Surgery While Taking MTX & Prednisone

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

I am booked for surgery this Thursday to have my tonsils removed.

This is rarely done in adults, but mine have become the size of

medium to large sized eggs, and they are kissing at the back of my

throat. Before being diagnosed with RA this year, I had become ill with

recurring throat infections and swollen lymph nodes about a year ago.

Long story short, I've had biopsies, tests, MRI's and CAT scans....but

nobody has any clue as to what is going on. I was told that it could be

possible that I've had RA for a while and even though I had no joint

pain, my body was trying desperately to fight it off. Your tonsils are

part of your lymphatic system, which is there to fight infections.

Here's my concern:

I have been slowly weaned down on my daily dose of Prednisone, from

25mg to 15mg, and have noticed the difference. This past few weeks

have been hell. I am going to be reducing my dose to 10 mg in 2 days

and am not looking forward to the reaction I am going to be feeling in

my joints. I was told that being on Prednisone and on MTX makes

surgery much more dangerous, especially something like a

tonsilectomy where there is usually heavy hemmoraging in adults.

I am concerned about the pain I will be in on Friday with my RA. I know

my throat will be very sore, but I will be missing my MTX dose that

day, and am worried I will flare up even more. That with the reduction

in my Prednisone is going to make it very painful.

Has anyone else here had to reduce or come off their RA meds for

surgery? If so.....how long did it take you to get the inflammation/pain

back to where it's manageable again?

Also....another question: I cannot have Morphine/Codeine

anymore....and will be on IV or injections for pain meds. Anybody out

there able to suggest something that's helped with RA pain when

they've been hospitalized?

Thanks for reading...