Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Gloria asks

Q: methotrexate , my Doctors says of this doesnt help me...I dont have RA??

I had my appointment with the RA doctor, she had questioned if I had RA or Fibro or both. So as a test she gave me a shot of cortisone to see what happened..well it worked great!! So she used that as a confirmation tool that I had RA. So we do the methotrexate and mobic, prednisone, folic acid. the mtx was 15mg. once a week.

This made me sick.

At my follow up appt. she said you dont hve RA cause if you did the mtx would help you, not make you sick....can anyone give me advice. She tells me I have fibro and osteo.

I think the RA diagnosis was correct, but the mtx was too strong. Has anyone had an experience that mtx makes you sick sick.???

Thank you in advance.

Gloria

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Answers (5)

Brad, Health Guide

8/27/09 2:37am

MTX making you sick is NOT a diagnostic measure of RA! Is this a Rhuematologist you are working with? Have you had blood work done to look at RF factor and what not? I really think you need a second opinion.

Brad

Gloria

8/27/09 7:33am

My lab work showed +RA factor (we did it twice), but the RA Titer was -.

Painful joints/muscles and stiffness with lots of pain, fatigue.... but no swollen joints to speak of. she did the cortisone shot as a diaagnotsic tool to see how I reacted and I felt like a new person, so that was her confirmation of RA, then the treatment began with the mtx for 3 months that made me really sick. So her thoughts were you dont have ra because the mtx would of brought relief.......im confused

glo

Brad, Health Guide

8/27/09 7:13pm

Is the doc you speak of a Rheumatologist? Doesn't sound like it! You need to make an appt with one. You may or may not have RA, we are not drs, but to me it sounds like you need to have a thorough exam by a rheumatologist, not a family doctor. MTX making you ill is not a diagnostic measure for RA.

Brad

Gloria

8/27/09 7:36pm

Yes, a Rheumatologist of 25 years.

Time for a 2nd opinion.

Thanks.

Brad, Health Guide

8/27/09 8:48pm

I would agree! Good luck! Hope you feel better!

Brad

svzw

8/26/09 4:23pm

Did your Dr do any blood tests?

I think methotrexate makes most people really sick some adjust to it and it doesnt bother them as much. I cant take it because it was destroying my liver. I think that it did help me but i would be so sick for at lest 3 days after taking it; sometimes I couldn't even move it made me so weak. i dont think it was really worth it anyway.

andrew

8/26/09 10:13pm

MTX made me very sick and my doctor pulled me off and started Enbrel which has worked well for me. Not all meds work equally on everyone.

gma2

9/13/09 8:33pm

With my 1st rheumatologist I was on pill form MTX and at 8 it made me sick (MTX poisoning) so my 2nd rheumatologist suggested injectable MTX. I don't get sick on the injectable MTX so maybe you could discuss this with your doctor; and don't forget the folic acid with the MTX, my 1st rheumatologist did until I mentioned it. Well wishes to you.

l3true2u

10/ 5/09 8:25pm

I think you should see another doctor and get another opinion. RA is diagnosed by a blood test. There is three differnt levels within the blood that determine weather you have it or not. Also, you have the physical sysmptoms and such that can back that up. Just becuase the meds didn't work, doesn't mean you do not have it. It takes a few months (up to 5) for the metho. to even kick in and start working. And yes there is alot of side effects to the metho. I myself have been on it for 3 months, and i feel sick every time. It sucks, i hate to feel that way, but it makes a little bit of a difference. The folic acid should help with the side effects, and if you are still taking it, make sure you are taking vitamins as well. especially calcium and vit. D. Also, taking the prednisone will help with swelling, but it also bys time for the metho to kick in. hope i helped. best of luck to you!

Kim

Q: methotrexate , my Doctors says of this doesnt help me...I dont have RA??

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