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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/16/2010 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.....


I have as, Cronhs, uveitis, liver fatty infiltrates and luekopenia it all started 1986
I was in the hospital last month for a small bowel obstruction, the ng nasal gastric tube
Cleared my ilieum valve and now I am to start Methotrexate 25 mg injections once a week.

I need help from someone on this chemotherapy, I would like to know what it was like.
I am alone and scared.

Thank you.
____________________

Just added a title for you.-Navy
Posted 4/16/2010 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
MTX is not too bad on the scale of crohns meds. I been on it for a couple of years now. My concern is why do they have you on daily instead of weekly injections. Plus why are they trying this med that can cause liver issues if you might be having some already?
It takes a couple months for reach a therapedic level in your body. So do not be worried if it takes a couple months to feel up to speed.
It can make you feel a bit nausous, tired, and just kind blah.
Make sure you are getting you liver labs done along with your regular labs.
Some of us take folic acid with it, because it can thin your hair.
Posted 4/16/2010 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the response. I corrected my dose typo, it is once a week.
I am getting this medication because I also have Ankylosising spondalopathy.
Posted 4/16/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
It does work, it just a couple of months for it to work on me.
It really is quite easy to do, and hard to mess up.

I am sure what they will do is have the nurse show how to do it the first time and show you how to self inject.
Posted 4/16/2010 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Let me shed some light. And I guarantee this will help even though "were all different"

The first day I started MTX, I was panic, scared, sipping benadryl.. etc.. etc..

I took my Zofran and thought to myself... Well here goes.
First, I felt that i DIDNT even need the anti-nausea meds... I was shocked how i didn't even FEEL not 1 side effect. not even a headache.

To this day, i don't even stress any of it. I ask myself, do i even need the anti nausea meds? I never get nauseated. I never get a headache. And i dont feel like a zombie..

To make a long story short.. I FEEL NOTHING. It worries me because I WANT IT TO WORK but hey.. IT will work and I know it. I got 2-3 weeks left to get to that 2 month mark.

You may just be one of those who don't feel anything either.

Research and data NOW shoes that mtx works well with COMBOnation therapy. Entocort, Remicade or prednisone. I am on entocort with it.

Good luck..

Listen to Navy. She has many many MTX years of experience.
Posted 4/16/2010 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and the needle is 27.5 guage. its half inch TINY. Like i always have a friend or my mother do it.. only because i just dont see myself poking myself.. even though i love needles.

you dont even kno it went it. Matter of fact, i dosed myself an hour ago.. :D
Posted 4/16/2010 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I started mtx weekly IM (25mg) at the end of January, so I'm at almost to 3 months. I don't notice any side effects from the med and get my blood work done as they scheduled which was every couple weeks for the first month now once every 4 weeks. I also take folic acid... I don't think I know yet how much it's helping me, but as long as my body tolerates it (which it does quite well with), I will stay on it for 6 months and then plan to evaluate whether I've had a response.

I tried it once about 3 years ago (only for 4 weeks, so not nearly long enough). That time I was super scared about taking a chemo drug, despite the "low-dose" part. This time around, I have the potential side effects at a reality check (not going to worry about them) and feel positive and optimistic about my mtx treatment.

Best of luck with your treatment and choices! Are they thinking of having you on steroids while the mtx kicks in? Sounds like you are pretty sick right now.
Posted 4/16/2010 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am also on it n take folic acid with it as well
yes Navy has given great input

be well
lyn
Posted 4/16/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)

I have been on weekly MTX injections for a year and a half with no side effects and no nausea. I do take folic acid and get bloodwork done regularly.

We will see next week when I have an ultrasound whether it has been effective as I do not have usual symptoms of Crohn's. GI said in September that I was clinically in remission after having had a resection in May. Never had symptoms before surgery so you don't always know what's going on inside. Will update after ultrasound and GI visit next week.

Good luck.

Posted 4/16/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on methotrexate for 8 years. My doctors decided on this one as steroids didn't work on me and I was allergic to the pentasa type drugs and because I also have arthritis and its used for the treatment of that too.

I started out on tablets and had bad side-effects for the first few doses which eased off and then nausea pretty much every time but simply taking a nausea med put a stop to that. Had to switch to injections just over a year ago due to absorbancy issues and there are definitely less side-effects with the injections than the tablets. The only thing I find is I sleep heavily the night I take it. Taking it at night is a good idea as it means if you do get side-effects you'll sleep through the majority of them.

Methotrexate has helped keep me in remission for up to 3 years at a time (the only flares I had were when the dosage was reduced and when I wasn't absorbing it properly) I take a B vitamins with folic acid as well, this is supposed to help with side-effects and hair thinning. Methotrexate may sound scary but it really isn't so bad, just make sure you keep well hydrated to help your liver and get regular bloodtesting done. Also bear in mind that it will probably take a minimum of 3 months to start making a difference so don't get disheartened if you don't immediately feel better.
Posted 4/16/2010 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
sad Thank you all...
The info is so helpful and my fear is diminished .....
How much Folic acid are you on?

Thank you
Posted 4/17/2010 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
I was taking 5 mg of folic acid a day while on 25mg of mtx. Now 2mg since the dose has been reduced to 15mg weekly injections of mtx. Some people do or do not take it on the day of the injection. I used to but don't now. There was a thread about this awhile ago.
Posted 4/17/2010 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
shakehead shakehead

No, they are not giving me prednisone anymore, never!
I had it two years ago, they started me on 80 mgs and titrated me off....I will never
Do that again, Not for me.

Yes, I am pretty I'll. I had a small bowel obstruction 3/3/2010, I was hospitalized,
NG tube cleared it a few days later....

I have Autoimmune war throughout my body.

Thank you for your sharing, it is helping me not feel so alone.
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