Methotrexate...

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Comments

  • countessheather
    countessheather Member Posts: 114
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Simon, I takes t-i-m-e, lots of it to get the levels right for you. If you take into account the amount of time between appointments for just your RA so far, it could still take another 6 months after you start treatment although there are people that respond very quickly indeed from the onset. And its dull, dull, dull waiting. I know what its like to live in a community where you have to `travel' to get a pint of milk. And as somebody said to me on sunday, doing food shopping on-line is all well and good, untill you receive the order to find items ordered 5 days ago have been `magically replaced' with rubbish you did'nt order because the shop want's to try and push its rubbish on you! And it also defeats the object. When you are disabled, you want `parity' with everyone else. You want choice and do not want to be `locked away' out of sight and out of mind. I defeats the point of getting `society' used to seeing us there as `our right'. Today, I was taking my dogs for a short walk in town and 2 men went striding past me, taking the piss out of the way I was walking with my stick! :oops: When I caught thier faces, they were`much older' than me. Ha,ha I thought your time will come sooner rather than later! :D Heather xx
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Simon, I've only just caught up with this thread. I have only just started Mtx and, like you, didn't want to touch it. After talking to a lot of people here, I went armed with loads of question for the nurse and felt satisfied with the answers. I'm doing ok on it, apart from having to miss two weeks due to illness. So far no side effects but,equally, it's not working yet. Time will tell whether it's the right drug for me. I hope you do well on it.
    Sally
  • jackie1955
    jackie1955 Member Posts: 632
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Simon,

    Being a 'young' 50 something I was shocked when my RA was diagnosed early last year.

    The fear of my body becoming crippled and twisted scared me. I figured if theres something that will stop that happening - or slow down this damned disease - then I will take anything my rheumy consultant prescribes........

    I looked at it like this: I used to smoke - even though I knew that could KILL me. But it didn't stop me from smoking for years! So, if MTX could actually do me good - I'd risk it. I also had counselling before starting it, but to be honest I had already decided to put my faith in my consultant and go along with whatever he prescribed - he's the expert in treating this condition, what did I know?

    I've been on it for 9 months now. I do feel better than I did, but my RA is still not controlled so I've just had to start taking two more drugs.

    One thing I have learnt to do is pace myself - the tiredness can come on so suddenly where you just need to lie down. Even on really 'good' days I make sure I have a rest!

    Oh, and I can still enjoy a drink, my liver function is excellent apparently :)

    Good luck and let us know how you go on.

    Jackie x
  • countessheather
    countessheather Member Posts: 114
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hang in there Sally and don't worry if you find out its eventually not working or its `not for you' - there are alternatives! the important thing here is `YOU' are taking controll of the desease by being pro-active and not letting the desease controll you by doing nothing. I would'nt wish `preventable surgery' on anybody. Heather xx