Re: Is Methotrexate the only answer?

October 26, 1999

Hi

It's hard to answer your question because not everything works for everybody.

I've been taking Meth for 3 months now and I've had no side effects. I

started at 10.5 mg and within 6 weeks was on 12.5 and the pain is still there

along with the swelling and sausaging in my joints. Like I said not

everything works the same for every person who takes it. You will hear how

people on very low doses had all the bad side effects, but like myself I

haven't experienced one. So please when considering this remember the

earlier you attack this disease and get it in remission if your lucky you can

save yourself much pain.

Take care

October 26, 1999

<< I am told this is a very aggressive athritis and the only way to slow it

down was methotrexate, I need to know if this is true, is there anything else

a person can take without all these side effects? I know it also makes you

feel sick as well. My pain isn't severe, I can live with the rash, I can

handle this pain right now, am I to expect this to worsen? >>

There are other medications that you could take (sulphasalzine and gold come

to mind). I recently read a study done by the American College of

Rheumatologists that found methotrexate was by far the drug of choice of

rheumatologists, simply because it seemed to work the best for most patients.

Of course, your mileage may vary. I have had good results from MTX with

fairly limited side effects. Yesterday I did my first injection of (15 mg)

MTX and my obvious side effects have reduced substantially - no diarrhea,

reduced fatigue. I think it's great! I would hate to think about where I'd

be if I hadn't started MTX several months ago. Hope this helps.

Patty

October 26, 1999

In a message dated 99-10-26 09:47:15 EDT, you write:

<< What you don't hear nearly as much about is all of the success stories.

I've

been on a combo of MTX, Cyclosporin, ANSAIDS, and folic acid for some years

now. No sickness, I still have some hair, my blood pressure is fine, I walk

for a half hour every morning and haven't missed a day's work in several

years due to illness. The most intrusive aspects of the treatment are having

to take the meds twice daily and having had to reduce my beer intake. I

consider myself to be very lucky, but suspect that others are also getting

along well with this disease. The worst part for me was the 5 years I spent

with it before it was properly diagnosed and treatment (MTX) begun.

Find a good Rheumatologist. If the doc you are using isn't on top of PA then

find another who is quickly!

>>

Rob, I agree with you that there are some of us that live active comfortable

lives. My nix combo is mtx,pred.(down to 4mg), celebrex bid, folic acid and

prilosec. I haven't really had any real side effects except wt. gain from

pred when on 30mg. I hope to be off completely in a few wks. Haven't lost

any hair, have a glass od wine occas. with my husband. Go to water aerobics

3x/wk. Getting ready to go to Vero Beach, Fl on Mon and come back for

Redskin game Dec 12, if thet're still playing. Then go back to Fl 'till

spring.. We will join a health club. they have water aerobics where we live,

but will miss our treadmill and want to keep up. The main thing is positive

attitude and activity. Luckily for me my husband goes with me.

We are now both retired now and want to enjoy it. Bill just finished surg

for colon ca and then cheno. He is just fine and back to golf so we have

much to look forward to.

I am doing just fine on my mix and have a great RD. Hope same for all.

Cheers Betty in Va

October 26, 1999

Hi,

I wanted to ask you if you have rashes, I know that PA can be diagnosed

without the rash? I was only diagnosed after I broke out with what looks

like chicken pox with scales, and now its getting lighter and seems to be

going away without any medicine at all, so do you think it will go away and