Had to stop MTX....lung problems

Any one else had to stop MTX due to decreased function of your lungs?  I noticed being short of breath and about a month earlier had bronchitis but went to get checked out anyway.  No sign of bronchitis so they did a Pulmonary Function Test.  It showed decreased lung function and I have to stop the MTX and get retested in 6 months.  I am starting to hurt again, just taking Aleve and stuff right now.  It has been 2 1/2 weeks since my last dose of MTX.  Has anyone else been through this?  What comes next?  Will my lungs get better?  They said I had to wait and see....but, I am impatient!  Does the breathlessness get better?  Thanks!

What do you do now instead of Methotrexate?  How do you manage the pain.  I'm a recently diagnosed RA patient and I'm having a hard time keeping up with all of the meds and side effects.

LBJ-the methotrexate lung problems are rare and can occur at any point during therapy from immediately after the first dose to after several years of treatment-they are generally concidered to be non dose dependent. They really are rare so I don't even worry about it but if you develop shortness of breath or pnemonia or something do tell the doc about you mtx and do tell your rhuemy about the problem.
sj

Yeah, we all freak a little when we hear something like that. I figure its my job to worry about the day to day side effects and changes that I notice as they occur but things like possible lung problems, liver problems and stuff like that-that's my rhuemys job. She is good at it and has seen everything. So I don't worry about it other than to know to look out for possible trouble.
Sj

Let us know what your Rheumy says!! Good Luck!!

My throat started feeling a little sore today and I kept thinking about your situation. I'm hoping this is nothing but going to keep
an eye on it. I'm going to be so upset if I can't take this MTX. :-(

OK, I am back from the Dr and he said to stay off the MTX. He said it is a rare effect, but it does happen. I told him that if it is going to happen, it will happen to me! He is putting me on ARAVA. I guess it works kind of the same way, but the main side effect to watch for is severe diarrhea. He said to take 5 pills a day for the first 3 days and then one a day every day after that. He said it will help it build up in my system. Here we go again! He also did a chest X-Ray and I will let you guys know if there are any different results. I am going to put out a post asking people if they have been on Arava, too. Thanks!

Hi there,

I know this sounds easier than it is....but try to relax.  I went throught EXACTLY what you are going through a few months ago, and I know how scared you are!  I went in for my annual check-up in March, had a routine chest x-ray done, and the nurse called and said there were some "cloudy" areas that needed a closer look.  Well, I had a cat scan, and it showed two small nodules in my lungs.  Too small to be concerned about, and I have to have the scan repeated in 6 months to keep an eye on things.  I have since learned that RA can cause nodules all over our bodies, lungs included. I'm a bit older than you, and I was a smoker for many years, so this absolutely put me into nervous fits, but the doctors have assured me that there is nothing to worry about....so I'm trying really hard not to.

Hang in there, and let us now how you do, you'll be in my prayers!

Jody

P.S.  Just wanted to add something.....since you've had bronchitis for a bit, it's entirely possible that the areas they are seeing could have something to do with that, perhaps some scar tissue, etc.... try not to worry..Hugs!

Post Edited (babyplace) : 7/14/2008 9:26:07 PM (GMT-6)