Had 4th injection today and been for blood checks. Haven't got today's results but 2 weeks ago my ESR was 18 and CRP 6.1.
I don't really know what that means but think it's pretty low as my ESR was in the 100's when I was first diagnosed 4 years ago. ?Hands wrists and feet still painful though.

Hoping the tum troubles stay away this time.

Julie x

Hi Julie,

It does seem as if it's the mtx that's upsetting your tum. How much do you take?
You could try taking a lower dose which might help, or get onto the rheumy nurse and ask if you can inject the mtx instead of taking tablets.
Hope you can sort this out somehow.

Love, Doreen xx

Morning Julie

Sorry to hear you have had such a terrible time, hope you feel bit better as the day goes by. I have never taken mtx, but with regards the acid reflux it seems you need something like Omeprazole as you can t go on like this. I have Barretts and condition caused by severe acid reflux caused due to a lack of care by a previous GP was not dx early enough.I would make an emergency appt with the doctor for tomorrow for his opinion so you can start to feel better.

Take care Julia x

Hi Julie

Sorry to hear that you are so unwell at the moment. Not been on much myself this week due to flippin' RA causing bad knees in particular, joints generally and inflamed heart. Doesn't often get me down but its been a bummer of a week.

I think Julie, after the problems Methotrexate caused me, I would be inclined to give the Anti tnf nurse a call (GPs often not a lot of use in these situations!). If the methotrexate is at fault and causing the acid reflux it's possible that it could be making the Humira ineffective or at least not as effective as it might otherwise be. Definitetly worth getting professional advice as there may be other options available.

Let us know how you get on. Are you still managing at work? Thinking of you,

Lyn x

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear of your problems - the acid reflux is horrible. If it were me, I would ring your anti-TNF nurse, as Lyn suggests, though it is not necessarily the humira that is causing the problem.

Hope you get sorted asap, and the humira kicks in for you.

Take care,

Kathleen x

Been to GP today. He's put me on 40mg of Esomeprazole. Says it could be a few days before I get rid of the horrible feeling in my gullet but that they should help. Have taken MTX today but only 15 mg instead of 25. Suppose I ought to ring the anti-tnf nurses to let them know what I'm doing.

Julie

Thanks for your replies, I feel a little better already. Have started with a cold now - lol - I'm just so lucky! I told the GP I was supposed to take 25mg MTX but actually only take 20 and he told me off! Said I had to ring rheumy and tell them straight away. Felt like I'd had my hands smacked. Have just reaalised that my next jab is on Monday and HC at Home haven't arranged a delivery yet. They said that the prescription was late coming from the hospital. On the phone again tomorrow.

Julie xx

Julie

So sorry to read what you are going through. Taking meds is a necessary evil but it is not nice if you are suffering all the time. I am on 17.5mgs of Methotrexate and having failed on Humira and Enbrel they wanted to increase the Methotrexate. I said no as it gives me a bad stomach. They are now arranging for me to have a higher dose of Methotrexate by injection as it does not affect your stomach. Could you perhaps ask to have this by injection?

I hope things start to settle down for you.

Jackie
xx

5th injection today. I ummed and ahhh'd about taking it as following the cold i have a wicked cough and sore throat. I still feel off but not as bad as I did so decided to take my temperature (with Jimmy's baby thermometer ) and as it was normal, I had the injection. I figured I would have a temperature if was an infection.

My stomach has been slightly better since taking the Esomeperazole but still had a couple of really tricky days following the methotrexate. I'm going to stick with the 15mg MTX again this week in the hope that things will have settled down a bit.

I still feel really achey and tired. The pain in my wrists and hands is waking me up every single night. I've been like this since stopping the Naproxen, just before I started the Humira (it was playing havoc with my blood pressure after taking the max dose continuously for about a year.) I worked it out today that I have not had a full night's sleep, for one reason or another, since May this year. No wonder I'm a bit weary. I am really hoping the Humira kicks in as I don't really want to try anything else.

I've been offered another job within my office this week that is 'allegedly' less pressurised and I would have more support instead of trying to do a full time job in part time hours, like I have for the last 2 years. Will be checking that out this week - I'm willing to take something less high profile at the moment, I'll have to see what it involves.

Julie x