After a short spell of good weather, as you all know Ireland is famous for it's rain !!! my skin cleared and this enabled me to return to swimming. My p has always been mild and as I have only be on the MTX ( for PA)for two weeks i doubt it was the meds. Anyway since stating to swim again the joints in my fingers for the most part have stopped hurting and I mean straight away, even after my first swim. Even my knee has improved to the point were I would say it smarts a bit. I also started with a physio for my right elbow as due to over use I developed 'Tennis elbow'. Great improvement there.
Third dose of MTX taken now and no major trouble. some fatigue, some nausea and so far yipee no hair loss or moth ulcers. Thought giving up the booze would be awful but hay no issues and my husband is thrilled, personnal taxi driver !!!!! LOL.
Hi Chris,
I am glad thing are going well for you! I know MTX seems scary but not everyone gets all of the side effects! Also I am fine on 10mg but on 15mg it's awful so I think the dose that works and the dose that gives bad side effects can vary for different people.
I have also just started swimming, although I didn't feel such a dramatic improvement it has helped in a smaller way... It's raining again in England at the moment, very grey after a few weeks of unexpected sunshine. I do drink on the MTX but only in small amounts and only every so often - not even once a week. I waited until I had settled on it and experimented - found I can enjoy a glass or two of wine but not more than once a week.
My psoriasis has totally cleared up for the most part and even though the arthritis is not massively under control, my skin is great.
KT
Glad to hear you are doing well on 10mg MTX. I had been wondering was my 7.5 mg just a starting dose that would be raised once the doc could see how i tolerated it. The anti inflam I had been using - Aulin - has been withdrawn with immediate effect. It seems there is a query re liver damage with long term use. I've only been on it 5days so no worries except I hope my improvement is not down to that. I've stated a new one so will know in a few days. Aulin has been banned in most countries for years which makes me wonder why my RD would elect this with MTX. Doctors differ and patients !!!ooh Chris your pool sounds much nicer than mine! Where I go it's just a pool - it's lovely and clean and everything but nothing fancy... My MTX is to support the infliximab rather than being just on it's own which is why it's quite a low dose. I started on a much lower dose and slowly increased - they think that it reduces side effects that way! My parents have just ordered a spa-bath for their house, I can't fit one in my tiny bathroom so will have to go to visit them more often and make use of theirs!
One thing about MTX is if you have a bad infection (chest infection, ear infection etc) you need to go to your GP fast and get antibiotics to help you fight it off otherwise it might linger. Also call your Rheumatology clinic (we have a dedicated advice line) and get advice on whether to have a 1 week break from MTX to allow you to get rid of the bugs. My Nurse told me that as I'm established on the MTX a week without it will reduce the levels in my body but not massively and it won't make too much difference to the overall effect unless I do it every week!
I hope you have a good weekend - I am off to the Dales for the day tomorrow to get some fresh air...
KT
KT297,