Advice about starting to inject methotrexate - NRAS

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Advice about starting to inject methotrexate

cathie profile image
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As part of my new regime I've asked to start doing this. The nurses are going to show me next week, though I already inject for diabetes 2. Any tips? He said I should bring a bag, I assume that's for the sharps bin?

I'm doing pretty well actually I think. Fingers crossed

Xx

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cathie profile image
cathie
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15 Replies

That's great Cathie re pretty well. You will probably find injecting MTX a synch since you are already injecting insulin. I stick to injecting my belly, since it's only once a week, and just alternate sides - and I give myself a week pinch before hand - something someone on this site told me about.

I didn't do much of a pinch this Tuesday since I'd had five weeks off it - and felt a bit cautious - also had a huge bruise on belly that lasted ages from the last time I pinched! It stung quite a lot afterwards but nothing you wouldn't have experienced yourself on a daily basis probably. The only other thing is that it seems to hit my stomach straight away each time - but then it was only a short time afterwards with the tablets too latterly. I feel sort of car sick almost instantly - but for me it only lasts the evening now I'm off the Hydroxy - and I just use an anti-emetic that evening and am fine the next day. Chris did a drug course recently and said that this tarries with what he learned about sub cutaneous injections so it's not just in my head! So far so good so I'm sure it will be a breeze to you and nice not to have to mess about counting out tablets too. Tilda x

cathie profile image
cathie

Thanks Tilda. Its the swallowing of 8 nasty tabs that stick in your throat as they go down.

Incidentally, I dont inject insulin, but something called Liraglutide which is supposed to stimulate the production of insulin. So perhaps a bit more subtle in its effects.

How big is the sharps bin they give you?

Nice to hear you sounding so much more positive - do you think its the longer hours of daylight? Speaking of time - well sort of - we had Dylan for a sleep over and he was trying to get us to say what year it would be if BC hadnt ended but had carried on. GOt into an interesting discussion about the different calendars different cultures and religions have. A very curious boy. He woke me up this morning as he was examining my poor knee. Said - what's that lump there - is it because you've lost weight?! Anyway he has a nice take on my RA - which is that it started when I was on holiday and I didnt do anything to provoke it. And that his mummy might get it but there were better treatments now so she would be OK. I really hope she doesnt and that if she does she can get them.

Paddy and Dylan have 4 copies of "Farewell to Stromness" which they are trying to play together (guitar and piano). Given that the guitar hasnt progressed beyond twinkle twinkle, that is ambitious. I havent tried my guitar recently but I might be encouraged.

XX

Go for it Cathie re Farewell to Stromness - a lovely piece. There's a great recording on YouTube of a guitar quartet - see if you can find it I think it's got 4 initials starting with G and they are from New York so maybe GNY something..?

Not 100% positive and the weather has nose dived a bit here today and I'm very achy with a sore throat - haven't even set foot outside the front door today but will have to tonight as first choir rehearsal post Easter and we are in a huge concert (well two actually) on our own in the St Magnus Festival singing Peter Maxwell Davies pieces and a North Indian piece called Miniwanka - to name just a few items. We are being recorded by our local BBC station tonight.

Good on Dylan I like the sound of this boy!

Tilda xx

PS LAGQ - the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet!

cathie profile image
cathie

I shall look this up, thankyou. People keep giving the sheet music to Paddy! Hence the many copies.

My RA isnt too bad despite withdrawal of treatment. I had to rest this afternoon and the cat pinned me down in the bed. She was lying on my left knee and it took quite a while to get it to move! Tonight I'm taking hopefully my last dose of nasty yellow pills. Dr told me I could keep my stash for the meantime because they might be useful for travel if I didnt want to take the injection. South of France in September might be a bit warm and we wont be staying all the time in swish hotels with fridges in the room, so that might be the best solution. (That's my RA justification bit).

X

PS. Dylan had heard about the Boston marathon bomb and was quite distressed about the 8 year old who was killed. His age.

tessintrouble profile image
tessintrouble

Good luck Cathie, I too was on 8 tabs and tomorrow I am getting my "lesson" on the injections, right after my hip x ray appt. I will be worn out when I get home - but just want to get started on new drug regime as soon as possible. They didn't mention to bring a bag though.......

cathie profile image
cathie

Tess, I thought the bag might have been for the sharps or it might be for the injection unit - although that will be quite small. .Have you seen the illustrated how to on the web? I cant find the one I looked at first but this one seems ok. About 2 mins in it shows a tummy injection, dont look at it if its likely to upset you. I didnt think I'd be able to do my diabetes one, but I do it without thinking now, so good luck

youtube.com/watch?v=6rp4TGP...

My sharps bin is about a foot tall and quite cumbersome. When I was away in Tuscany I just kept it in a drawer - its not to be kept in fridge as far as I know? Xx

Oh I didn't mean the bin - too big to travel with I just out then back in the packet in a bag and in the sharps bin once home. Metoject isn't to be refrigerated. X

cathie profile image
cathie

Good that it doesn't need to be kept cool, thanks for that. I took my last (hopefully) 8 yellow pills last night. Another day of fog. Is there any way it can help doing anything, to be in a fog I wonder.

We've been having lovely blue mornings here. Good luck with rehearsals, I think the festivals not til June is it. We went to see the Flying Dutchman on Monday, amazing. I don't like Wagner but the music is amazing. Nice to see an orchestra, with a wind machine to boot! Didn't help my vertigo to be at the front of the upper circle though. Too many steps too, for my sore knees but when the crowds going out at the end it's ok to be slow isn't it.

Ozzy profile image
Ozzy

I was given a special sharps bin from the hospital as the drug is cryotoxic? I already had one for my other injections. They also give me a spill package which remains unopened as I didn't need it. I found using the metoject easier to use than then pens of Hurmia. The best advice I was given by my father was to use a mirror as it does not feel like I am sticking a needle into myself and I always did it last thing at night so that I could then go to bed.

cathie profile image
cathie

Thanks for these ideas Ozzy. I've already identified somewhere out of the way for the bin - children visit here frequently and I'd rather they didnt get involved. Mirror is a nice idea!

tessintrouble profile image
tessintrouble

I did get given a sharps bin Cathie and several injection packs and an information folder. It wasn't too bad at all. I could have gone for another "lesson" next Friday but asked if I could skip that as the journey by bus takes over an hour and is so tiring. Feels strange having to do it - but if it works it's worth it. With regards bruising, she said squeeze the skin to put needle in and then release, and also said you can use the top of your thighs as well. Best of luck Cathie x

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

I have a smaller sharps bin, which supposedly is for "travel" tho' I can't imagine tucking it in my handbag. but it's smaller, about 8 inches tall. My one is purple and yellow, with all sorts of warning stickers over it so just the sort of thing that could attract a curious child so sounds like a v good idea to tuck it well away.

I've come to terms with injecting now, but do still have to remember to breathe! Px

cathie profile image
cathie

Breathing! I've been learning how to do that!

Cx

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