I'm not a frequent poster but I have been on here for a number of years. I have recently had my first rheumatology appointment for more than 2 years. At the last one, my hydroxy dose was halved and since then I've been having a lot more trouble with my joints so rheumatologist suggested I try methotrexate. I'm very much undecided about it, on the one hand I want to try it because I'm fed up of pain etc and I'm fed up and feel like others must be fed up of me moaning but I am also worried about an increased risk of infection when I work in a school with small people who have no concept of either good hygiene or personal space! So I'm looking for anyone who works in a school whilst taking methotrexate to maybe give me an idea of how it works and how they cope with it...I don't know if I'm just worrying about nothing so any advice would be welcome.
Thank you!
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14bubbles
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You will be regularly monitored whilst you’re on it so if there are any problems they will be picked up. The important thing is to get your RA under control or you risk damage to your joints etc. Methotrexate is a very widely used drug and many of us are on it, I can’t remember the last time I had an infection and whilst I’ve been on it I’ve had jobs working in very close contact with many people. Give it a go, you’ll never know if it’s the one for you unless you try it. Good luck.
I am on mtx and never had any problem when I was working in a school. As others have said, it's worth giving it a go. I was given a lot of advice and information before I started taking it and have been fine.
I worked in a primary school when I was first diagnosed in 2015 until retirement this year. 7 years later. Started methotrexate 2015. Wasn’t sufficient on its own (added Benepali too) but still on it now and has worked miracles. Gave me my life back. Saved my joints. Did not catch any more infections on it while working with 4-11 than I had in the previous 15 years. Give it a try would be my advice based on my experience.
I don't use methotrexate now, I'm on other drug's that work for me fine. We do have two Officers and a Governor that use methotrexate for their rheumatoid arthritis and we all work in prison's. As long as you take care of yourself I think you will be fine, definitely worth a pop because it works for lots of people.
It will depend on the dose. I believe those on 20mg and above are considered to vulnerable in terms of Covid boosters.
Even when I was on 25mg I didn't notice any difference in my susceptibility to infections. I wasn't working with children however. I think the risks are quite low and the benefits if methotrexate work are worth it.
I didn’t work with children, but did work as a frontline nurse in an nhs hospital. I take 25mg MTX as well as a biologic, for 5yrs. I only picked up one chest infection in that time, despite people coughing in my face or caring for them whilst they had norovirus. The way I see it is that MTX turns down the dial on your overactive immune system, to a level similar to healthy people. Before MTX and biologic I regularly had infections because my body was too busy fighting the inflammation that it couldn’t cope with an infection on top of it.
Your rheumatoid arthritis needs controlling, it’s not just your joints it can destroy, but your heart & lungs can be affected with uncontrolled RA. If you don’t get on with it, you just stop. There is no tapering off. You can get small alcohol gels that you can attach to your belt or bag so you can sanitise your hands in class if the need arises. Good luck whatever you decide
I teach reception and I’m on mtx and tocilizumab. I don’t think I’m any more unwell than anyone else who works with me. You’ll have bolstered your immunity by working in a school anyway. My only advice would be to take it in the evening rather than the morning so any side effects will be less the next day or take it at the weekend. I inject it on a Monday night and leave the folic acid Tuesday morning. Remember having controlled RA is more important than anything else. It’s the one thing that impacts everything else - your mood, your ability to work, your ability to have fun! I say go for it, if it doesn’t work then they can try something else, if it does then 🙌🦾
Thank you all for your reassurance, it helps to hear from people who are actually experiencing this as I don't know anyone personally. I was put off trying methotrexate because I had issues with sulfasalazine when I ended up with 2 chest infections within 3 months whilst taking it, and that was fine while the hydroxy was controlling the RA but the RA is getting to the point where it is affecting my day to day life more so it is very reassuring to hear from you all, thank you!
Well I work in a Sixth Form College, so they’re not that little, but there almost 2,000 kids, so crowds everywhere you walk.I’ve been on Mthx for 3 years, last year it was put up to 20mg because I flared twice and I sometimes go into work on the tube and bus if I can’t face driving and traffics jams! So I’m always mixing with lots of people, and fingers crossed 🤞 so far I haven’t caught it, although loads of people at work have.
I work with 3 people who are also on Mthx, 2 are teachers, both have had Covid and weren’t bad at all, just a bit fluey.
I hope that helps, I feel Mthx has worked for me so far, I do get fatigued, but that’s about all. But as other have said, it’s best to get it under control, so give it a try. Xx
It has worked well for me in the last 10 years, changed to injections about 4 years ago as I also have IBS, these have worked really well up until recently, am now flaring a lot, so having an infusion of ritixumab in a couple of weeks. But as everyone says, you will be monitored closely, so give it a try! Good luck!
I was an infant teacher and worked for 14 years while on mtx. I also have asthma and a lung disease, but I seldom got infections. I made sure I washed my hands often or used hand sanitiser and encouraged nose blowing and hand washing for children who had colds.
I’m on methotrexate and worked in a school, EY and KS1 teacher mainly. The two coincided for 12/13yrs. My class were always good at hand washing, and I’d always have a window open, and tissues on hand. My main thing was fatigue, I’d sleep a lot. Think that was being on the go rather than infection though. Wouldn’t say I caught more infections than other staff members did. I quit teaching in my early forties as my body couldn’t cope with the demands of the day.
I worked in a psychiatric hospital when on Methotrexate, where many people not only have little to no concept of personal space or hygiene, but actively spit on you, scratch you and throw punches . I didn't have increased number of infections. In fact was less likely to catch the seasonal flu than my colleagues, but also more likely to have a punch land as my wrists were so damaged by the RA (took many years to get on MTX) I couldn't protect myself.
I worked in a large comprehensive for 10 years on MTX , after being diagnosed with RA in my late 40s . It worked for me and I was never ill ( apart from the occasional flare ) while all around me were coughing , spluttering and sneezing . I assumed it was the MTX that protected me . 😁
Thanks everyone for your helpful replies, I think I have decided (after much MUCH deliberation...!) to give it a try and see how it goes...so phone call to the hospital tomorrow to get the ball rolling. Thank you so much to everyone who replied 😊
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