Side effects for RA treatments

rachelj

Afternoon all,

Apart from a horrid grey day I hope you are all doing well. I just wanted to know what peoples experiances were onn their first few weeks of starting treatment for RA. I am off to see the Rheumatologist soon for my initial consultation and wasn't too worried about it all however my other half now will be away for a few weeks after my appointment, and I am wondering if its going to be better to start any treatment once he is back and around to help incase I really suffer with side effect.

I am fortunate at the moment I can still do pretty much everything, Only major probs are lifting anything of any great weight, like the recycling boxes full of paper, so I just have to do several trips. I can still manage to walk the dog for a few miles a day, and been brave and had tescos do my food shopping to save me the hassle of doing that.

I am sure there are plenty of you out there living on your own, any tips on how to get through it?

Rach

williamlargs

Hello

Try not to worry too much not everyone gets side effects. I stand to be corrected but I think there are more people who don't than do.

Unfortunately for those that do it can be pretty bad. Good thing is that you are monitered all along with blood tests, not that this stops you from feeling sick etc.

I'm afraid it's a case of you don't know till you try. Keep positive if you can.

Kind Regards

robertls

Hello Rach......

It much depends on what medication you're put on.....

Some can have no side effects.......others can knock the Doodah!! out of you.....

DMARDS and Anti-TNF's can work wonders, but at a price.........

Even then, some people have no bad side effects..

I hope everything goes well for you.......

Rob x

lindalegs

Hi Rachel,

You could decide whether to postpone your treatment till after you've seen your Rheumy. You could ask his/her opinion and see what they say. You may not get any side effects afterall.

Luv Legs

rachelj

Thanks for such a speedy response, I think I will have to wait and see what he decides to give me and then take a judement call from there. I knew it was going too well


Rach

wibberley

You will be monitored very closely, whatever treatment you are given, and anything untoward will be picked up pretty quickly.

As has been said, for the majority of sufferers, the side effects are minimal if not non-existent.

Good luck with the rheumy appointment.

Lois x

catlady

Good luck with your rheumy appointment Rachel . I went with a list of questions, and even more when I saw the rheumy nurse 2 weeks after that. i am on 10 mg MTX at the mo, had only a few minor side effects, nothing too bad at all. The 'nausea' is more like a vague feeling of being off my food. I just drank a few mugs of peppermint tea and soon felt fine. Pain and stiffness are feeling better already, but not the fatigue. Hey ho, cant expect everything

rachelj

Thanks, I think I am just having a last minute panic. The only experience I have of the MTX, which seems the most common treatment for RA is from someone who took it as a treatment for cancer. I know the use of the drug for cancer is much higher but they were very very ill as a result. That combined with the fact I wasn't too fussed as my OH would be around I thought I would just grin and bare it.

I am sure the short term side effects will be long outweighed by the benefits.

Rach

dorcas

Hi rach

I agree with what the other peeps have said ..... don't worry about whether or not you'll have side effects! hopefully you will not have any.x
any questions you have about meds that rheummy suggests you can discuss with him during your appointment. You can ask advice too about whether to wait until after your OH comes back before starting any new meds, if that's what you'd prefer...or if you would be worried.

as far as managing on your own.... my advice is to do only the very necessary things. Housework is overrated (and ironing a thankless task) so don't go exhausting yourself while your OH is away...I'm sure he wouldn't want you to!
it's a good start doing internet home food shopping; that's what I do too and it means you're conserving your energy for better things...like your walks with the dogs.

let us know how you get on Rach.

Iris xxx

marion1952

Hi Rach

Just to say that the dose of Mtx given to treat cancer is much much much greater than the dose(s) given for RA..

Best wishes

Marion

dreamdaisy

Yes, meth is a chemotherapy drug but that's neither here nor there. It is used at far higher levels for cancer, we have piddling little amounts in comparison. Yes, it does have side-effects but everyone varies so much, so again that's neither here nor there. It comes down to individual levels of tolerance: is your RA bad enough for you to want treatment in an attempt to subdue the arthritis? If the answer to that is yes, then you start the drugs.

Whether the OH is about or not doesn't matter: you have the side effects (perhaps - they are NOT guaranteed) not him. Personally, when the meth does affect me (and that's not often, I have to say - injected weekly at 17.5) I prefer to be alone and get on with it. My husband finds it very frustrating that he cannot help in anyway and that causes him distress. That in turn upsets me - this is my battle, my fight, there is nothing anyone can do to improve matters so it's better to grit one's teeth and get on with it. The meth may be the magic bullet for you: you won't know until you try. I wish you well. DD