I've made a decision

[leamarieuk]

Went to give myself my mtx injection and just couldn't do it. I've decided that the pro's no longer out weigh the cons with taking mtx and so have decided to stop taking it.

I've been on it since May '10 first on the tablets and then on the injections. I'm fed up of constantly feeling drained and so tired all the time. I feel like someone is squeezing my head (only way I can describe it) and I won't even mention the nausea!! I just don't feel right in myself....hopefully those of you who have taken mtx will understand what I mean.

I think I would be more inclined to persevere with it if I felt it was working. My PA is at its worse, the pain is horrendous and my joints are still deteriorating

Will have to wait till the rheumy nurse phones back to see if they will swap it to something different. Can guarantee that he won't be happy though

[smose]

It could be the PA itself thats making you feel foggy - I feel mine is actually comming under control now. Taking 25mg MTX, 10mg leflunomide daily and last month started gollimumab.

The last few months and in particular the last few weeks I feel more "alive" than I have for a long while. I have a lot more energy and don't feel like I need 12+ hours sleep just to feel normal.

I have of course also made significant changes in my lifestyle over the last six months so I do think some of its due to that

[flower fairy]

Can certainly understand that even though I take the tablets and hate to even count them out for my pill box, Think you should ask for a biological. Do you have skin P aswell as the arthritis, if so it might help with getting funding for a biological.

[smose]

I got side tracked half way through that post I was going to add maybe a break will give you chance to see if it really is that or not

[leamarieuk]

I do have guttate P as well as PA. Mtx cleared my P for over a year but it is back again now

The rheumy doc did mention biologicals last time I saw him. The problem is that, even though my PA is obvious on my x-rays as well as visual deterioration of fingers and toes, I don't have a lot of inflammation. The rheumy said you need a certain amount of joints with inflammation to be able to apply for funding.

[smose]

yeh they do a scoring thing were they count how many joints are swollen and how many are painful - its only three of each.

I just didn't take any anti inflams the day I went to see the nurse for scoring to make it more obvious!

[leamarieuk]

I have pain in most joints, obviously some worse than others. Only get regular swelling in my one hip and my toes. Rest only swell when having a flare up (which I never have when its time to see the rheumy!)

[smose]

bit annoying then!

[flower fairy]

Our health service here in Ireland is certainly not functioning in a lot of areas but I would have to say they dont seem to use the same criteria for getting a biological therapy and young people just diagnosed with RA are given it straight away if they are suitable candidates, after all it makes sense to keep people active and productive in society. If you'v tried the other dmards I think you should fight for it.

[leamarieuk]

well if the rheumy saw me this morning then I would certainly meet the criteria not good!

I'm worried that what ever they give me I will be in the same boat I am in on the mtx, side effects city!
I know the symptoms of PA interfere with everyday life, but its the heavy/fuzzy head that I'm struggling with the most. I'm easily irritable (well even more than usual lol) and it's not fair on my kids. The don't have anyone else here to go to when I'm having a bad day