Good visit with the Rheumy Nurse today.

[Grannyshiraz]

My Rheumy nurse was in agreement with me today that my current medication (15mg mtx and 5 pred) is not meeting my needs.

I originally was on 20mgs of mtx but had one episode of vomiting blood and my GP reduced my dose to 15mgs as he thought I was unable to tolertate the higher dose.

Had a good discussion with the nurse today and she seems to think that I should go down the route of 20mg of mtx but in injection form (not sure what the correct terminology is).

I still have to stay on the pred for the time being, but hopefully if all is well, I should be able to come off this soon.

I will be starting the injections in about 2 - 3 weeks time and have to visit the hospital for my first injection to be shown how to do it.

I will have a go at anything if it makes me feel better than the way I do at the moment, and just keep my fingers crossed that this will suit me better.

Any tips or advice will be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Granny

[Josie2]

Hi Granny

Sorry got no tips or help (im useless and clueless with meds) but i do hope the injection of mts works better for you.

I know Tilda has mtx injections and will be able to help you loads.

Take care and good luck with them.

Jo

Xxxxxx

[Hidden]

Hi Granny,

The injections have turned my ESR round and instead of sitting at 62ish the whole time and suffering from strange bouts of tingling and other less obvious signs of inflammation it has taken the level down to 26 where it appears to have settled.

I asked the consultant about this when I saw him in January and he said the subcutaneous MTX is significantly more effective than oral.

I've just skipped a week of Hydroxy and of MTX because of a nasty cold but am about to inject 17.5 mg tonight and to be honest it's a whole lot easier for me than taking those tablets.

The only thing I would question if I was you is why they aren't adding in another DMARD as well as the MTX at this stage. It would surely be better for you to be on Hydroxichloraquine or Sulphasalazine or both (tripple therapies) at a lower dose than just on one DMARD and Prednisolone? NICE recommendations state that combined therapies (DMARDs) are the way to go now in the treatment of RA and it seems strange that they would push one drug only if you aren't doing that well on it yet. Anyway hopefully the injectable MTX will work very well for you as it has done for me - and it really isn't as scary as it sounds I promise!

Tilda x

[Grannyshiraz in reply to Hidden]

Hi Tilda - the nurse did say that once I am set up on the injections then they may introduce another DMARD and she has booked me an appointment to see the consultant in June.

Sharron x

[petalnumber2]

Hello grannyshiraz,

I don't have any advice about MTX injections, but I hope it works out well for you and you feel a lot better. It sounds as though you are being looked after quite well. Take care of yourself. June xx

[helixhelix]

I moved over to injections a couple of months ago, and was terrified as have had very bad experiences in the past (and am just a wuss too). But it's been fine. Take it slowly, and try to relax and it really, really doesn't hurt! And the MTX is working better for me now, so worth it. Polly