Newly Diagnosed

spike
spike Member Posts: 3
edited 16. Dec 2010, 07:20 in Living with Arthritis archive
I've just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis , and my consultant is starting me on Methotrexate. Having googled it (bad move!) has anyone on this had any serious problems or is it worth it?

Comments

  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Spike and welcome.

    Methotrexate can be very effective in helping with R.A pain and inflammation. Most of us suffer from side effects and mine is nausea and a loose stomach.But I have managed to control the nausea with anti-sickness pills.
    I found MTX does wear off and doses have to be upped by your rheummy as required. Initially it worked very well for me.

    We are all different so others will be along to give you more advice.
    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • annie_mial
    annie_mial Member Posts: 5,614
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Spike, sorry that you had to find us, we will all welcome you, though!

    You will get as many answers to that question as there are people replying! It's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions as we are all individuals and react individually to any meds.

    For myself it's been brilliant as it has allowed me to bring down the steroid dose to rock bottom and it has done this in less than a year. Just lately I have been having problems with mouth ulcers, so that we are currently tinkering with the dose to see if we can reach a point where it is still working for me, but the ulcers have gone. It has given me back something of a normal life and I am grateful for that. I have had no other side effects at all from it.

    Now the next person along is going to say something entirely different about metho.........

    Good luck with your trial! You won't know if it suits you till you try it...........

    Annie
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Spike,

    Love the name! Sorry you have had that diagnosis but welcome to the forum and hope you will find it helps you.

    I have been on mtx a while now and though its been known to make me feel sick its better now I am more used to it and except for that and a bit of chest infection all has been well .... except it hasn't helped the bones much if a all.

    Try not to worry too much as it can be very effective and not everyone gets any side effects. Nice to meet you. Cris x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning spike, I hope all is as well with you today as it can be. I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but on the plus side they are reacting quickly to your plight so hopefully that will further help matters. I have been on injected meth for years and can truthfully say that I have not been troubled by any side effects apart from once or twice, which was a feeling of mild nausea. I can also truthfully say it has done extremely little to ease my version of this cruel and foul disease. We are all indeed very, very different in how we react to these things - and don't read up too much on 'tinterweb - talk to us about it, we know our stuff and much info on the web is innacurate or downright wrong. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,032
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Spike

    I too love the name!!! x:D

    SPIKE! hah!

    Lots of guys on here are on it for various reasons and a lot swear by it - all I can say is give it a try some people have found it to be wonderful some not so and most not as bad as they had feared.

    We will be here behind you all the way if you want us

    Love

    toni xx
  • williamlargs
    williamlargs Member Posts: 143
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Spike

    Stay off the internet re mtx, apart from this forum of course!! I've been on mtx since July and it has worked well for me with little or no side effects.

    Give it a go and good luck
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning Spike
    welcome to the forum and I
    Hope you are feeling okish today.
    I am on mtx among other things. I have also been on the net and been scared stiff so now I stay clear. Its doing ok for me.
    Good luck and I hope it works for you.
    Juliepf x
  • spike
    spike Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dear All

    Thanks for all the replies, it's made me feel a bit better.

    Julie you're right stay clear of internet! funnily enough all the scare stories were from America

    Anyway thanks again, its good to talk to other people in the same boat

    Jane x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ooooh! You're a girl - sorry, I immediately thought of Mr Milligna (the well-known typing error). DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • jillyb1
    jillyb1 Member Posts: 1,725
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Welcome , Jane , hope you find this forum as helpful and reassuring as I have . I am one of those who couldn't cope with metho at all , it made me dreadfully sick , but everyone reacts in a different way and many people find it a big help . Assume that it will help you , maybe positive thoughts will bring positive results ! Jilly

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