Comments on: Do You Take Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:32:18 +0000

I do not doubt you. But yes that is too simple of an answer to work on everyone. There are 3 easy explanations for why it’s working. 1- she is diagnosed w/the wrong illness/misdiagnosed which often happens. 2 – That her RA has slowed as part of its natural pattern as a majority of RA patients have, and that it coincides with the diet changes. 3 – That the food change is causing a known temporary lull in the immune system. Drastic diet changes cause these temporary immune system reductions – so I’ve read anyway. If it works, obvoiusly you’d continue. I wish you both well.

By: TGR

TGR — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:03:36 +0000

correction of the website address

By: TGR

TGR — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 05:51:34 +0000

re: seropositive polyarticular RA. My daughter has RA, her disease may be caused by poor digestion. Taking digestive enzymes and eating pineapple or kiwi fruit with every meal and probiotics. Her symptoms seem to have disappeared. Still waiting to see what happens over a longer period of time – it seems too simple, doesn’t it that RA could be caused by ineffective digestion of proteins in the stomach/intestines, but her symptoms have disappeared. She is not on medication. Methothrexate did not agree with her.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:01:22 +0000

Hi Cathy. Good luck with finishing classes this year – it is such a big achievement! You’re right that RA disrupts any good plan we have! I sure hope someone can do something with your shoulders or it lets up soon.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:30:25 +0000

Hello, I have just had my first dose of meth this week, I must say it was hard to swallow, have never had an illness before that just didn’t go away after a while. I fell ill in April and have only just got to a rheumy last week. The cortisone has taken the aches away but i still cannot straighten my knees and my shoulders are still frozen. I relate to the fears here but am also comforted that there are some good news stories as well. I have been studying a degree part time for eight years and am doing my final placement, next year was when my life would ‘start’ again without readings and assignments, this diagnosis was not in the plan. I am glad I have found this page as it is definitely more positive than some others i have found…they just left me feeling worse and worse.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:47:53 +0000

I still am fairly fortunate in the pain department but the fatigue is a problem. I find that the things I use to do that were enjoyable, now are a tiring burden with the joy gone, I just hurry it up without enjoying it. I would love to paint a room in one day, garden for hours, walk an hour, like I use to. But, the joy is gone because it is too tiring. My joints are willing but I don’t have any “steam”. I feel melancholy. Also, does anyone else suffer from heat intolerance? These 90 degree days I can’t bear. I use to, just 2 years ago, stay out in the sun all that I could. Now I break out in a sweat and pant even in the house with the air conditioner on.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:42:38 +0000

Thanks for sharing your good news, Leslie! May it continue a longggggggggggg time.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:38:14 +0000

My rheumy put me on MTX after the plaquenil wasn’t taking care of my symptoms well enough and I have to admit I was a little scared but after just 4 weeks – my fingers don’t hurt! For the first time in two years – my fingers don’t hurt! I am going to shout this from the roof tops – MY FINGERS DON’T HURT!!!! And they feel skinny again!

I am so glad I made this leap. The decrease in pain and swelling is truly significant – I can feel the difference in joints that I didn’t even realize were swollen. I am having some minor pain and discomfort in a few joints, but, wow, nothing like before, this is a miracle.

And I think I lucked out on side effects. I take it at night and feel VERY tired the next day – like I was out drinking the night before – but otherwise, okay, no nausea, etc. (fingers crossed!)

My rheumy wants me to discontinue the mobic and the plaquenil to see if we can drop those of if we need to keep them in the mix – so on we go with drug experimentation but I’m game, it seems to be working.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:03:38 +0000

Shelly, you might want to check the comments on the post about some of the more strange side effects of mtx – click here.
I could not say for sure about you of course, but I have red inflamed skin from the RA itself. I had it before I was on the mtx so I know for me it’s not a side effect of meds but of the disease. Mtx can make you extremely sun-sensitive though. And RA can make your skin dry, which could also be a reason lotions sting. Hope that you figure it out.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:55:35 +0000

I was diagnoised last fall and was put on Plaquenil and prednisone, which I stopped the prednisone after a few months. I have been on methotrexate just since the spring , I did on my own stop it for a brief time just to see what would happen…nothing did. I resumed out of worry that my doctor would find out and discharge me from his practice. I was prescribed MTX 2.5mg 6 pills once a week. Two weeks ago my blood work showed a low platlet count and he has reduced me to just 4 pills a week. I don’t go back till september.I have not noticed any ankle swelling. It doesn’t make me sick, has not made my hair fall out, my problem is my neck and upper chest area gets red with any heating up, like exercise, warm shower, or sitting out in hot weather…even if I am in the shade. My skin gets red, burns, stings and feels like there are pieces of fiberglass insulation under my skin. When it gets like that, even applying a soothing skin lotion feels like I am putting on acid. Does anyone else have this sensation????
When I go out I wear SPF 55 sun lotion, big straw hat.