Hi emily
Sorry that the nurse was so hard on you.
I have to have steroid- a lot of people do have to have steroids WITH the DMARDS and actually the MTX isn't the be all and end all. The steroids will help control the symptoms but wont control the RA and that will increase but in all honesty if its 'only' increased to the point it has in 3 yrs with no surgery needed then you have to wonder what else the MTX can do apart from slow the progress of the disease- which it might do for you.
Besides. In your situation there are other meds options like sulphazalazine, hydroxycloroquine and azothyaprin. These are all considered "safe enough" to ttc with and many specialists will give prg women these to help control the RA. If you were to try 2 of these and fail them then you can go onto the Anti Tnfs that I know you have views about.
Anyway!
If there are concerns about the steroid and ability to come off it- fine.
You need to be referred to an endocrine specialist and have a synathen test (spelling?) this will tell you for sure whether your body is making steroids and if you need to titrate the steroid down. People who have been on steroids far longer than you and indeed have to be it on them for life following organ replacements or due to having lupus or similar, do not have this problem. Even if they do, they have to come off the steroids very slowly and by doing this the body gets the idea it needs to make steroid of its own again and it kick starts.
You should have a test for diabetes too.
My GP explained to me to not take a drug is as valid a choice as to take a drug- as long as you arent doing it out of ignorance.
Take great care.
Jenni xx
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