Methotrexate Baselines | Arthritis Information

I would like to know if anyone on MXT had baselines taken before they started, especially hepatitis blood work ups or chest x-rays. Thanks in advance. Cathynow i started mtx a long long time ago but I do remember a chest x'ray..don't remember any specific blood workCathy, from memory they had all sorts of current blood work on me at that time including liver tests etc. I had had a chest x-ray not long before so I would say my RD has some baselines to work with. I have no idea what they are though, I just know I have no current problems with that as I am tested monthly for liver issues in particular.
I recently started methotrexate and had both a chest x-ray and bloodwork.My doc is wanting me to start mtx what is the chest exray for?Had both a chest x-ray and bloodwork before starting MTX.Both a baseline chest x-ray and bloodwork....

I had a chest x-ray, PPD (TB skin test), and baseline bloodwork at the very first RD visit--even when he was convinced that I couldn't possibly have RA because I didn't have massively outward signs--except for the swelling, the stiffness, the pain, the nodules--all hidden by clothes and a determined smile.

He said that he would prefer to know my baseline of everything he could IF turned out that I did have it. He is very thorough.

Hope that you have a good RD as well.

My daughter had it all - baseline joint and chest xrays; TB test, hep labs.

Nvrules - my understanding is the chest xray is a baseline to compare in case you end up showing signs of a rare lung side effect from mtx. Also good to have to rule out any pneumonia lurking before you start immune suppression. That's what the TB, hep tests do, too - rule out infections before you are immune suppressed and they could be very serious.

JSNM - I asked the ped about the hep tests on the ped rheum's lab orders, because my daughter had recently been immunized for all the heps I thought. I wondered what the point would be.

He said maybe hep tests also show something else that can relate to RA that a rheum uses, that sometimes certain tests are used for other things.

Okay. Or maybe we just have good insurance that covers everything.

I had labs, chest xray, PPD test, spirometry baselines prior to starting MXT. LindyI had a CBC and Liver Panel before beginning MTX.Thank you everyone. I didn't when I started it 18 months ago and my ALT and AST have both skyrocketed. The doctor took me off MTX and minocin for two weeks. It's always something. CathyI had chest x ray and bloodwork for hepatitis b and c and ppd tuberculin. Rx2Heal39434.9858796296Once again, I am amazed at the lack of or non-inherence to basic starting protocols after being diagnosed with RA before starting any treatment. This whole thing has come down to a guessing game in my situation. I think my rheumy is regretting bumping me up to 8 tabs of MTX as retaliation for starting the minocin, that's why a washout on both drugs. The only good thing here is that I am having serious second thoughts about further treatment. What's the point? are you discussing these concerns with your rheumatologistThe MTX and Minocin aren't working? Those drugs take a long time to build up in your system, 3-4 months. How long have you been taking them?

The MTX and the minocin are working fine, but my liver enzymes skyrocketed and they are narrowing it down, I am guessing. I have been on MTX for 18 months and the minocin 5 months.

What no doctor has ever done is just ask me or talk to me. All of my RA symptoms until this recent double hand attack have been internal organs. Last time I checked, the liver was inside your body. I cannot seem to get it across to them how quickly this moves around in my body, from day to day.

It's always something. Buckeye, I will at my next appointment, which is in two months. So far he has blown the osteoporosis and failed to do baseline hepatitis tests or xrays before starting the MTX. I give up.