HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New Guy Here

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/18/2014 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I'm new to this forum, but not to HW.

I was just told today by my new rheumy I have Inflammatory Arthritis. I guess that a nice way of saying RA?

I started MTX and folic acid tonight at dinner. Do you guys have any tips for a newbie? confused
Posted 9/18/2014 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
You'll get conflicting advise about the folic acid, but I took it every day of the week to help counter the side effects of the mtx, never had a problem with that either...
Basically Folic acid builds up and mtx is supposed to tear it down, but my RA doctor also said mtx needs the folic acid to work off of...
I just wanted to say hello and sorry you got a RA dx, now...seems like once you get dx'd with one autoimmune other's follow behind....RA in any form be it inflammatory or sero negative just sucks.
Make sure to get a good eye doctor as RA can effect the eye's, supposed to be low chance, but tell that to my eye doctor as I have macular degeneration (I'm not even 50 yet!)...
So get a good team of doctor working for you and you should be good, also tell your dentist...
and schedule that eye exam, pronto...
Prayers and many well wishes...
Posted 9/19/2014 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I already see an excellent eye doctor for my glaucoma.

The only side effects I've felt is a mild headache, dizziness when I sat up in bed this morning, and some extra fatigue.

By the way what's the difference between inflammatory and sero-negative?
Posted 9/19/2014 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sero-Negative is were all your blood work is good, nothing shows up, hence sero negative, but x-rays or mri's then reveals damage...
I had nodes show up on a mri back in 2009 but my bloodwork was good.
However, my doctor can see the inflammation I have and he really thinks it's inflammatory for me...when I'm on mtx (methotrexate) I have skinny knees, so it has gotta be loads of inflammation in my knee's and you can see my swollen feet, my hands come and go with swelling of inflammation...and I have mri's that show that as well...
However, both sero negative and inflammatory RA are still treated as RA...under the same heading it's relative, so to speak...Basically when I'm out and using my cane people will ask what I have and I just say RA, most people really understand is just RA...then I get that your too young for that...(which I agree with, but still usually hate that wording, but I stay polite)...

Hope this helps, and a google search might give you better answers...
Posted 9/19/2014 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi couchtater,

I take MTX as well as folic acid with Orencia and it was kind of a bummer for me for the first 6 months or so that I took it. I had pretty bad fatigue for the next couple days every time. Folic acid helped but eventually I seemed to have gotten used to it and now it is not nearly as taxing. You might ask your doc about checking for anemia as well if you are getting dizzy. I know that MTX can affect some of your blood levels.

I was diagnosed with it and told to take an iron supplement each day. I take it every other day and seem to do good now. It can back things up though if you know what I mean. :)
Posted 9/20/2014 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Okay, I understand it better.
I'm suppose to get bloodwork in two weeks and I'll ask the primary to check this for me.

Yeah, Don, I very aware of the problems of iron pills. ;-p

I'm a little worried about becoming as twisted up I saw one of the ladies at my church. I know medicine has improved since she was diagnosed, but it still worries me.
Posted 9/20/2014 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Plus, there are braces to keep from being twisted up...try not to worry about what could happen and focus on your well being, there is also physical therapy that can help as well. Loads of things to be done to prevent being twisted...
Remember some people do not see doctors or can't afford to see a doctor and some, like me get stuck for years with bad doctors before getting a diagnosis and end up twisted because they couldn't / wouldn't get care in time and it is very sad and tragic, and some RA doctors don't believe in sero negative RA and that makes it even harder to get a diagnosis and its sad again.
Medicine and medicare still needs improving...

Sorry I got off focus, many well wishes...
Posted 9/20/2014 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Was supposed to say: medicine and medical care still need to be improved...
Posted 9/20/2014 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
If you take iron every day, go for the slow stuff. It's more expensive but worth it. Whole foods sells Gentle Iron and Walgreens and Cvs sells generic Slow Iron. There used to be a product called Slow FE but I can't find it anymore. It's a world of difference than regular iron. It doesn't hurt your stomach or back you up. Also, taking a probiotic everyday is a must. I take one twice a day and was able to get off my stomach meds. Marygal
Posted 9/20/2014 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tips. I already take probiotics due to all of the meds I take. Better safe than sorry I always say.

I'll have to look for the slow iron.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply