Liver scan

nanarose

Hi folks.

After doing pretty good on methotrexate for quite a few months, I have now been taken off it, as my liver enzymes have risen until docs have decided that they are much too high. That's now four weeks since my last injection, and now the aches and pains are starting to get very troublesome again.

My doc is sending me for an ultrasound scan on my liver as even without the meth, my levels are going up, not down, and isn't sure what is going on. I don't drink at all, so that isn't a cause.

Has anyone ever had this while on meth, and if I can't take it in the future, any idea what drug might replace it?

It's all so annoying, as my PsA was so much better, both the arthritis and my skin.....so it's a double whammy!

I haven't been in here much lately; life has been a bit busy, but I see that there are still lots of posters around, with lots of very good advice, as usual. xx

valval

hi can not help but want to bump this up above the spammers val

hileena111

Hi Sorry I cant help.....just to say that I have just had a liver scan and it has come back as abnormal and I'm waiting to see what happens now????
I've got OA so sorry cant help with the drugs

Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi Nanarose

YES this has happened before to a fair few people over the time l have been on here.

Hoping one of those gets to see this and can help you.

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Enbrel tried to explode my liver so I was off everything for a while. After an ultrasound and three months in bed I was restarted on stuff, including injected meth (I think it was then, I know I have been on it for a fair while now). The liquid is more potent than the tablets as it by-passes the digestion system, so you can have a smaller dose. Would this be an option for you? As you say, an absolute whammy as this stuff was actually making a difference - life sucks sometimes, doesn't it? I wish you well. DD

nanarose

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I guess a smaller dose might be an option eventually, although my rheumy was actually wanting to leave me at that level for at least another year, and then add in another drug, as I hadn't managed to get into remission. Maybe that's a pie in the sky dream anyway.

Hileena, I wish you luck, and hope you get sorted out.

Three months in bed DD, that was really serious. I doubt I'm anywhere near that kind of ill, but it's a bit of a downer when things start to go a bit awry!

Still, I shall keep positive, and in the meantime, I am researching an exercise bike to help with the weight I have gained since starting with all this stuff.

Walking is a no-no, knee and feet too sore, and I know I don't have the motivation to get up really early to go swimming at the moment. It's hard isn't it to have to re-design your life, if especially like me, you have always been very fit and healthy until a few years ago.

I should just be glad that I had all those fit years, unlike others who have had to suffer while still young, that must be dreadful.
As my Granny used to say 'There is always someone worse off than you'!

So true. xx

tillytop

Hello nanarose

I am sorry to hear about your liver. Meth can do that. My liver readings shoot up periodically for no apparent reason and then seem to settle down again but they have, thankfully, never got to worrying levels. If it turns out that meth isn't for you, then I think there are lots of alternatives out there, some of which, hopefully, may be gentler on the liver. (I'm basing this on RA drugs and guessing that many of the same drugs are used for PsA).

Really hope the scan is ok and that you can get back onto meth or an alternative sooner rather than later. Meantime, I have to say I am really impressed by your positive attitude - if you've got some spare please will you send some my way? I will pay handsomely! Good luck with the exercise bike!

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

hileena111

Hi Sue
Juast a quick message to say I got a telphone call from the hospital this morning to ask me to come for an MRI on my liver....the appointment is Monday :shock:
Good luck....you seem to be getting lost of advice
Love
Hileena

mig

i started on meth tablets but felt sick all the time so went onto injections but liver count still went up ,i started to get so stressed that we decided to try leflunomide instead been on it about 8 weeks now i think it has started to kick in still need pain tabs and anti flams but things are calming down.bloods have about returned to normal so it seems it does take a while.hope you get sorted soon but unfortunately this things take time.good luck to you ,hope you feel better soon .Mig

nanarose

Thanks for the advice folks.
I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone, but it's comforting in a way, to know that there are others who are going through exactly the same problems as I am. Sometimes, it just gets too much for friends and family, and they switch off....can't really blame them, whereas on here, there is always someone to listen.

I try and stay positive, as few people want to stay around a person who can't talk about anything but their illness; it probably looks like a case of me, me me, all the time, I can understand that. I prefer the glass is half full approach myself, though it can be difficult.

Many thanks...down to two models now for the exercise bike.... :P

paddyw

Hi These drugs i cant get my head round to take what on earth are they doing to our bodys? And yes i am very ill at times with RA.and i hate moaning all the time my daughter thinks i just got arthris wish i had and not RA so i try not to say to much to her.My Dr says its up to me about Meth- but really liver scans ! May try the fish oil Paddyw

nanarose

Paddy hello - I can totally understand your concerns.

Yes, these are serious drugs, but when things are bad enough, they can be a godsend for some.
I couldn't have imagined what hell I would have gone through this last year without methotrexate, and although I too, like all of us, worry about the side-effects, we are carefully monitored to make sure that if anything is going wrong, the tests will pick it up quickly, hopefully before any damage is done.
I guess it's everyone's choice in the end, but sometimes you have to give these things a go, as who knows, you just might be one of the lucky ones!

I'm not at this stage going to get too worried, as there is a good chance that things will sort themselves out.

dreamdaisy

Paddy, all arthritis is dire, there are no 'soft' versions of it. Those who say such stupid things honestly have no idea what they are talking about. what does vary is how much an individual is affected: there are a lucky few who have few symptoms, for whom the drugs work and they are living as they usually would. For the rest of us it isn't so straightforward.

Yes, these drugs are powerful but would you turn down a cancer treatment? Cancer has the 'glamour' that this dross lacks - that disease is a matter of life and death whereas ours is more a matter of a life riddled with pain, decreasing abilities and the 'joys' of progressive disease. The point of the meds is to slow that progress and reduce the joint damage: I can understand your reluctance to take the meds but surely, by not doing so you are risking harming yourself further. The side effects are not guaranteed, the meds can be effective, the main point of the montoring is to stop trouble in its tracks.

I am certain that I would not be in the mess I am now if my GP in '97 had spotted far earlier the reason behind the joint problem I had. She didn't, so the nett result is I began treatment seven years too late. Now in addition to the PA I have OA, brought about, I am sure, by the PA damage to my knees. This need not have happened. Thanks to a lazy GP it has. I have had little trouble with the meds and not much benefit. I sincerely hope you don't find yourself in a similar position a few years hence. This disease has to be hit hard, and hit early. DD

stickywicket

Nanarose – we all go through these frustrating, painful periods where the meds stop working or do something they shouldn’t and we just have to take time out and be gentle with ourselves until things calm down a bit or new meds start working. I’m sure you’ll cope because you have such a positive attitude. I’m a glass half full person too but someone keeps drinking it! I hope you find the right exercise bike. I’ve just bought my 2 yr old grandson a balance bike and, gee, do I want one! I even emailed one manufacturer to ask if they made them for 65 yr old arthritics but unfortunately I’m several decades too old. Good luck.

Paddyw – I’ve been on meth for over 10 years with no problems. As with all other meds, some have them: some don’t. I got lucky with this one but there’s no such thing as a med that’s 100% safe. Whatever they offer you, research it carefully, watch for danger signs (But not so much that you forget to live) and report any promptly. Take charge. Life’s a dangerous business and sometimes the most dangerous thing we can do is opt for safety.