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 read on several posts different digestive issues that can accompany RA? My issues started about 2months ago. My wife had severe stomach flu, so once she got over hers I just figued maybe I caught hers. She got over it in 2 weeks total so let this go on for about 3 weeks before seeing a doc.
Was going through the headache & stress of a move so I just figured maybe I had some small peptic ulcers going on in there. So did my doc so he gave me protonix & said if I didn't feel better let's take the H. Pylori test in like 2 more weeks. Well those 2 weeks came & went & I took the H. Pylori test & it came back negative? I was happy yet disappointed because I really wanted to figure this out.
I have slight nausea, overall feeling of being bloated or like I just ate a little too much, gassy. There was pain early into it but no more just that feeling of "blahh, queezy, sour stomach feeling". Feel slightly better after eating but definitely better after having bowl movement & better upon wakening but gradually gets worst during the course of the day.
Is this just part of my RA? I've been back on MTX now for almost 3 months @ 5mg a week + folic acid. I thought it was the MTX so I stopped that for 2 weeks & digestive issues really didn't get any better or worse.
Stomach issues happen, RA or not. Poor RA gets blamed for everything.
I agree: if any mg MTX [pill form] dose bothers you, go to injectable. I have to tell you that in the early years I had terrible stomach issues with low dose MTX. In MY case, it was all in my head. But for 5mg you might ask your doctor if you can split the dose: 2.5 mg on [i.e.] Monday and 2.5 on Friday.
Good luck.
Oceans, are you on an NSAID? If so, you should concurrently be taking something like Prevacid to block acids.....
Interesting that you mentioned the "splitting" of the dosage. My Rheumy just got back to me & said, "Try doing 2.5 for lunch & then 2.5 for dinner". Will totally try this but I'm just wondering why I was able to deal with it, with no issues before? I guess the body constantly changes?
Also, I was taking over the counter Aleve when I had some mild pain. Funny thing is ever since having the stomach issues my pain level has been almost non existent! WEEIRD!!!! I mean my pain has never been higher than maybe a 4 but since the stomach issues's I've been at zero for almost 4 months!
I'm just going to be thankful for that & monitor my stomahc issues as they come & do the split next Sunday.
But, I digress!
An old post is one over a year old, which is what they use as the standard in the bipolar forum. So, your post is still young! Also, a follow up is welcome! Good to hear it is not something serious, but frustrating you don't know what is causing the issue.
I took a break from DS after getting frustrated that nothing would post or even load! It is kind of intermittent, but better than before. It's such a shame DS switched to such a malfunctioning format!