One week down on MTX

Just wondering how long it takes to feel any effects fom MTX? I know weeks, months, etc...... and its different for everyone. I am wondering if at my 6 week appointment it will be long enough to determine if its going to work or we need to increase or add something else. Yes, I am impatient,lol.

Some swelling has gone down, enough that I can move fingers in the AM. The all day stiffness and pain hasnt changed that I have noticed.

Since I felt so bad the day after I took it, I am switching my day. This week I will take it today and next week on Friday. I work this week and I couldnt imagine chasing 15 3-5 year olds around a gym feeling like I did last week. I have off tomorrow, yeah!!! Who knows if it was the med or just a coincidence but I didnt want to chance it. I drive an hour to work too, that could have been bad.

Its hard not to think about an immediate drastic response, its all wishfull thinking, just need to be cautiously optimistic.

Just keeping my fingers crossed!!

As of now I am taking the 1mg tablet plus 800 mcg of folic acid in my bariatric multi vitamin. Last night I was very nausated but I dont feel so bad today so far, not great, but not horrible. If a side effect is going to get you, I am usually succeptable. It takes a lot for me to tolorated meds in general.

I was just hoping that if we were going to make changes it would be before school started. Just keep trying to remind myself to be patient in general.

Not sure I mentioned in my other post, but my dexa scan came back with a DX of osteoperosis. Wasnt much of a surprise since I was .1 over the deficient category on the heelscan a year ago. With my malabsorbtion from the gastric bypass we figured it may happen. I take 1200mg of calcium citrate and 1000IU Vit D per day allready but it isn't cutting it I guess. Just waiting to hear back when she wants me to come in, she said at my appointment last week that she would do an infusion in her office if it was deficient. I emailed her but havent heard back yet.

Just one day at a time!

I spoke way to soon, yesterday afternoon the headache was over the top. The 24-40 hour mark was the worst. Hubby wanted to take me to the ER but I insisted if I just fell asleep I would feel better. I really feel like a wimp, as I know others takes tons more and are happy campers,lol. Last night I was having nightmares all night long and the main focus was very violent dreams with my head being injured. Feeling a bit better now but not good. I do have oxy 20 mg every 4 hours prn for my chronic pain but what works for headaches the best is excedrine. However I am not supposed to take that due to my gastric bypass, something about ulcers happening very fast. I may ask my pain management dr if he can prescribe something a little different to use for the headaches just those really bad days. I also want to get myself one of those herbal packs that you can heat up, those have helped in the past.

I also forgot to mention that daily I take 1000mg vit c and 3000mcg b-12 as well. Char, do you take your Vit C at the same time as the folic acid? I have been taking the 1mg folic acid, with my multi vit that has 400mcg folic acid in the morning, and then another 400mcg in the evening. I need to figure out when to take things to make them the most effective.

I am going to call the office on Monday, she has returned my emails within 24 hours so far, but my last email I just informed her that my results were low and that a copy was going to be sent to their office by my PCP and I would wait to hear from them. Her reply to my email was just "Will do", but I didnt hear anything else back yet. I think a week is long enough, I know its not pressing, but I would like to get things scheduled on my calendar.

I think the reason they say absolutely no NSAIDS meds for people with gastric bypass is the fact that we dont have the normal emptying of the stomach, I just have a hole smaller than the size of a dime. Since things that arent pureed, or chewed very very well can easily get stuck, pills could just sit at the stoma till they dissolve causing irritation. As well as the fact that if we should get an ulcer its such a tiny stomach (the size of an egg) that it can be a major issue very quickly.

We arent able to process oral extended release medications effectively either, although I have heard of people taking them with good results. I chew all of my vitamins, or open liquid gels, as well as use transdermal, liquid meds and injections. Since things drip right thru the stomach stoma and bypass a portion of the small intesine I dont have the proper absorbtion of meds. Its a tricky combination, so far my labs are ok for vitamins, I wonder if folic acid levels can be checked?

Yes, the heat doesn't help, and it could be the heat making your joints swell up...I know the humidity here in Houston, TX does sometimes make my swelling worse, but hopefully you'll be getting over the side effects soon and will get more relief...Keep us posted and sure hope you start getting better help with the mtx...
well wishes and prayers...

Hello Virtualterror....Sorry but I think Shel cannot take much folic acid due to gastric bypass...I finally got that too...too much folic acid could probably cause ulcers and I just had to reduce the folic acid as well due to possible ulcer...
Hey Shelly how you doing? I got a sore throat developed so I might have to lower the mtx a little for my weekly dose tomorrow...Hope your headaches are getting better...