New to this...

[Kellie-x-]

Hi all, Im finding myself a little confused at the moment. I was diagnosed with RA a month ago, Im aged 29, I was given a DEPO injection, and prescribed prednisolone and hydroxychloriquine from the RHEU consultant ,I took these as advised, after a week I was vomiting, and remained in pain. I went to my GP who prescribed me cocodymol to take (2 up to 4 times a day) to help with the pain. I was back at the hospital yesterday for follow up appointment, and they are wanting me to start Methotrexate injections that I will be administering myself. The more I read on this medication the more nervous I get, but I am willing to try it in the hope that it can slow down my symptoms. I have awful flare ups as I am sure that we all do, and right now I am willing to try anything.

I work 7-14 hr shifts as a carer and am finding work difficult at the moment as it is with the fatigue and if I have a flare up. Often feel that I have marbles in my shoes!

Anyhoo, for now that is my rant over.

Is there anyone else on the injections that can offer me any advice? thanks in advance.

[Keryn]

Hi iam 29 aswell and diagnosed in jan this yr. The pred helps me alot ism also on mtx (methotrexate) it takes ages to work out the dose rates. What works for one person may not work for the other. 6mths in amd iam still working it all out. Things that i found helped was a solid nights sleep and light exercise for the fatigue. In relation to the pain thats a hard one no one has anything that fixes that totally.

[Livingston]

Methotrexate is a standard treatment for this disease. In listing side effects, they give everything that has ever happened to anyone who has ever taken it. Even the side effect list for paracetamol is pretty extensive!

It may agree with you, it may not. There's no way of saying till you are on it. Lots of people find they have less bother with the jags than the tablets. Your blood will be monitored to make sure it is safe for you to continue to take it and if it doesn't work out, there are alternatives.

Untreated disease is a much scarier prospect. Hope you start to feel better soon.

[lainee]

Hi welcome to the site. Hope you start to feel a bit better soon, it does take a while to get things sorted. I was worried about Mtx injections but find them much better and easy to do and it doesn't hurt. I didn't get sick but people say the injections help with this. It is so hard trying to work when you are suffering. Bet you feel you could do with some care yourself! Can you take some time off sick until you start to get some relief from pain? Take care xxx

[stbernhard]

Hello Kellie-x-, MTX injection pens are very easy to use and shouldn't cause you nausea like the tablets do for most people. Please don't worry about the side effects in all the medication leaflets, just concentrate on getting the meds right and you flare ups under control. I am an old fox and have been taking tablets and injections for all sorts of things apart from RA, so I know things will get better and you will get your life back! Be patient with yourself and all the very best.

[popsmith1874 in reply to stbernhard]

Welcome to site,don't worry about MTX inj they are a doodle and don't hurt at all ,I've been on them six weeks now before I was taking them oral but they are not controlling my ra ,hope you have more luck