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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Lori57703 10/28/2013

I got a call from the PA at the rheumy office. She gave me the offical diagnosis of RA. I went in today and had liver function tests drawn. I go in tomorrow to see her to get all the information on MTX so long as my liver tests are normal. I will pick up folic acid to start tonight. I plan on starting the MTX Friday evening so I have the next two days off from work just incase I feel crappy.

Any suggestions from those of you who have taken or are taking the MTX injections? I'm pretty scared with all of this but glad to be starting treatment at the same time.

Oh yeah, I can get an 80 mg injection of prednisone tomorrow if I want it. I can't take it orally so injection is my only option. I'm not sure if I will or not. I know it can help me feel much better for a time but it's a scary drug for me. I am managing to function. I hurt daily and need frequent naps or am useless when I get home from work but ultimately I am getting the most important things I need to have done. I am having troubles focusing on what I need to do at work but again, the important stuff gets done. What do all of you think?

RCross 10/28/2013

Ugh....sorry you ended up with an RA dx, but this is the best, most informative, forum there is for RA!

If you're doing okay without the steroid...then I'd pass on it. The MTX took about 3 weeks for me to start feeling some improvement. Then each week there was a little more improvement.

Are you going on prescription strength folic acid?

Good luck!

stephgas 10/28/2013

i'm also sorry to hear about the RA dx. it kind of sucks. it's good that you're getting started on everything right away!

i'm also not fond of the steroids, even though they provide so much relief so quickly. i agree that if you're managing okay without it, skip it.

altoclef 10/28/2013

As far as injecting MTX (or shooting up the meth, as I prefer to think of it) it's really, truly, honestly a piece of cake. I use tiny little 6mm insulin needles, and I can't even feel it.

It would be nice if someone at your doctor's office shows you how to do it. I wasn't able to get any training, but even so, it was simple. The diagnosis sucks, but now that you know what's happening, you can start on the road to treatment.

Lori57703 10/28/2013

Thank you ladies!

The diagnosis is what it is and I know there is nothing I can do to change that. At least I got a diagnosis in 28 days unlike so many I have read about. Hopefully, this gives me a chance to get on it before significant damage can start.

My rhuemy said I will need to take 1 mg folic acid everyday. I went to the store to buy some tonight and only found 800 mcg and 400 mcg. I will ask the doc when I see her tomorrow to write me a script. Better to know what I am getting anyway.

I think I will skip the steroid. I'm really concerned about the possibility of an allergic reaction. I also don't want to confuse any side effects or reactions. If I get a steroid inject and then take MTX 3 days later it may confuse things. Also, since I have to take it by injection only the effects won't last that long and then I'd need another injection.

I'm not afraid of giving myself the MTX injections. I'm a nurse so that's not a big deal to me. I am very frightened about the possible side effects! I know not everyone gets them but I really do view it as poison and hate that I need it. However, joint distruction, pain, deformity and disability are pretty scary too.

Thanks again for all your responses. It is so nice to not feel alone!

RCross 10/28/2013

I always called Tuesday's my poison days! LOL It's always a good thing to keep a positive outlook. Sounds like you're ahead of the game already! Go you!

Lori57703 10/28/2013

RA Sally- I go in to see my doctor tomorrow morning at 11 am to get all the specifics. When I talked to her today she said that in their office the recommendation is to take it everyday as they do not feel that it makes a big difference. I'm thinking I will hold it on MTX day and see how I do. If side effects are bothersome I will try not holding it. I guess I'll just need to feel it out.

I have a great-aunt who was diagnosed in the late 70s or early 80s. I have seen what the disease has done her and all the surgeries she has had to have. I want to do all I can to avoid that and am thankful that we have better medicine, even if it is scary medicine, than she had when she was diagnosed.

As for being a nurse, thank you for the hug but there is nothing I would rather do. It is such a part of who I am that I cannot imagine being anything. All this RA stuff is new to me though. Not something I have needed to know much about with my patients. I am learning really fast though!

deleted_user 10/28/2013

Lori, I've been on methotrexate since Jan and It is amazing! Took me about 3 months to actually have the full effects of it. But wow how amazing. I went from having unbearable pain in I feel like every joint, (jaw, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes, ankles and feet. Everywhere except my knees I think. But this combined with my other medicines truly made a huge improvement! The only pain I have now would be my hands and my feet/ankles. Which is a heck of a lot better then all over. I think That pain will always be there since my joints have worn out in those places. I think the methotrexate is amazing though, I'm a chicken about the shots though I make someone else do it, I'm slowly getting use to it. The side effects go away after about a month to at least for me they did. Hope this helped

Lori57703 10/28/2013

RCross- Too funny! I was just telling my son today that Friday's would be my day to poison myself!

Autoclef- I'll have to remember the shooting meth one! My son will get a kick out of that!

Thanks for the laughs ladies!

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