Methotrexate & Tummy Bug

[Eve]

Hi, I took my third dose yesterday - put up to 12.5mg then going up to 15mg as arthritis not been good and much more widespread pain and stiffness.

I thought it was my malabsorption playing up but seems I've picked up a tummy bug going round work and was really bad last night and this morning after taking my meds (5 tablets together). Does anyone know if they are likely to have done what they needed to do and absorbed? Been feeling really dehydrated, even with eye meds from the eye hospital and drinking loads I've had horrible dry eyes and mouth (and a very sore bum :().

Don't worry, I wouldn't take any more even if they might not have absorbed! Good to know for the future though especially with the malabsorption as can discuss with my GP/rhumo.

Been a looong week, keep thinking I've go a cold but think it's part arthritis fluey feeling crap and sinuses playing up. So glad it's the weekend!

My kidney function came back at 72 though from last week's bloods so at least it's gone up a bit rather than down :)

[MarkRae]

You have my sympathies! MTX is a horrible drug - I couldn't get on with it at all...

From what you've said, I think that it probably was absorbed and the symptoms you're experiencing are a combination of acclimatisation to the drug itself coupled with the bug.

Try drinking some tonic water instead of tap water and see if that makes you feel any better...

[NoMercy]

Sorry you're feeling so rough. Are you on Folic Acid too?

[Eve]

Thanks MarkRae, really hoping on this one as I can't tolerate Sulfasalazine (did horrible things to me) and they took me off Hydroxchloroquine when I started getting blurred vision though they now think is arthritis related and might be Sjorgrens Syndrome so my rhumo nurse said they might be able to look at that again if I get the ok from the eye clinic for it.

It's been ok comparatively so far, Sulfasalazine used to make me ill almost immediately so big plus there. Will take a while to kick in though and my nurse said to keep an eye as they are bumping me up doses quicker.

Hi No Mercy, yes on that too, I take my methotrexate Friday evening and Folic Acid Monday evening.

Hope they have (got) you sorted on something better for you MarkRae.

[MarkRae]

> Hope they have (got) you sorted on something better for you MarkRae.

I'm not too bad at the moment, thanks. Cyclosporine is the only thing that's ever worked for me...

[NoMercy]

Yeah, Folic Acid is usually taken 3 days subsequent to Methotrexate.

Cyclosporin is a nasty drug too.

[Eve]

That's good MarkRae, I'm glad you found something that works.

They aren't nice drugs NoMercy though I guess if they do the job then better than the alternative.

I just want to settle on something, not be in so much pain all the time and get my life back. I'm getting worried about joint damage too with having had problems for quite a while now and not being to settle on any meds and keeping flaring up and emergency steroids aren't a good thing to keep having.

Cutting down on medical appointments would be great too, especially with regular ones like physio and bloods screening, extras then add up. I try to get them after work so I don't have to take time out though as I start at 7am it makes it a long day which doesn't help.

Hopefully this will make a difference without any or too many side effects, everything crossed!

[Smowball]

Sorry to hear you don't feel too good x

[Eve]

Thanks Smowball x Slept most of the weekend and felt much better for it :) Hope all is good with you x

[Smowball]

I'm good thanks, hubby in bed with a vomiting bug, think its doing the rounds at the moment. x

[tonyav]

Gawd blimey Jenna, you don't half go through the mill don't you. Hope things get better for you soon. by the way I think sqad is in the UK this weekend.

[Eve]

Thanks Tony x Ooh wonder if he is in Manchester again! Might walk past him without even realising haha!

Seems to be going round a lot up here too Smow, quite a few people at work have had it and my mate said it's the same at her work - right after a nasty cold/flu thing going round. Hope your hubby feels better soon x

[Sqad]

Jenna/tony...just go in the minuter after R&R in Manchester terrible...hotel going down the "nick".

[Eve]

Oh dear! Sounds like you're still freezing from the Manchester weather ;)

[Eve]

I am lying down on the sofa desktop. Luckily having a tummy bug doesn't stop me posting and the rest are chronic conditions and I am on my own and have to work for a living to pay my rent and bills etc... so not an option for me to give up and stay in bed doing nothing all the time.

My point, on your thread, was that you said you had a migraine so I suggested you take pain relief and go lie down in a dark room as if it was a proper full on migraine it would be unlikely you would be posting on here so if it is a migraine coming on you would be better trying to stave it off now.

[Eve]

Might be an idea to take some pain relief and get off here and get packing then.