Methotrexate and ra

[Gottaloveastaffy]

Can stress cause a ra flare up? And does anyone feel worse when steroids end ? I’m on methotrexate too and does that cause weight gain 😩 or am I just a 🐷

[helixhelix]

Yes, stress can cause you to flare - and many people feel it can trigger RA in the first place. Something to avoid!

If your disease isn’t fully controlled then stopping steroids will put you back to where you were before. If you’ve only been on MTX a short time it may not have started to work yet, it can take 3 months. But it’s not usually responsible for weight gain.

On the other hand if you have been on oral steroids a long time that can lead to weight gain.

[Niao]

Yes and yes!!Stress is evil!

I'm only on my 4th week of methotrexate, so it hasn't kicked in yet, and have had 2 weeks on 20mg of steroid where I felt so much better, 2 weeks on 15mg where things weren't as good, now 2nd week on 10mg and all my pains are coming back! I'm to go onto 5mg next week so expect things will get even worse!

I cannot stop eating, a problem of mine anyway but much worse on steroids!

[oldtimer]

I always have to plan for some 'quiet' days when I come off a steroid boost as I feel rotten for a while - it may be in comparison to my rather hyper state while on a higher dose! My daughter certainly says that I talk too much and too fast when I'm on an increased dose, so slightly manic. And coming down off that is bound to make you feel different. It's much more likely that it's the steroids causing the weight gain too. Horrible things steroids but marvellous for helping with the pain and stiffness.

[Niao in reply to oldtimer]

You're right there! They had remarkable affects on my pain and mobility whilst on the 20mg, now not so much, and as for the 'slightly manic', well, couldn't agree more!!! With me ,that is to say!

[Niao]

By the way, like your name. I had never really had insight into Staffies until our doggy, sadly passed, who was a rescue and a strange mix of Staff, Doberman, Rottweiler and something else Labrador or Collie like.She had the Staff grin, the bulldozer like head and the back legs etc.

It was her incessant 'talking ' and the absolutely bizarre noises she made that got me into looking at Staffies!

She was great, and very very rarely barked in the 10 years we had her, a big plus! We miss her immensely!

Saying all this and your name may have nothing to do with the breed!?

[Gottaloveastaffy]

Thanks for all your replies they have been very helpful and I had been feeling awful again after the steroids I have been on and off those for a few months and was on sulfasine but was allerg to it the methotrexate seems much better I just cannot wait for it to get in my system properly 👍 I appreciate everyone’s help and yes the staffy smile is amazing 🤗

[Niao in reply to Gottaloveastaffy]

🙂

[vonniesims]

Stress definitely causes discomfort or even a flare up. I have had RA for 25 years and notice it all the time.

[greynot]

Hi, I was diagnosed with RA in Oct 2019, after dramatic swelling up of my hand joints (amongst others ). Thus was after a stressful few months. I was immediately started on steroids (prednisolone) and methotrexate, andcwuthin a few weeks I could use my hands again (important as I'm a musician).

After 3 months I started to taper off the steroids...not much fun...but by then the methotrexate was doing its job.

I gained weight on steroids, and am still gradually losing the extra again.

Methotrexate is sometimes said to cause weight loss, but it hasn't for me!!!

Best of all, I'm doing complicated knitting for Xmas presents, and have done loads of fiddly sewing during Covid times too. This time last year it wouldn't have been possible.

Hope it works well for you xxxxx

[Niao in reply to greynot]

That's great to hear and gives me, only on 4th week of methotrexate, hope as well!

[greynot in reply to Niao]

🤞❤️

[Niao in reply to greynot]

🙂

[Hidden]

Ra and stress don’t go and after a year of stress I can easily say the two don’t mix. I make it after a stressful moment to do something good ie music shower or a Mrs Overall walk down the country lane we live on x

[AJCWarrior]

Hi there, I definitely believe stress is linked to a flare. Our minds are incredibly powerful tools that cause endless sorts of problems and on a sub-conscious level too!! My consultant has agreed for me to come off methotrexate injections as they were causing me general malaise after each one and the tablets caused too many recurrent coldsores abs infections. It’s a really heavy duty drug. I’ve never put weight on with any of my meds and I’ve been on quite a few different ones. One piece of advice to anyone is to invest in good probiotics as the meds wreak havoc on gut flora. This can cause weight gain and many RA patients have tummy issues. Steroids are great in so much they blast all of the immune responses unlike DMARDS anti-TNFs or biologics however you’re at greater risk of picking up an infection whilst on them plus you’re going to regress when you’re off as your immune starts becoming overactive once again. I’ve always fared really well on steroid injections but the side effects are too high to keep having them regularly. Good luck with it all!

[Niao in reply to AJCWarrior]

Great advice!