Rheumy appointment

[Cyclegirl54]

I’ve got my follow up with rheumy on Thursday and after my awful experience in February with methotrexate, I hope I’m ready to tell her I’m not wanting to try it again and just wish to stick to the prednisolone and taper slowly according to how the body feels.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

All the best - and hope she is a good doctor. No patient should be forced to do anything uncomfortable for them. Other than accept high dose pred for GCA...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi.

If you explain to her that you’ve tried mtx and it didnt work for you, hopefully she will listen and not pressurise you to continue.

I think you said previously she was approachable- so fingers crossed.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

You're a grown woman. Tell her what happened. Your doctor may not like it, but that won't change reality. Your course of treatment is ultimately your choice.

And remember, whatever you decide about your course of treatment, someone isn't going to like it. That someone might as well not be you.

[Pollyanna16]

Could you explain the dose you were on & the nasty effects? I have been keeping my Rheumy at arms length over this for about a year. But now it looks like I do have psoriatic arthritis as well as Pmr (8 years) it is the “go to” treatment. Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi i was very unwell when on Methotrexate,but Rheumy was great said i had given it a fair try but it was obvious it wasn't for me,i started on pills then injecting it myself.Don't be scared it is your choice and there are other drugs you can try.Good luck.x

[4840 in reply to Hidden]

MTX was suggested to me for years by my Rheumy. I declined every time because I had heard about the misery of a friend of mine when he tried it. Prednisone helps so far. Why try something in addition which has terrible side effects. Another friend lost most of her hair while taking Methotrexate.

[animalactivist]

Yes i too had a bad experience with methotrexate

[jinasc]

Take someone with you to back you up.

Pred has 83 known side effects and - ask how many metho and then add them up. If it was a cure.................will that is a whole new ballgame, but it is not, it is a steroid sparing agent.

Now if I had LORA (Late Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis), I would be grabbing the hand that offered it to me.

[Cyclegirl54 in reply to jinasc]

Thanks. I may take someone with me - good idea.

[sassyscript]

I was on Methotrexate for 2 years, I didn't have any bad side effects. But my friend who works in health begged me to get off it asap. There are alternatives, speak to your doctor. I'm now on an alternative. Speak to him about myclofenalate(not sure about spelling). Good luck!