Why so many flare ups?

[Happy5]

Hello

Wanted to write a summary of why I've had so many flare ups for over a year.

It first started when I had my RTHR in October 2020, so had to stop MTX for a couple of weeks.

In Feb 2021 had my first vaccine, another miss of MTX dose.

Same again in April 2021 for second vaccine.

Then had LTHR June 2021 again another 2 weeks no MTX doses.

I return home all fine but manage to get bitten by a tick in August 2021. Eventually get antibiotoics for this which have to take for 3 weeks, again needing to miss MTX injection doses.

Now comes the booster in November 2021 again miss a dose of MTX .

Between all this are recurrent flare ups, needing steroid intramuscular injections.

At my last f2f with the rheumy nurse she asked did I think MTX efficacy was waning? I said not sure and outlined the above year.

Not really surprising my RD has gone bonkers is it? Are the rest of you experiencing similar issues?

[KittyJ]

I would expect that to happen if I was on and off meds for so much time, I can usually miss a mtx dose with no problem but I get to two and will then go downhill. I hope you pick up now you’re back on it regularly 😊

[Stowe]

Oh gosh what q couple of years you've had, let's hope it all settles down soon for you, I'm the same as KittyJ off Methotrexate for one week I'm fine but the following week I feel terrible.

[smilelines]

Yes, and I really don’t want anymore vaccinations.

[Haz58]

I posted on these lines the other day. I’ve figured out that when I get COVID jabs I flare. All to do with the immune system guess. Many many people have responded with the same conclusion. COVID jabs cause flares. But I guess better to be protected from COVID than not. Hope you feel better very soon. I have my 4th last Friday and my hands are once again swollen and painful. Looked back and exactly the sane happened after my 3rd dose. X

[oldtimer]

It's difficult to tell how effective your treatment is if you haven't been able to take it consistently! Hope you do better now.

[Leics]

Yep and yep again sounds like you know the problem though. Hoping that you get a long spell without infections or any need to stop your meds and you do better. I’ve been unmedicated since last august due to a chest infection, then a throat infection then chest again. I did bit the bullet and saw GP (a real human being too) although it seems my last chest X-ray was clear I’m still coughing up a storm so have been prescribed 40mg prednisone today for 5 days to try and open my airways and allow me to breath properly without coughing. I was a little worried by large dose (for me anyway) but I’ve past caring. I hope it it finally clears after six months virtually non stop that I can start my meds again but pred will hopefully help with that too 🤞. Have to say though when I had a bad infection my RA was ok for a change I knew that had gone because my joints are really biting back.

[Maggsie]

Understand where you're coming from. I've had the same issues re missing doses, I'm ok with missing the odd mtx dose but have been trying to get a decent run of Tocilizumab. Saw the consultant in December and I said I wanted to continue with Tcz for the time being and I hope to get into a regular routine after my 4th jab in Feb, only then will I know if it's working. Good luck and I hope things settle down for you.

[Angels54]

Hi experience very similar thing , my RA very active seems to get worse when I injected my biological nurse thinks I might have some infection, never ending 👍