Need some support! Just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and prescribed methotrexate

[Snowbell]

I went to see a rheumatologist yesterday and he prescribed me methotrexate. Only thing is I'm too scared to take it. It sounds terrifying. I thought I was managing well taking one dose of ibuprofen a day. I just had one permanently stiff finger but no real pain. He gave me a steroid shot yesterday.

I'm now thinking maybe I could go for allergy tests and see if I should cut out wheat, for example. I can't help thinking it should be manageable through diet. Am I just being naive? I don't know what to do.

I think they like to get on top of RA quickly. I think if they hit it hard early on it means that that it is easier to control for the future. It seems to be standard to prescribe methotrexate for it. I take it he diagnosed it with blood tests? Also has he prescribed you folic acid.
Quite a diagnosis to get your head around, I hope you are doing ok in your self.
I've a friend who has RA and takes methotrexate. She has 4 wonderful children and manages well.

DH has been on Methotrexate for years with no problems. You need a monthly blood test to check liver function and you need to take folic acid once a week on a different day to the day you take the methotrexate. But I expect you've been told that.

DH has been told not to take it when he gets an infection of any kind, as it compromises the immune system somewhat (which is why it works for arthritis.) If you haven't been told that. I'd check. Getting all this nifo will hopefully make you feel brave enough to start taking it. (You know it messes with fertility don't you?)

I think diet probably does play a part in arthritis but DH's rheumatology nurse seems to have a rather dim view of this and DH goes with what she says, although he has had phases of knocking back cider vinegar etc! Not stuck at it long enough to see any effect. There are some books called Curing Arthritis - The Drug Free Way that can advise you about that (will find author in a sec, have forgotten) but I wouldn't put all your eggs in that basket so to speak.

The best way of coping that DH has found, conversely, is exercise. He didn't exercise for years - didn't think he could and was afraid of causing more pain. Then we joined a gym (with his rheumatology nurse's blessing) and a personal trainer worked out a programme for him. He had the best summer he'd had in years last year - as long as I can remember! - although flared up again over the winter so had to cut back. He's just getting back into exercising again now. It really does help. Swimming is excellent too.

DH is 42 and was diagnosed at 32 although probably had had it for years undiagnosed.

Margaret Hills (Author of those books...)

HTH x

thanks for your replies.
OYBK - does your friend have any side effects?

SHPHH - does your DH have any side effects? I know it messes with fertility but I am 46 so not planning any more babies! I am worried it may bring on the menopause though, if it makes my periods stop. I have bought the Margaret Hills book and I'm knocking back the cider vinegar! I'm trying to find time for exercise as it's something that I do enjoy.

It's just that I used to work with someone who was 24 at the time and she had had severe rheumatoid arthritis and had had a knee replacement operation. She had then found, through the help of an alternative medicine clinic that she was allergic to wheat, sugar, dairy, etc. She cut all these things out of her diet and when I knew her she was completely free from RA. Didn't take any drugs. So knowing her is giving me hope.

rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease so whilst some foods (though not proven) may exacerbate I think you might be naive

it does seem rather a leap from ibuprofen (really only once a day? .. surely it should have been 4 times?) to methotrexate but I assume this is based on tests and he has explained why he believes you should go to NSAIDs (it does seem sensible to me)

there are a range of NSAIDs available .. methotrexate is just one .. you could discuss again with rheumy / ask for a 2nd opinion

DH has been on methotrexate for about 4 years .. as far as we're concerned it has had a miraculous effect .. although to be fair he was in a far worse state initially than you sound with some significant joint damage and bad flares .. the methotrexate has had no adverse effects (and whilst initially on 2 weekly bloods, he's now on monthly) to date

with all arthritis the correct treatment is very much individual and can be trial and error to find the right one for you

methotrexate doesn't affect fertility as such but you shouldn't conceive on it due to strong chance of foetal abnormalities

sorry to be clear DH does not have RA but AS/PsA .. but similar in auto-immune basis and treatment programmes

There are other Disease Modifying Anti- Rheumatoid Drugs (DMARD's), such as sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine, but methotrexate is the 'gold-standard'. If I wasn't breastfeeding, then I would be taking it instead of the 2 I just mentioned.

I too was worried about starting it, but I work in the NHS and have had a brief chat with one of our chemotherapy nurses, and compared to the doses used in her line of work, the once weekly dose to control RA symptoms is tiny. Whilst the ibuprofen controlled your pain, it wouldn't do much to slow or stop the disease process. By preventing / reducing the joint damage occurring, you will postpone problems for years to come.

fark yes .. meant DMARDs not NSAIDs sorry