New member

resusjan

Hi everyone. I am new to this site and new to having Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was diagnosed last month after many years of attending the GP with joint problems. My blood tests came back with a CCP of 297 (whatever that means). I was referred to a rheumatologist and commenced on Methotrexate, folic acid and something else - I think its hyro

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acid. I am currently on 15mg methotrexate and its being increased every two weeks., Today I have developed a cold and sore throat - is this a problem? Should I tell the GP?

keldi

Hi and welcome to the forum. I have only been a member myself for a couple of weeks and already I have found it a huge support. You can rant and rave when you are having a bad day, laugh when it is good and get brilliant advise and support from lovely people that are going through a similar thing. It is like having an understanding, supportive family.

Keep strong and keep on posting your news. It really does help.

Diane

dreamdaisy

Hi, it's nice to meet you. I am on injected meth and was always asked at the hospital before they did the jab whether I had a cough or sore throat. If the answer was yes they would not administer the drug. I do my own injections now but the the same rule applies: I skip a week, make a note of the date then inform them when I go to collect my next batch. As meth suppresses the immune system that is the reason not to take it when ill but other people on here are told differently and they keep taking it no matter what.

GPs normally don't have much input about meth etc, it may be better to contact your rheumatology department and ask them what you should do. Do you have a helpline number for the department? My hospital has a rheumo helpline, staffed by the department nurses, you ring and leave a message, mine are pretty good at getting back with a reply. I hope you nare able to glean an answer from somewhere and I hope you feel better soon. I wish you well. DD

Ankyspond

Hi and welcome to the forum,

You will find lots of help and support on here.

I am on meth (on it previously) back on it now, as DD said you should have number for rheumy you need to speak to them before you take anymore. Hope you get on ok with it and it helps you. Xx

tj66

Hello and welcome from me too!

I have only been a member for a few weeks so don't feel that I can offer you a guidence as this is all very new to me too. What I do know is the people on here are fantastic and have helped me so much - I'm sure you will get the guidence you need.

I am diagnose OA but am being re tested for RA and will see a Rheumatologist on 22nd August-like you I have been going to the doctors now for nearly three years with various joint pain-It's so frustrating.

Take good care

Tracey

resusjan

Thanks everyone - its great to get so many replies so quickly. I will contact the rhuematology department at the hospital tomorrow to ask them what to do. You're right about the GP not having much to do with the methotrexate - I have to get my prescriptions off them but every time I go in for one they have put the wrong dose on there. This week when I went in, I told them I also need blood tests doing as advised by the consultant - they did a TSH!! Its quite hard having to rely on the GP to prescribe anything when they don't really seem to understand the treatment regime.

Its great to be able to chat with others with similar problems - I don't really like talking about it much at work as I'm worried how it will affect my job in the future. I'm a specialist nurse working in resuscitation services so have to respond to all acute emergencies in the hospital - some of the work (chest compressions) hurts like hell but I don't want to make a fuss as nothing is safe in the NHS any more.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good week, I'll be spending most of mine catching up on all the forum threads on here.

constable

Hi there

Welcome to the forum, we all have various types of arthritis mine being OA, so I can't help, just wanted to say Hi and you will find this forum a very friendly, helpful place. If you've had enough and want to have a really good moan, go for it, we all do at times. If you cant do it here where can you.

Hope to see you posting around the forum soon.


Karen x

frogmorton

A very quick hello from me resusjan

Hope you are doing ok on your new meds.

You may be new here but you feel at home pretty quick as everyone is so well....NICE!!!

any advice please ask away and hello too to you Diane.

Love

Toni xx

barbara12

Hi and a very warm welcome from me, sorry I cant help...but has you are finding already we are a lovely lot on here....even if I do say so myself...

bubbadog

Hi Resusjan, Welcome to the site, hope your new meds are working out better for you. With feeling unwell with cold, you may find your immune system is low and will get bugs I'm afraid but you just have to battle on! Take care. Amanda/bubbadog.

stickywicket

resusjan wrote:

You're right about the GP not having much to do with the methotrexate - I have to get my prescriptions off them but every time I go in for one they have put the wrong dose on there. This week when I went in, I told them I also need blood tests doing as advised by the consultant - they did a TSH!! Its quite hard having to rely on the GP to prescribe anything when they don't really seem to understand the treatment regime.

This is just poor practice, resusjan. I'm on meth and my GPs are even more on the ball than my rheumatologist and always remind me if I'm late with my bloods. As for the dosage, it's probably 'computer error' ie some dozy wassock failed to program the computer properly.

suzygirl

Hi, just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I hope you manage to get your meth sorted and that your cold clears up quickly.

skezier

Hi Jan,

Belated welcome from me as well.

I think this cold thing depends on areas as some have the mtx stopped and some don't. Here they don't seem to stop it for anything but it might be worth asking about it there?

Jan its hard to now what to say re work but some here have got some help and they are nurses but the resus part can be very hard on your bones and go on some time as well... it might mean they re-deploy you to a different ward so I understand its very hard to know what and when to say anything.

I hope the mtx will really help you and the bones calm down a bit for you. Nice to meet you. Cris x

Steph88

Hi, I've been on methotrexate for nearly 10 years now. I also suffer from coldsores and colds etc a lot. The cold attacks have got worse since I've become a teacher

You will learn to listen to your body, daft as this sound, but my nurse agrees with me. It's different for each person. When I get a coldsore I know that I am getting run down and doing too much and need to take a step back for a bit. I treat it with usual coldsore creams and try not to get too stressed and get a bit more sleep. (I have one right now, joy of joys...) I still take all my meds though, myx and enbrel.

When I get a sore throat, I take paracetamol along with my ibruprofen for a few days, again relaxing a little more and eating better etc. If it doesn't improve I go and see my GP for antibiotics. I do this as they tend to ask the "how long have you felt like this for" questions and then I tell them I'm worried about my immune system because of drugs etc but they are reluctant to put you on more medication if you can sit it out in anyway. I don't see it as bad practice, if I need the antibiotics, I get them. I take the mtx but tend to stop the enbrel with a cold.

Just a few tips. I know that when you first start you panic at every illness, I still get like it at times, I did get very ill one time at the beginning. It's all about getting used to it. Don't hesitate to call your nurse, they will understand and offer advice.

Hope that helps in some way!

hileena111

Hi Welcome to the forum.....sorry I cant help because i have OA not RA
but you'll get loads of suport on here

Love
Hileena

prefabkid47

Hi
Welcome to the site,we are a very supportive crowd here on the forum,and have a wealth of knowledge gained from personal experience.
I have both OA in the ankle and RA in hands and ankle.Have been on methotrexate (12.5mg weekly plus folic acid) for several years and fortunately with no side effects.If you have any suspect side effects then do consult your GP or rheumy nurse.
Ron