Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Hi, Funnylady, welcome!

My, haven't you had quite a year! Your lab results were a slam dunk for RA, and I think actually those are the highest values I've seen reported! Sounds like you are on a good track with your treatment. I hope you'll be able to find some kind of affordable insurance to help a little.

Look forward to reading your posts!

Thank you. My doctors were a bit shocked with my values as well... So was I!! My Rheumy was more concerned about the RA affecting the joints in my jaw. Knock on wood...that pain hasn't come back for a couple months. So far, my medications are very affordable. That's why I'm hoping it will be effective for a while. I don't know what I'm gonna do if I have to take injections. :/

My left TMJ gets flares on and off, where I can't bite down, but is just a little tender most of the time lately. I have had some problems with dermatitis and impacted ear wax in the left ear partially as a result of it, too.

If you experience nausea with the MTX you might want to take it at night on a full stomach, or switch to injections. It's not as bad as you imagine it to be, and MTX injections are not any more expensive than the pills (the diabetic syringes are cheap).

Anyway, hoping the MTX works well for you, as it does for many people!

I actually do take mtx at bedtime..every friday night, as to not interfere with my job during the week. I discovered that works best for me...after reading on this forum about taking it at bedtime to sleep thru the side effects. I can deal with the nausea and flu-like symptoms a lot better than I can the pain. So, I don't complain too much. I know someone somewhere has it a lot worse than I do, so I try to keep a positive attitude and control(manage)the RA, not let it control me. Thanx for the tidbit about the mtx injections. I assumed they would be expensive. That's good to know for future reference!

Post edited by: FunnyLady, at: 06/16/2012 02:07 PM