Hi everyone, havent been on for a while as Ive had a rotten flare in my back again and although Im back at work and the flare has subsided, still feeling very sore. Started last year when I had the swine flu/pneumonia jab and it sent my ast levels too high. So, I had to come off mx for 2 weeks and gradually work back up to 25mg per week which is what I was on. In the meantime I had a nasty cold/sinus infection and my gp put me on a weeks worth of steroids. Consequently when I went to see my consultant in December I was feeling ok and asked if I could stay on 15mg per week of mx. She agreed as long as I was feeling ok. Well, then the flare happened in eearly January! I went to see my rheummy nurse who suggested increasing the mx and I asked if I could increase the leflunomide instead as I had found this was a great help when I first started taking it last August. I told her how sick the mx makes me feel and she said that if this increase in lflu didnt work then I would have to increase mx and would I be interested in self injection. I said yes so, am going to see the consultant tomorrow for a check up and I know that mx is going to have to be increased as the leflo doesnt seem to have made a difference.

Has anyone out there had any experience of self injection please?

Hope you are all ok.

lots of love
Heather xxx

I started injecting methotrexate in December and haven't felt sick since! It's definitely worth trying, I was told it is still possible to feel sick on the injections but nothing like as likely. I had reduced my mtx as it made me sick but like you the reduced dose didn't hold the RA at bay. I'm now injecting 20mg a week and I feel better than I have done in ages.

Good luck - let us know what you decide to do.

Dawn.

Hi, thanks for the replies, I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.

Heather xxxxx

Hi all, saw my consultant this morning. she is referring me for the injections, so shoul dhear in a couple of weeks. she did say that they are quite strong so will probably have toreduce the dose initially. she has also advised me to keep up with the extra leflunomide as they do take about 6 weeks or so to kick in.

I told her I had joined a gym (just for the swimming and aqua aerobics!!) and she said that was great as any low impact excercise to strengthen muscles is good. Ive always swum from a very early age and have done aquas in the past but due to the onset of this horrible condition hadnt been for a while.

thanks for all your replies. Will keep you posted re the injections!

Love Heather xxx