Thanks to all the posts to my "Update, as
promised" message! You sure made it easier to face my "training
session"!!
So, here's how it went ... I started out with my latest list of questions,
which I'll include below, followed with the MTX injection training. Hey,
you were right, not so bad! No injection site pain, no nervousness and
detailed instructions from the doc made it "easy as pie". I even managed to find a silver lining
out if it all -> heck, who would have thought that having belly fat
would be useful!!
Here's the Q&A summary:
Why change to injection from pills for the increase in dosage (from 15 mg to
20) if I'm not experiencing any side-effects on the pills? Answer:
Because doses higher than 15 mg taken orally are not absorbed 100% by the body,
whereas an injection is guaranteed to be 100% absorbed.
What is the plans for meds? Should I expect to be on anti-inflammatories
and injected MTX permanently? Answer: If get the inflammation under
control, may be able to reduce dose back to taking the MTX orally, plus only
take the naprocyn when needed. (This is
recognizing that there is no way to know what RA has in store for me for the
future, but it’s nice to think that I may be able to reduce some meds in the
future, even if for a short period of time.)
When should I expect to see the impact of the higher MTX dosage? Answer: About 6 weeks. If I still don’t feel like I’m getting relief then I can increase it to 25 mg.
When see dr. next and what symptoms would indicate I should see him earlier? Answer: 3 months to let injected MTX take effect. See him sooner if any side-effects or any severe, persistent joint inflammation. (Read: one helluva flare!)
So, that’s how it went. I was satisfied with his answers and found the injection to be totally do-able. And … my needle-fearing hubby is now thinking that he wants my syringes for making flies for his fly fishing! First he gained a designated driver out of my having RA, now he wants to pilfer my needles! I think he’s found his silver linings …
Hope all are well.
- Joy