Methotrexate and your eyes

[Pinkplum]

Morning everyone,

I’m just wondering does anyone here have bother with their eyes ? Mine are constantly swollen stinging and sore, I have constant hay fever symptoms. Sore throat comes and goes as well.

I’ve had bad a lot of side effects with the tabs, and I’ve got my first app with rheumy nurse tomorrow and she’s starting me on injections.

I just feel like I don’t have a very good quality of life at the moment, I know I’m not long diagnosed about 10 weeks ago just after my 40th birthday.

I suppose it’s just learning to accept this diagnosis now ☹️

[Hidden]

Poor you . It’s very early days for you. This disease is very much a roller coaster. You think you’ve got it managed..........BANG !!!!! It starts again. You will get good days and there are people who get to go into remission it’s just finding the combination of drugs. We’ve all been there. Over 3 years since I was diagnosed did great until last year and now been struggling for 11 months starting my 3 drug this week 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 this my golden combination. Your not on your own think positive. The injections are dead easy and less side effects. Let us know how you get on.

[Pinkplum in reply to Hidden]

I hope you get on well and things improve for you. 😊

I’m hopeful about the injections definitely.

Will let you know how I get on.

[Hidden in reply to Pinkplum]

I am on week 12 of MTX nausea etc but also now with sicca which is part of RD and part Sjorens so my eyes been troublesome. Local GP got me on eye drops and mouth sprays. Some days good some days bad but Rheumy consultant said to me if it is all the time it is not the meds it is probably something else and with RD to never be surprised. He explained that it is easier to blame the drugs then actually the RD for all the complications we can get.

I would not agree totally on this as I do think the drugs can cause issues but worth reading up on sicca and sjorens so you understand them a bit more before appointment.

[Pinkplum in reply to Hidden]

I will read up n them , I don’t know anything about them. Thank you , a lot of reading for me ltr

[Hidden in reply to Pinkplum]

I love reading and def done more since diagnosed! Read NRAS rather than Dr Google as less drastic !!

[Pinkplum in reply to Hidden]

Will do 😊

[Hidden]

I have secondary Sjogrens, and it plays havoc with my eyes, mouth, Parotid gland and salivary glands. Been like it 32 years.

[Pinkplum in reply to Hidden]

I’m sorry that’s not pleasant at all

[nomoreheels]

We'd be guessing as it's not a side effect of MTX I've come across. There are secondary conditions where the eye is involved but show the nurse tomorrow, she should be able to advise. Meantime a flannel rinsed in cold water may help ease the swelling & soreness, or cucumber, that can be soothing.

Only being so recently diagnosed it's understandable how you feel but give the MTX a little more time & hopefully you'll see some improvement, chances are more so as you're going on to injections.

[Pinkplum in reply to nomoreheels]

I will do thank you

[sylvi]

My eyes have been so sore for such a long time now. They are puffy and red though the whites of my eyes are milky white so the actual eyes themselves are ok, but I do get very dry itchy eyes. My optician says all the swelling round the eyes is caused by RA. So that's another thing I have to contend with. I already have Sjorgens which doesn't help. This RA lark is the gift that keeps on giving.xxxx

[Pinkplum in reply to sylvi]

Oh you’ve been suffering along time, it really is an awful disease everything that comes with it.

I hope you get some relief soon xxx

[Mmrr]

I use eye drops 4/5 day and it does help, there are many on the market. Your GP should be able to give you a prescription for something, just make sure they have no preservatives, you can't use them long term if they do.

At the moment I am using carbomer single dose unit, the best I've had yet, but the single use plastic dose concern me (what can I do, others eye drops have stopped working for me).

[Pinkplum in reply to Mmrr]

I know , will try anything for some relief

[Sockknitter]

Speak to your optician about your eyes. Mine gave me prescription eye drops and some great advice on keeping my eyes comfortable.

MTX gave me some hay fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat type side effects. It was very noticable the day after taking the tablets but lessened as the week progressed.

[Pinkplum in reply to Sockknitter]

Thank you 😊

[Buckybri]

Hi , I know it’s really hard to come to terms with it , I really struggled with the mtx pills I just thought that I was taking something that made me feel really sick and I wasn’t getting any better , I changed to the injection last Friday , it was so easy it’s totally painless honest ,but I still feel sick the next two days after , I wouldn’t feel so bad if my condition was getting better but it’s not . I had to stop the mtx for 10 days due to going on the injection and my knees felt really good but as soon as I had the mtx injection my knees really hurt again .

[embroy]

Read all the leaflets which are provided with all your medication, then you will get an idea of what is going on.