New to Methotrexate and really unsure

I had a follow up appt with the rheumatologist after the prednisone trial.  I'm now on 10mg.  It helps a lot, but nto as much as 30mg did. On that I felt almost completely normal.  The only side effect that was noticeable to me was sleep disturbance but I know that there are many other side effects that may not be noticeable right away.

He gave me some options which were to inject my feet with steroids or to start methotrexate.  The podiatrist did the foot injection which did not help much. I told him that even though I liked that my feet were much better (remembering that they probably wouldn't be once I am off the oral pred) , I really liked feeling so normal and want to try methotrexate.I will need to taper down to 5mg pred after one month and I also have to get blood work done monthly.

I have the prescriptions for both MTX and folic acid.  Its my choice when I start and that is where my problem is. I'm so worried that I will have awful side effects and right now I am so busy I don't have time for that. The literature they gave me said that side effects usually occur two days after taking the medication and then usually lessen. So I'm trying to decide which 2 days of the week I can spare.  

Another problem is that a recent CT Scan (for urological workup) showed the possibility of gallstones. I go for an ultrasound this week.  The feeling seems to be that if the US confirms gallstones, the gall bladder should be removed as it almost always happens at an inconvenient time. I don't want to wait until later to try MTX, yet having elective surgery while on it seems complicated. The last time I saw this doctor (5 years ago) I postponed taking a medication he prescribed because I had a gi workup coming up and didn't want to throw another med into the mix. I think he was annoyed by that and don't want that to happen again.

Sorry this is long.  I'm interested in any advice about how to handle the side effects of methotrexate, how long do they last, how long will I have to continue having monthly bloodwork.  I checked the links provided and while helpful, hearing someone's personal experience would be great.  Am I going to feel rotten and if so, for  how long?

Thanks  

Chris  

I was terrified to start MTX. I took it only a few months because it did not seem to help me get better. But, I did not notice any side effects until I'd been on it a couple months. Then there seemed to be a little hair loss. But, I don't really know because I quit it so soon after.

The shots were scary to give myself at first, but after a while they were easy. They don't hurt at all, unlike the Humira shots which sting. And the needles are so sharp and thin that I really didn't feel it going in at all.

I tried MTX while I was still on Remicade.

Good luck...

I'm surprised they're so hot to remove your gall bladder.  During an ultrasound last year they discovered a 2.5cm gall stone in me.  The GI's response was "it's not bothering you, so we won't bother it."  If it's not actively causing you problems you might have trouble getting your insurance to cover it.  My dad, who was otherwise healthy, had gall stones and gall bladder problems for years, but it was never considered bad enough for the insurance company to pay for its removal.  He finally had it out Christmas Eve a year ago after a severe attack.  (You're right about it always happening at an inconvenient time.)

I am on week 10, I take 15mgs-had to work up to that. I really like it and have been able to get off of Prednisone after 8 months of having to take it in order to get through the day. I had some of the worst side effects listed because I had a cross reaction with an NSAID I was taking at that I had one miserable week and since then have been fine-If you take enough Folic Acid the side effects diminish or even disappear. On 1mg of Folic Acid my saturdays were pretty much shot (I take the mtx on friday night as late as possible). The day I started taking 3 mgs of folic acid per day I was fine I no longer get any next day fatique and I never had GI side effects. There is a thread on the RA board about starting mtx where a bunch of us have told week by week stories of starting this med and dealing with side effects if interested pop by and read it it is always on the first page on the board.
Sj

i was on methotrexate injections for a year then started oral methotrexate this year this really helped me!iv enow been hospital free for 18 months now !(yahoo)inever really had all that many side effects apart from my hair falling out in shreds this has worked out really well for me and my condition as my crohns is now under control except when i eat pizzas with double cheese!grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
We just have to eat them god damm pizzas lol!

I do my injections on Friday night.  Like you, I did my first injection at the doctor's office.  What the NP told me to do was to do the injection every 6 days until I got to the day I wanted to do my injection, then continue every 7 days.  She suggested that I do it on Friday night and she was right on.  For the nausea, they can probably prescribe you something for it like Zofran.  This was suggested to me as well, but I never needed it.  You may want to call your doctor about these issues. Hope you feel better.  After 2 months, I'm actually feeling pretty good, but I had bad days at first.  Mary