Re: MTX(Larry)

[Guest guest]

Larry,

I was very interested in your post about your lung issues. I, too, am having

issues breathing. My doc thought maybe my asthma was coming back (I had it as a

child) and blamed the Remicade for it. But the asthma med he put me on did

nothing for me. I've known all along that MTX could cause lung problems, but I

always thought that it was more about infections and such.

I am going to bring this up when I get my treatment this week. If I get my

treatment that is. I have what I think is a sinus infection and am developing a

cough that might require antibiotics, which is a no-no during Remicade

treatments. BTW, I've smoked for 18 yrs, want to quit, haven't found the

willpower. I know it doesn't help my lungs any, but I've not had these issues

until I flared again.

Thanks for the insight. You've helped raise a few questions for me that just

may be the key to my getting my breathing back on track.

Hugs to you and your family, Larry!

Gail - Visit me, your Kay Independent Beauty Consultant (5% of your

total order will be donated to the International Still's Disease Foundation)

http://www.marykay.com/glmurphy

Larry Brown wrote:

Hey Group,

After all the discussions of late concerning MTX, I felt compelled and obligated

to offer my experience. Within about a month of diagnosis (Feb., 2005), I was

placed on 10MG MTX and 40MG Pred., 2 months later, I was increased to 20MG MTX

and 60MG Pred. In April, Rheumys tapered my Pred. drastically; from 60MG to

20MG in one week and still on 20MG MTX. My breathing went from bad to worse.

(from the beginning of my MTX, I had experienced shortness of breath, one of the

listed side-effects of MTX. Each time my wife or I asked about the contribution

of MTX to my ever-worsening pulmonary condition, my docs. would dismiss the very

idea by blaming my troubles on my smoking history (20 years). BS!! We knew

better.

For one thing, we are both in the Medical Field and have extensively researched

Still's and Txs. At any rate, my final visit to these two Rheumy's revealed a

PO2 of 68-72%!!

Big bummer!! However, the docs. acted more fascinated that we had our own

pulseoximeter

than my symptoms. They told me to decrease the pred. to 0 within the next two

weeks!!

To make this long story short, our research indicated that MTX CAN cause

Pulmonary Fibrosis. With the permission of my PCP and new Pulmonologost (who is

absolutely fantastic and told us more about Stills in 20 min. than our Rheumys

ever did!), I dropped the MTX cold-turkey.....and increased pred. to 60MG/day.

The point of all this is that my Pulmonologist said he could pull numerous

papers displaying a direct link, in some people, between MTX and Lung

Fibrosis. He fully believes, as do I, that MTX is responsible for my newest

diagnosis: Moderate Restrictive Lung Disease!!! This is only my experience. I

would only recommend that you listen to your own bodies and be aware and

careful.

God Bless you all

You are an awesome source of inspiration to me!

Larry B.

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