Pred or mx

[Suet3942]

I decided to stop taking methotrexate and after cutting down I haven’t taken any for nearly 4 weeks. I am now suffering pain in my breastbone and my pelvic area ( quite like a period pain) (from what I can remember). After a couple of paracetamol both pains get more bearable as the day wears on. I’m currently on 9 mgs of pred. Don’t know wether to increase the pred or start taking mx again. Not seeing my rheumie till end of January. Bit of a dilemma. Any advice welcome.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

IF the mtx was having some effect - even if it was small - then you will be likely to suffer some pred-withdrawal at least, even if you don't develop a flare. If paracetamol helps it might be more likely to be withdrawal - I think all you can do is wait and see. If it gets worse, maybe you will need a bit more pred. Does the rheumy know about your decision?

[Suet3942 in reply to PMRpro]

No not yet PMRpro. I didn’t like taking it, especially after reading some of the negative comments on here and I am losing a lot of my hair.

[GerriMc in reply to Suet3942]

How long have you been on MTX? I had some hair loss when I first started taking it but it settled down an is back to normal now. I tried cutting it down too as I wasn’t sure what it was doing. Started getting sore temples again.

[Suet3942 in reply to GerriMc]

I’ve been on it over 2 years but still couldn’t get below 7 mg of pred. Didn’t think it was doing much but may be proved wrong.

[GerriMc in reply to Suet3942]

Ah right! I was stuck at 17.5 but within a couple of weeks on MTX , I could start tapering the Pred again.

[Daisychain12 in reply to GerriMc]

Poor Gerri. Are you ok now?

[GerriMc in reply to Daisychain12]

I am not too bad, thanks! Hope you’re enjoying the holidays! 😊

[Daisychain12 in reply to Suet3942]

Oh darling I am so sorry. It will grow back all shiny and healthy. You are so pretty. When my hair fell out and broke off at the roots I treated myself to an expensive wig. Most unlike me to lash out but it made me feel fantastic. Xxxx

[Suet3942 in reply to Daisychain12]

I have been toying with the idea. See how it goes (or grows!).

Sending hugs me darlin’.

[Daisychain12 in reply to Suet3942]

And you. I bought some spray hair chalk in red and purple and green!!!

[arthur463 in reply to Suet3942]

Hello Suet

When my hair started falling out after being on 60 mg preds with GCA, I decided to take Scotch Whiskey. I didn't rub it on my head, but took it internally with dry ginger. It was most effective - After a while I didn't mind about the hair loss so much. Now I am right down to 5 mg, and my hair is coming back. I still take the whiskey though - just in case.

Merry Christmas

[piglette in reply to arthur463]

I am not sure I like the idea of the dry ginger, the whisky sounds good though. I used to help a group of ladies with arthritis and they used to have a teaspoon of Stones Ginger Wine in the morning to get them going. I suspect it was more than a teaspoon though.

[arthur463 in reply to piglette]

Dry ginger - or ginger ale as it's better known) is actually a fizzy mixer - It goes well with Scotch - like tonic does with gin. It's nice by itself too. You have probably heard people ordering a "Scotch and dry" I picture you thinking that I shred a lump of dried ginger root into my glass - No No Piglette. - that would be witchcraft. Sainsbury's do a nice sugar-free one at 50p a litre - about a third of the price of the Schweppes version. - so it doesn't break the bank. You should get one and try it - with or without whiskey - but preferably with! I would say one part whiskey to three or four parts ginger - repeat the dose as required. -- It will be just beside the tonic water shelf, where the naughty people go. --- Yum-Yum!

I personally think Sainsbury's (or Tesco's) blended Scotch is OK too. -- on the shelves where the really naughty people go.

Let me know what you think.

Arthur

[piglette in reply to arthur463]

I am afraid I don’t like ginger beer or ginger mixers with whisky, I think they destroy the taste of a good whisky or whiskey even. I just have water or straight depending on the whisky.

[arthur463 in reply to piglette]

Fair enough - I clearly misunderstood

[piglette in reply to arthur463]

I am a real pain I don’t like lots of things. I think I should live in the fifties.

[arthur463 in reply to piglette]

You're not a pain! Since I retired, I live as near to the fifties as I can get.

[Constance13 in reply to arthur463]

Mine’s Irish! 🥃 Cheers!

[piglette in reply to Constance13]

You are right, Jameson’s wins for me!

[GerriMc in reply to Constance13]

But of course!😁

[arthur463 in reply to Constance13]

Irish will do nicely

[Suet3942 in reply to arthur463]

Cheers Arthur 😂

[Daisychain12]

Darling ignore my reply to your reply. Now I see your dilemma. I can’t advise as I am not clever enough but I’m thinking of you and hope you feel much better very soon darling. Poor sweetheart it’s so confusing isn’t it xxxxx

[Suet3942 in reply to Daisychain12]

Yes Linda, total confusion for many of us,

Are you still in hospital? How are you feeling?xx

[Daisychain12 in reply to Suet3942]

Still here. Not much point as this will take weeks to resolve xxxxx