I started giving in to the relentless cycling suggestions of my wife Ruth and friend Graeme. They formed their own cycling club http://www.ibwfcc.ning.com. As well as organising small local rides, they spend huge amounts of time researching and planning cycling events and trying to get other people involved. As I often lack the enthusiasm and the motivation to do stuff, I borrowed some of theirs. I allowed them to sign me up for a number of events, mostly without having a clue what I was getting into.
The first one was the Northern Rock Cyclone in June. This was the second turning point of the year. It was 61 miles and the first half was really tough. After about 30 miles I stopped at the side of the road for a drink, an energy bar and a diclofenac and I couldn’t believe we were only halfway. And then in the second half two things happened. 1) The ride got easier, 2) My legs and myself remembered the cyclist I used to be and I started to believe that I could be like that again.
After that came the White Rose Challenge, the Evans Ride-It, the Stokesley Deanery Ride (a 78 mile tour of all the churches in the Stokesley Deanery), 2 100 mile day rides which I led and route planned myself and many others. I also set myself the personal challenge of cycling every day in August (which I did) and so far this year I have ridden over 2000 miles.
It’s been such a great year. I’d like to thank my cycling friends, Graeme and Ruth especially for their boundless enthusiasm for cycling and for getting me involved in so many brilliant events which I wouldn’t have done without them. I’d also like to thank all the doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff who have kept me topped up with drugs this year. Those little yellow tablets have got me back where I belong, on a bike.
I’m doing better now, and the drugs, the cycling and the friends are all responsible. I’m not taking it for granted that it will last, but I’m hopeful. And as long as the wheels are going round, I’m a happy man.
2008 was a bad year for me.
In March 2008 I was made redundant from my job at Waterstone’s and the following month I turned 40. This coincided with a big deterioration in my general health, and also some difficult family issues came to a head around the same time.
I’ve had Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2002 but until the beginning of 2008 the symptoms were pretty much under control. I’d been taking sulfasalazine for 6 years which had kept the symptoms at bay but early 2008 saw a big increase in pain and inflammation.
June was a real low point. I went camping with my wife on a church outing and was so sore during the night’s I could barely move. Getting up and out of my sleeping bag was a real ordeal which left me crying and frustrated. I had some steroid injections in March, April and July but the benefits of these were short-lived.
When I saw the specialist in July she offered me a drug called Methotrexate. It was explained to me that in larger doses it’s used as a chemotherapy drug and it can cause unpleasant side effects. Also, if I went on it I would need monthly blood tests and I wouldn’t be able to have children or drink alcohol. As it happened I wasn’t planning to do either of those but overall it sounded pretty scary and I decided to give it a miss.
I’d started to feel like someone with a disability. Simple things like putting on shoes, getting lids off jars, carrying shopping and walking freely had become painful and frustrating. In addition to the RA, I also suffer from really dry eyes and a dry mouth.
But the worst thing was I was losing my cycling. Just doing a few miles was a struggle due to wrist, elbow, foot and shoulder pain. I ended 2008 barely able to look at a bike, never mind ride one. In November I rode to Stokesley and back (about 16 miles in total) with my wife Ruth and friend Graeme and I felt like an absolute wreck.
And yet 2009 has been my best cycling year ever.
Why?
1) In January I started taking the Methotrexate. I decided not to be afraid of what damage it might do. I figured it couldn’t be much worse than the arthritis itself.
2) By May I reached my first turning point. Suitably pumped full of drugs I cycled Glasgow to Inverness with my wife Ruth, 215 miles over 6 days stopping in B&Bs and enjoyed all the scenery and hospitality that Scotland has to offer, as well as fantastic sunny weather. Due to lingering doubts about my health I decided to only pedal when necessary on this trip which was somewhat frustrating for Ruth as she had to keep coming to look for me as I ground to a halt on the brow of a hill. I had a couple of days where I felt shattered but over the week I could feel my love of cycling returning.
3) After Scotland I started giving in to the relentless cycling suggestions of my wife Ruth and friend Graeme. They formed their own cycling club http://www.ibwfcc.ning.com. As well as organising small local rides, they spend huge amounts of time researching and planning cycling events and trying to get other people involved. As I often lack the enthusiasm and the motivation to do stuff, I borrowed some of theirs. I allowed them to sign me up for a number of events, mostly without having a clue what I was getting into.
The first one was the Northern Rock Cyclone in June. This was the second turning point of the year. It was 61 miles and the first half was really tough. After about 30 miles I stopped at the side of the road for a drink, an energy bar and a diclofenac and I couldn’t believe we were only halfway. And then in the second half two things happened. 1) The ride got easier, 2) My legs and myself remembered the cyclist I used to be and I started to believe that I could be like that again.
After that came the White Rose Challenge, the Evans Ride-It, the Stokesley Deanery Ride (a 78 mile tour of all the churches in the Stokesley Deanery), 2 100 mile day rides which I led and route planned myself and many others. I also set myself the personal challenge of cycling every day in August (which I did) and so far this year I have ridden over 2000 miles.
It’s been such a great year. I’d like to thank my cycling friends, Graeme and Ruth especially for their boundless enthusiasm for cycling and for getting me involved in so many brilliant events which I wouldn’t have done without them. I’d also like to thank all the doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff who have kept me topped up with drugs this year. Those little yellow tablets have got me back where I belong, on a bike.
I’m doing better now, and the drugs, the cycling and the friends are all responsible. I’m not taking it for granted that it will last, but I’m hopeful. And as long as the wheels are going round, I’m a happy man.
0
Comments
-
Good for you - showing the determination to get back to doing something you love (in no small measures, either!), with the obvious physical and mental benefits it brings you - I applaud that, long may it continue!
Best wishes, Josie0 -
Thankyou for sharing your story with us.I found it very interesting.I have had R.A 10 years and recognise similarities with your story.But it is only since joining this forum that I realised cycling was an option.Nobody had suggested it before except I once went on an excercise bike with the guidance of a physio.It was a great relief on my knees which surprised me as I had avoided excercise up until then thinking it would do more harm than good!
I am glad the quality of your life has improved as things sounded very dismal for you.
Take care
ElizabethNever be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no ones definition of your life
Define yourself........
Harvey Fierstein0 -
Hi Crusty
I found it very interesting reading your posting. Welcome to the forum. I think you will have brought hope to some peeps on here, struggling with metho at the moment and those that will be offered that option in the future. Long may the wheels keep turning for you.
Good, reliable friends and family go a long way in aiding recovery along with the drugs. You have also been able to continue your passion of cycling which is great news for you.
Look after yourself,
Elna xThe happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.
If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.0 -
Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us
It was very positive, and inspiring, and reinforces the thought that one is only as disabled as one believes themselves to be :shock: Okay, I know it is physically impossible for some people (including myself) to do some things, but it is also very easy to fall into a mind-trap of thinking that you are disabled for everything.
Incidentally, my gp recommended swimming and gentle exercise, but NOT cycling as he said it wouldn't do the knees any good.....
Good luck for the future.
Jackie0 -
Hi there,
Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. As someone who's only on anti-inflams at the moment, but being nagged by my rheumy to consider mtx, I'm somewhat relieved to hear that it really does improve most people's strength and flexibility and isn't all bad!
Long may your renewed enthusiasm for cycling continue!0
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