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...
i've had a battle with acne since i turned 24 (had clear skin as a teen with the odd monthly spot, so this was infuriating). i have had trouble finding a cleanser that works for me and had switched to a more natural enzyme treatment just before my dx with RA. so i'm about four weeks into this new cleanser and three weeks into mtx. i'm getting deeper pimples, more like cystic acne, and larger whiteheads than i've ever had. also more blackheads coming to the surface, but i'm pretty sure that's from the enzyme cleanser. is acne something anyone has experienced with mtx?
also, i've had some strange pain in my sides, like around my ribs. it doesn't feel like muscle strain (i've pulled muscles before in that area). it's mainly on my right side from my bra line down about three or four inches. it's a bit toward my back from the side, like if i hang my arm straight down at my side it's a bit behind my arm. are there joints that can be affected there?
finally, i've started getting random indigestion. one night, hummus will bother the hell out of me, two days later it's fine. i've had indigestion issues in the past which have greatly improved with the removal of my offending gallbladder. i'm now getting indigestion at strange times with no discernible pattern of food. is this a potential side effect of mtx?
thanks in advance :)
also, i've had some strange pain in my sides, like around my ribs. it doesn't feel like muscle strain (i've pulled muscles before in that area). it's mainly on my right side from my bra line down about three or four inches. it's a bit toward my back from the side, like if i hang my arm straight down at my side it's a bit behind my arm. are there joints that can be affected there?
finally, i've started getting random indigestion. one night, hummus will bother the hell out of me, two days later it's fine. i've had indigestion issues in the past which have greatly improved with the removal of my offending gallbladder. i'm now getting indigestion at strange times with no discernible pattern of food. is this a potential side effect of mtx?
thanks in advance :)
having said that, my dr told me i do not have cystic acne, but more common run-of-the-mill acne. so i'd still attribute my breakout to either mtx or the enzyme cleanser i'm using. i've also had pretty bad kidney infections in the past, so i'm very familiar with the location of my kidneys and i'm pretty certain it's not a kidney issue. i do have a physical next tuesday, complete with a fancy cup-peeing, so i'll be able to definitively rule it out next week.
has anyone else had issues with acne/rib pain/indigestion with mtx?
The rib pain does sound like kidney because of location....especially a stone moving. HOWEVER....I have a very similar pain on my left side and so far no one can tell me what it's from. I've had it for quite a while and before MTX so I know that's not it. Flank pain can be from intestines as well.
MTX can definitely cause indigestion if you're on the pill form. Are you?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR600919/DSECTION=side-effects
less common, of course, but not unheard of. i also found quite a few people discussing acne while taking mtx on websites dealing with pregnancy termination (it's used to terminate ectopic pregnancies).
i am on mtx in pill form and am definitely considering asking after the injection. the indigestion is annoying and makes absolutely no sense. there is no pattern. and when you add in the nausea, which is just annoying, i think the injection might be a better bet for me.
i did gain 5-7 lb with that and the past 2 weeks i lost those 7 lbs.
i did have severe headaches the first 3 months. now i dont have any headaches.
i did have the indigestion problem too, but its getting better.
hair fall......i use aragon hair repair oil.
i found only these side effects from mtxt, but i didnt notice any skin issues. i do have flank pain just as you described but its more on my left side. i didnt know that it could be from kidney stone. i am going to talk to my rheumy at my next appt.
whatever sideeffects we get from meds, its just in the beginning 2-3 months. then the medication starts working and the side effects will diminish.
i've heard from so many people that the side effects diminish after 2-3 months, but i don't know that i want to wait and see. i've heard so many good things about the injection, and it sounds like it's comparably priced with my insurance.
I've been on mtx now going on my 3rd month. My first month I was still on pednisone but I was having terrible headaches. Not sure if they were from the pred or the mtx. Then about my 2nd month I weened myself off the prednisone & now the headaches are gone. Could be from weening, could be from the mtx side effect wearing off? Not sure on that one.
In regards to skin, I notice very bad & itchy rash on my forehead, in between the eyebrows, the eyebrows themselves & on the side of nose. I know what everyone's thinkingno I don't have lupus, that test came out negative. Luckily I'm on the browner side of skin tone, so you really can't tell the rash is there unless you get really up close or you're my wife! But of course my wife can see it. The rash is on & off though.
My biggest side effect so far is the nausea, rare dizzy spells & light headedness. This has gradually gotten worse. Typically I take my mtx on Sunday for lunch. I notice the nausea about dinner time & it doesn't go away until Wednesday morning. I'm good for the rest of the week. This dizziness just started this week so I have to monitor that.
Other then that I'm not on anything other med's & that's the only side effects so far (knock on wood)! I'll take these side effects any day over the stiffness & pain. My RA test suggest that it's pretty aggressive so I'm hoping I can get it into remissionsomeday.
I'm not quite sure? I haven't really memorized the test names yet. But I'll definitely check, I have a RA appointment scheduled in about 2 weeks.
What is this test for?
wishing you tons of luck ...