methotrexate- Just took my first dose

Hi everyone! I just took my first dose of Methotrexate few moments ago! I wanted to post about it here and would love some feedback. I was following the earlier thread on the med and will still check it out. This site is what made me research it and speak to my doctor about it. She said it would be good to try. I have been sick for a very long time. As it is, I can barely eat, often have stomach problems, and my joint pain and fatigue keeps me from functioning for more than a half day here and there. It is funny, I was denied my initial disability today (expected) but I found the timing ironic. I do not drink, I have had a hysterectomy; I am not worried about any change of lifestyle because I have not had a life for a year due to my illness. However, I do struggle with the a history of mild to moderate anxiety. For example, one reason I am not good on predinose, is because it raises my anxiety to very high levels. I am having some (normal?) anxiety about all the reported side effects and dangers of this medication. However when I read the earlier thread, it seemed to me there have been some positive results. I have made the decision that at age 42 I am not ready to completely give up with out a little fight. I will try to share how this treatment goes. I am really hoping for a remission. The plaquinil gave me some hope...but it was like seeing a light... and never really getting out of the shadows.

Thank you for the response. I also contemplated this treatment for over a year. I am hoping there will be some change. Plaquenil works for me too, but I can't take NSAIDS because I have already harmed my stomach from too many, have had some bleeding. And possibly lupus related inflammation in stomach. Similar to you, I feel as if this is why I need something more. Thank you for reminding me it may take months. :) I need that ...it is difficult to take a medicine which is making me feel a little bit sicker at first. Did the mild side effects go away after a few doses?

I sometimes get nauseaous and feel fatigued the day after I take it. I don't notice it each week just here and there. Last week after taking it I did get a couple of horrible mouth sores, in fact still have them. This was my second dose of increasing from 3 to 4 tabs, I still need to up it to 5... maybe next week.

Feel free to ask more questions!

I take 3 mg of folic acid everyday and one for each MTX tab the day of. I can take up to 5 a day if need be. I get GI problems and mouth sores from lupus, the folic acid works wonders for my mouth sores.