HELP......Methotrexate Advice Needed!

georgielou
georgielou Member Posts: 12
edited 17. May 2010, 06:41 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello All

Im back again, its been a while but i hope your all well.

I started on Metho 5 weeks ago, it is doing nothing for the pain of my arthur and i have been experiencing neusea and low moods/tearful days. But this week has been the worst with illness and my immune system seems to not be fighting anything. It started with tonsilitis, sickness and dirreahoa, then an ear infection and cough, then conjuctivitis. I have now missed a week of the dose, coz my appetite is tiny and i am on 7.5mg. Is this just coincidence or is it the metho im wondering?

I had a blood test on friday, so i am waiting for the results and should get these monday......just very low and fed up with feeling rubbish :(

Georgie xxxx

Comments

  • psyart
    psyart Member Posts: 600
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    georgielou wrote:
    Hello All

    Im back again, its been a while but i hope your all well.

    I started on Metho 5 weeks ago, it is doing nothing for the pain of my arthur and i have been experiencing neusea and low moods/tearful days. But this week has been the worst with illness and my immune system seems to not be fighting anything. It started with tonsilitis, sickness and dirreahoa, then an ear infection and cough, then conjuctivitis. I have now missed a week of the dose, coz my appetite is tiny and i am on 7.5mg. Is this just coincidence or is it the metho im wondering?

    I had a blood test on friday, so i am waiting for the results and should get these monday......just very low and fed up with feeling rubbish :(

    Georgie xxxx


    Hi sorry you are feeling so bad. Have you got anti-sickness tables to take? If not then I would suggest you get them, just to help you. Not sure about evreything else though, sorry!! Yes the imune system gets low, but you seem to have been hit with loads of things!!! Unfortunalty, you need to give the meds time to work, can take a few months, but if you can get rid of the nausa, this will help you. Try eating ginger buiscits and drinking ginger beer, that always helped me. Anit-sickness tablest are the best though. When do you take the tables? I do my meds in the evening after a large meal, this heps and if you are asleep, most of the nausa should be during the night!! Its different for everyone, but please dont give up yet. Also, see what your results are on Monday, can you talk to anyone then?

    Hope you feel better soon!!

    Louise
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  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi. I think I'm right in saying that meth reduces your immune system in order to stop treat arthritis. Thus one is more prone to sickness and infections.

    I have been told by my hospital that if I have a sore throat or any type of infection then I have to miss the meth so that my immune system has a chance to fire up and fight infection. I think you should not be taking at the moment until you are better: you need to check with your GP or rheumatology nurse.

    I have been on injected meth for some time now and it has done nothing in terms of reducing pain levels. For some it is very effective but I am not in that category.

    I hope you can get this sorted out and soon - you need to start feeling better! Dreamdaisy
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Georgie,

    Sorry you're feeling so poorly. :( Methotrexate makes me feel very sick but I've been taking cyclizine (an anti-sickness medication) and it really helps. I'm also on 7.5mg and I can take the cyclizine every day, if needed.

    I'm not sure about the infection but maybe your blood test results will shed some light.

    x
  • page35
    page35 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Like the others said i think you should talk to your rheumy or nurse, maybe get anti sick tabs or up the folic acid you take and try to eat a good size meal when you take the mtx, i know thats not easy if you already feel sick.
    its still early days so the mtx may start to work and side effect ease.
    hope things improve for you
    sharon
  • cheshirefay
    cheshirefay Member Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Georgie,
    Really sorry you are feelin so rotten. Its a bummer when the meds make you feel worse , as if your illness is not bad enough :cry:
    I think the advice about cyclizine is good , my son had chemo and it worked for the nausea. Ginger capsules worked almost as well he said.
    Hope things settle for you soon
    fay x
  • georgielou
    georgielou Member Posts: 12
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thank you everyone, your all so helpful......i will await my blood test results and get an appt with my rheumy nurse. Prob best to swap my chocolate malted milk for some ginger biscuits too!!! xxx
  • clarelouise1
    clarelouise1 Member Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    georgielou wrote:
    thank you everyone, your all so helpful......i will await my blood test results and get an appt with my rheumy nurse. Prob best to swap my chocolate malted milk for some ginger biscuits too!!! xxx
    Aaw I really hope you are ok. It should settle down. I was on Methotrexate and like you at first thought I would never be able to tolerate it but your body gets used to it and the sickness, general feeling of unwell goes, it helped me massively with my RA but unfortunately due to hairloss they took me off it. Try and give it a chance and hopefully it will get better for you soon. :) x