Starting on MTX and hydroxychloroquine again after so... - NRAS
Starting on MTX and hydroxychloroquine again after sore stomach..Sulphsalazine has been dropped-feeling nervous but in a lot of pain now :(
Hi Rockpool. What dosage will you be on with the MTX and is it tablets or injections? You might be better asking to go onto the injections which don't involve the stomach. If on tablets, try to space them out during the day and only take them after a meal so you have something in your stomach to cushion the effects.
I was on Hydroxychloroquine for 6 months when first diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago but came off it as it had not the slightest effect on the RA at all!
You can also try Paracetemol which is gentle on the stomach to help with pain relief - also hot and cold packs seem to work as well. (I find cold packs work best for me but I know others swear by heat packs. - My GP did say that putting heat onto already inflamed and overheated joints was not a good idea!). Or sometimes just putting hands and feet into cold water is bliss.
Hope all goes well. LavendarLady x
Hello LavenderLady...what a lovely name by the way. We have a lovely hedge up our path of mustead lavender which smells wonderful when it flowers. Thank you for your advice it is still all new to me and they are trying me on the two to start with and then introducing some other drug. Blood tests next Friday. My feet are the hottest and sorest feels like I have walked in hot sand..or party feet :/ take care xxx
I did read somewhere on here that this is one of the best combination of therapies for early RA. I'm on it but can't tell if it's working or not to be honest - I know the MTX does because it worked well by itself and since I upped dose to 17.5 my ankle pain has completely disappeared after 3 or 4 months of non stop trouble so am thinking that's down to the MTX too. But really don't feel confident that Hydroxy is part of the progress - hard to know really but I guess my rheumy will determine when he sees me at the end of the month.. oh IF he sees me at the end of this month of course .. seeing is believing! I hope you get it by injection Rockpool - since the nausea I've been really wanting to switch but GPs here aren't at all keen to let me. I couldn't take Sulpha at all. TTx
Hi Tilda I am on tablets and Rheumy nurse has told me to spread it out.and take the HXY morning and night. Sulfasalazine was horrid and glad I am not on it any more.made me feel so sick. My doctors keep getting my prescription wrong so that has to be changed again...folic acid everyday and not just the day after the MTX..so confusing. I hope you have a lovely break on the mainland. I fancy going to see Sheila Fleet sometime..fancy a coffee xxxx
Hmm Sheila Fleet - are you thinking of coming here or thinking I might pop in while South - is there one in Edinburgh I can't recall? I never pop into the one in Kirkwall. Hey Murray won so Scotland rocks more than ever! I think you and I should angle for injectable MTX. I hate feeling sick all the time it spoils any joy that could and should be derived from lack of pain in joints! TTx
Hi Tilda yes there are two shops in Edinbugh lovely one in Stockbridge that I love and the ladies are really lovely. They welcome our guide dog pup too 
Hope you have a nice break..I am in Fife if you are passing lol.
Take care xxx
That's nice to know! We have some good friends in Fife. The shop in Kirkwall is very small but has nice clothes upstairs. I haven't been to her workshop for ages as its on the other side of Orkney. How come you've a guide dog if thats not too cheeky a question? We will have our little dog with us while down there - I'm a bit worried about what we will do with him when we want to go out as the flat is on 4th floor but guess he's worth cramping our style for! You don't know of any good kennels do you as thought we might use one for a day? TT x
Hi Tilda. I am a puppy walker for Guide Dogs for the Blind and at the moment I have Freddie who is 14 months but is going for advanced training in 2 weeks. 
he is a clever boy so hopefully he will pass. Then having 6 months break to get sorted on these medicines. Depends what part you are going to for kennels..in fife it is Mayfield cattery and kennels at oakley.Fife. Have a lovely time..took my MTX yesterday and no side effects..so far..do you get dry eyes and mouth? Fi xxx
No I don't get dry eyes and mouth - these can be a secondary of RA though. I get Reynauds in that way now (icy cold, white fingers and toes). I do get the most disgusting taste - like rotten meat - for a few days after taking the MTX and that, along with nausea, has worsened since I moved up a dose. That's lovely about the guide dogs. Both my sisters are profoundly deaf and have been tempted to get a guide dog but they work too many hours so it wouldn't be fair. Tilda xx
