One week on

[Wonderfullifeandmore]

hi everybody, tomorrow it is a week since I saw my new Rheumy who diagnosed Inflammatory arthritis gave me a methylprednisolone injection and ordered lots of X rays and blood tests which I haven’t had results back from as yet. He never ordered a chest X-ray but as I had one 3 weeks ago which showed residual chest infection I can’t have another for 3 weeks. I am currently using a Sabutamol inhaler daily as my breathing is not quite right. However he has given me 3 months worth of MTX starting at 15mg then 20mg then 25mg also a Folic acid tablet to be taken the day after the MTX. I honestly am very concerned about taking the MTX anyway but more so until I have another X ray on my chest in 3 weeks time am I doing the right thing by not even considering taking it until then. I have emailed his secretary explaining this but no reply as yet. Also I am not on any pred apart from the injection which was 120mg he said would last up to 8 weeks

I am still really worried about taking the MTX anyway I have heard several good things but I can’t get my mind off the bad.

Sorry I’ve rambled on.

[SnazzyD]

I can understand your reticence about taking another immunosuppressant in the face of a grumbling chest infection from which you are still symptomatic. I’d have the same concern and would want a considered conversation with someone not blinkered by their own objective.

I’m not sure if this 3 week thing is supposed to be for safety (to let it ‘wear off’) or whether a positive change in your chest won’t be significant enough. Or is it that 3 weeks is the earliest?

Regards, radiation risk, a few times a year my father-in-law had two x/rays a week apart to check the progress of his pneumonias. These articles below don’t sound alarm bells in terms of having one too close to another. One interesting comparison is a chest x-ray is the same as a 4 hour flight in terms of radiation. Even if this isn’t the issue it’s still interesting and there are nice charts if the words are too much of an effort.

radiologyinfo.org/en/info/s...

jpaget.nhs.uk/media/186430/...

[Wonderfullifeandmore in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi SnazzyD thank you for your reply, I did question the wait but the answer was you can’t have the second xray until 6 weeks after the first because there will be no significant change before 6 weeks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Wonderfullifeandmore]

So it isn't really a can't, it is a won't as it is pointless ...

Personally, given he gave you an ongoing dose of steroid, I don't think I would want to use the MTX until the chest infection is properly gone. It would be the instructions for later in taking it.

Maybe your GP can take an unbiased view?

[Wonderfullifeandmore in reply to PMRpro]

thank you for your reply, i already have the form for the follow up chest X-ray for 3 weeks time, meanwhile I have been referred by my dr to the respiratory clinic as I have lung nodules which I had monitored for two years then discharged last year as there were no changes. I requested this referral as I want to be absolutely certain everything is ok before the MTX. Also as I am using an inhaler for breathlessness it raises some concerns with me.