Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Indycarr 12/10/2013

Glad to report that the MTX really seems to be helping me. I still hate the side effects of the injection - the 24 hour period after the injection are kinda bad with mainly dizziness, fatigue and brain fog, but I've noticed a marked improvement in my RA. Swelling has reduced, morning stiffness has reduced, I actually feel a little more like 'me' again.

Have others who have found relief from their medication started to wonder if the RA went away? Do many RA's sufferers go into remission?

Am I setting myself up for disappointment and it will all come 'flaring' back in a big way at some point soon?

It's feeling too good to be true right now.

RAfighter 12/10/2013

Congrats on the reduction of your RA Symptoms. That is so great! It's amazing to start to feel like once again you are YOU again. I was on MTX couple of years ago and felt amazing (took Enbrel and other meds with it as well). I felt really great....almost too great. I started taken for granted how well I felt until I went off the mtx. We thought maybe we would want to become pregnant again so I had to get off of it for at least 3 months before getting pregnant. The first couple of days I felt great. Once I got to a week and beyond, I really realized how much the mtx helped. Honestly, I even got scared thinking that the RA had progressed so much I wasn't sure if I would ever stop it's progression again as nothing I or the Rheumy could do could stop the flares. Needless to say, I'm back on it again and once again the flares are dying down.

I don't want to be a let down but the MTX can certainly fog our judgment on how bad our RA really is.

I am with you though on the side effects. I hate that 24 hour period each week of the dizziness, fatigue and brain fog. Although my wife would say that I have brain fog 24/7. :-) I'm taking 25mg a week in tablets and am considering the injections.

Indycarr 12/10/2013

Thanks RAFighter... I don't feel so silly now asking that! Sorry you went through such a bad time coming off the MTX.
I guess I'm just really amazed right now how much improvement has come in the last 10 days... I go through days where I don't take any pain meds at all, and only have slight discomfort. Staring to wonder if the RA was all in my head - but I know it wasn't!

I'm on 20mg injection - I would highly suggest changing. You can likely reduce your dosage and you'll find the side effects are a lot less than the pill form.

Good luck to you! and lol BTW on your brain fog/wife comment! Made me smile.

2scicrazed 12/10/2013

Regardless of what treatment puts us in remission, I think most people get the healthy fantasy. I know six months into my natural remission I started pumping iron and dreaming of a sports model buff body. Two months later I'm in a flare :)

But live for those moments of waking up, swinging feet down, padding to the bath room and realizing while your brushing teeth that you are having a 'normal person' morning! Feels like a lottery win!

depotblue 12/10/2013

Indy

enjoy

Ros

Angelpuss 12/11/2013

That is great that the MTX is helping so much. You could well be one of the lucky people who hit gold with their first med. RA won't go away but you could be in medication remission. I hope you keep on feeling like your old self.
Hugs

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