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...
So just got word from my doctor that my enzymes were up & he wants me to stop MTX for 4 weeks to see if it was that or something else. The something else has me a bit scares I guess, because I only take 1 pill a week or (2.5mg).
Just a quick history for the past 2 months. I came in contact with a nasty cold or flu & started getting some flare ups so I increased my MTX to 2 pills once a week or (5mg) & tried to be careful about OTC medication for the flu I had. And in all honesty I still had/have my 2-3 beers on Friday & Saturday & the results (past 2yrs) never showed any increases.
The only time my enzymes increased is when I had another flu just about the same time last year, around Christmas, same routine upped the MTX a bit & still took OTC's for the flu but was careful about not taking too much & just toughed it out mostly.
I guess what worries me is is 2 fold, stopping the MTX & of course I'm worried about possible re-flarring up again with old symptoms AND why would have elevated enzymes off such a small dosage?
Well, I'm going to cut the few beers out totally & since I'm no longer experiencing the flu I won't be taking any other OTC's.
I hope that what sparked the increase in the enzymes & nothing more complicated or serious.
I don't know, just feeling kind of worried I guess.
Just a quick history for the past 2 months. I came in contact with a nasty cold or flu & started getting some flare ups so I increased my MTX to 2 pills once a week or (5mg) & tried to be careful about OTC medication for the flu I had. And in all honesty I still had/have my 2-3 beers on Friday & Saturday & the results (past 2yrs) never showed any increases.
The only time my enzymes increased is when I had another flu just about the same time last year, around Christmas, same routine upped the MTX a bit & still took OTC's for the flu but was careful about not taking too much & just toughed it out mostly.
I guess what worries me is is 2 fold, stopping the MTX & of course I'm worried about possible re-flarring up again with old symptoms AND why would have elevated enzymes off such a small dosage?
Well, I'm going to cut the few beers out totally & since I'm no longer experiencing the flu I won't be taking any other OTC's.
I hope that what sparked the increase in the enzymes & nothing more complicated or serious.
I don't know, just feeling kind of worried I guess.
It's amazing what we have to give up to just tolerate this "stuff" we deal with ... just a boatload of "stuff"
Keep the faith and pop-a-top - heck, a fella has to enjoy something ... Right?
Peace
Bluedogs2
I have figure out that for me, my enzymes go up with a combo of meds, and also the minerals I take to increase my bone density. So the week before a test, I basically stop taking everything.
Except mthx! The enzymes just climbed and climbed, till I finally had t go off!
So I would look at combinations that might effect your liver. They do add up, and it might not just be mthx.
I had my liver numbers go up, was told to go off MTX for 2 weeks, then cut my MTX dose in half. I had tried to have a drink once a week (wine), but my liver numbers went way up. So, I completely stopped drinking anything. My liver numbers are now in a good place. I am sure your numbers will go down!
Anyway I feel very good very little or no symptoms of RA except during that dreaded flu!
It's always nice to refer back here and get some thoughts just to calm the old nerves!
the biologics, no, the mtx, yes. that's why most rheumatologists ask if you like to drink even just weekly when they put you on mtx.
for some folks fatty liver is also a culprit as they age.
not that necessarily abstaining from alcohol and having a perfect bmi and cholesterol will not guarantee that mtx will hose your liver numbers it's just that some folks have co morbidities and others don't.
food for thought
depot
Very interesting thanks for your info.
Well I had the assitant read me off the numbers:
AST - 88 - Normal range is 10-40
ALT 98- Normal range is 9-46
So I'm basically double the normal range. However, I also read "mildly elevated" could be as high as 4 times the normal range so, not trying to be my own doctor but I would think that double although concerning is not like I need to rush to the hospital.
Hopefully, you will have the same outcome.
Yeah I think thats the culprit too. I mean it was Christmas & New Years, c'mon give me a break! LOL!
I think he's concerned because I only take 2.5mg to begin with, however since my last visit with him I did increase it to 5mg because I was getting some minor flareups due to the flu.
But I think (hopefully) that what I created was a perfect storm & the blood tests basically just delivered the aftermath of that storm of a little over indulgence of alcohol over the holidays, OTC medication for the flu & increasing my MTX to 5mg all in a 30 day time frame.
Well, I'll refer back to this original post when I take my test.
Thanks for you reply!!!!