I have been diagnosed with RA two months ago and I m taking Methotrexate once a week (15 mg) and 400 mg of Celeberex everyday and yet I dont feel well
I totally understand how frustrating getting a dx is =/ It took me 5 years (I'm 19) of complaining of "growing pains" to get a blood test--even then, it was only because I grew out of pediatrics. /sigh But on the bright side, a dx=treatment!
Was there a reason why your RD didn't start you on plaq? Usually they try something milder before mtx, was my understanding.
I'd recommend sleeping more, if you can, and eating a lot of fruits and veggies... and don't overextend yourself. Talk to your RD if the fatigue becomes intolerable, maybe this cocktail of meds isn't right for you.
Good luck <3 and welcome to the board! I'm sure the rest of the welcome wagon will be around shortly :)
*** I'm sorry, 3 months for the mtx - I have no experience with CelebrexCelebrex kicked in for me quickly when I tried it some time ago for pain, but I developed a reaction to it and had to go off it. Everybody responds differently. Be patient.
MTX could also be contributing to your current fatigue. It takes a long time to adjust to that side effect.
MTX Does work; but often it takes a while. Hang in there....it does take time. As far as feeling "Normal again" you may end up changing what you consider normal. I'm not sure I have ever felt as good as I did before RA.....but I have had success with medication.
Good Luck to you....and welcome to AI.
Thanks a lot for info, I dont know why he put me on mtx from the begining , I have swollen legs, wrists, fingers, ankels.. and about my blood work it was ANA postive Anti-DNA weakly positive and something else I think it was ESR which was elevated too. But other blood tests for RA came back negative ... I have had pain and fatigue for a long time( more than 6 months) I m not sure if mtx made it worse or not
Hi Ashi...welcome!
Mtx has worked very well for me over the years. I'd give it more time but possibly you may need to be on a higher dosage of mtx.
Hi - You'll hear alot of been there done that - so we feel your frustration! I too am on Mtx and naproxen it took awhile but they wanted to save the more powerful drugs as a last resort. It's hard when your young - my blood test never did come back showing I have RA and I too got it in my 20's - A top RA Dr told other drs - that some people never show positive on the blood test - Hang in there - LaurenHi and welcome.
All the meds for this disease take a bit to work, then some of them do not work. THe best thing you can do is keep your Dr. and his/her staff informed.
Hi Ashi, welcome. Sorry to say, I'm not your age, but I do have some MTX experience. I think your RD put you on MTX right away because he felt he needed to hit your disease hard early on. In fact, many doctors, like my own, pair it with Plaquenil to give it a double whammy. It took several months before I felt better at 20 mg. and now at 25 I think I'm improving even more. You may just need to give it more time or you may need a higher dosage. Don't give up on it yet. MTX is still the gold standard for treatment of RA and it's related diseases. Thank you all for your kind responds, I hope I can get good result from mtx ..I ll have my next appointment in mid April ,I guess I should wait till then and see what happens next...just one last question right now my hands are weak and my fingers are painful I can not make a fist and etc ..but in my job I really need to use my hands a lot ..there is nothing heavy or difficult about doing it but just repeatitive use ..do u think I can keep my job or I should think about something which doesnt need much physical involvment ..Welcome Ashi. You've come to the right place for advice.
I don't have any advice in the meds department, I'm real new to this too.
I work with my hands too, I'm a hairdresser and use them all day. It gets tough. Maybe you can take more frequent breaks at work and rest more. I wouldn't quit working yet. Give the meds a chance to do their thing. It can take a while to get the right meds, or right mixture of meds to get it right. Try to take it easy until then. Listen to your body.
Again, welcome.
Ashi,
Welcome to our little family. We all have or had the same type of questions so ask away.
I have been on Mtx from day one. I have had multiple dosage increases like most of the group. I was like you in that it seened like it was not doing anything for me (very frustrating to WAIT ) Try and be patient it may take a long time. As far as the job I wouldn't make any rash changes just yet. I got to the point that I could not type while I was "waiting" I talked to my company and just explained it to them that anything that need to be typed would need to be done by someone else.
This is a great place for support and to talk with people who do unmderstand just what it is like. Visit often
Jay
Hi Ashi,
Welcome! Sorry you had to find us, but at least there is strength in numbers. I had my mtx. incrementally increased to the point where I now take it 25 mg. by injection, and that was the one that did it for me. I dont even need the humira! My RD is a quick to the point guy, who doesn't mess around. He gives things like 6 weeks to work and then moves you around. Does your RD have you on any prednisone yet? I'm finally tapering down, but it keeps the body moving.
As for the hands, I get it! I'm a dental hygienist, and I had to stop working. Don't know if I'll ever get back ,most of the damage is in my hands, but there are always other things to do...I just have to find them
My RD he started me with MTX and celebrex and once a week folic acid I dont even know why i should not take folic acid everyday .. he siad we wait for 8 weeks and we ll see if it s good for you or not ..but he didnt try any other medications ...
No damage ... that's great news! Now that you are on a DMARD (MTX is a disease modifying antirheumatic drug) with the celebrex, you should start to see the inflammation going. It might take a few weeks or months, but it will go down.
How much folic acid did he put you on each week? The dose might be the reason why its weekly. I take 1 mg a day.
Thanks Joy, I am taking 5 mg folic acid per week so you are right I didnt check the dosage..is there anything I can do to feel less sleepy and tired ..nowadays I sleep about 10 hours per a day and still I dont want to get out of the bed
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