Questions?

[Victoriaitsnosecret]

Hi- today I was doing some cleaning, scrubbing walls. My right hand swelled up but only under my index and middle fingers. It went away but there is still a little pocket of swelling under my index finger. My left hand has been cramping up disfiguring my hand so that my fingers are spread apart, kind of claw like. This happened when I was just resting. I see the doc in 2 weeks so I will ask him then. Just wondering if it could be related.
Also anyone on Methotrexate experience hair thinning? My hair seems to be thinning? I have a lot of hair but I feel like I can see my scalp in parts.
?.....

Wishing everyone well!

[Psyborg]

That swelling can very easily be related. I had similar swelling in my hands initially. When everything is controlled I don't get the hand pain (baring some when it is very cold).

And MTX can cause hair thining. I think half our drugs can. CTX had a bigger impact for me.

[Dirty Don]

[QUOTE=Victoriaitsnosecret;65559]Also anyone on Methotrexate experience hair thinning? My hair seems to be thinning? I have a lot of hair but I feel like I can see my scalp in parts.QUOTE]

Ya gotta love mtx!! LOL! Doc put me on it after my initial flare. Hair loss was evident within a few weeks. Doc tripled my dose of folic acid (from 1 to 3 tabs/day), within 2 weeks hair loss stopped, new hair actually started to grow, AND I had curly hair for about 3 months...was kind of cool for a 'straight haired' person!! LOL! As for cramping, I don't get it in my hands, but my legs & feet still cramp from time to time...it could be the WG, but I think it's more likely the drugs and shortages of potassium...eat bananas!!

[ArlaMo]

I lost most of my hair during induction, but I was on ctx, not mtx. I think all of them can cause some loss.

I get cramps like that in my hands, but it happens when I am on high doses of prednisone.

[Victoriaitsnosecret]

Thanks everyone for all your answers.

[kelly]

i also have had cramps in my hands more so whern I am using my hands when putting stuff together with tools my hands cramp up a few hours later I am also on Methotrexate my DR told me to try sports drinks to balance out the electrolytes it has really hepled

[pberggren1]

Hi Kelly, sounds like you are doing well. Are you serious that your doctor told you to try sports drinks? Those are so unhealthy. Just seems odd to me.

[mishb]

Hi Kelly, sounds like you are doing well. Are you serious that your doctor told you to try sports drinks? Those are so unhealthy. Just seems odd to me.

Have to agree.
I can't have sports drinks, they blow my joints up - red, hot and swollen........they are bad news

[Dirty Don]

Hi Kelly, sounds like you are doing well. Are you serious that your doctor told you to try sports drinks? Those are so unhealthy. Just seems odd to me.

Well, sports drinks pale by comparison to, for example, pred, mtx, rtx...hmmmm, anything else to throw in there? I'm basically of the opinion that if it helps, then it's worth trying. Not being critical, just willing to adjust...

[Psyborg]

Probably depends if you are talking sugared vs sugar free as well.

[kelly]

hi Phil yes my DR told me to try sport drinks I don't have them very often. I am extreamly active when I go to a spin class my calf muscles cramp up i drink about 2 liters of water and they still cramp up when I have a soprts drink before spin class and then water I don't cramp up. I don't abuse sports drinks the last time I had one when I used my hands when I was putting a new ceiling fan and new fixtures in my son inlaw and daughters house last Nov. my hands did not cramp up which they usually would have. i do get the odd cramp on weekends doing chores around the house if I do a lot of chores I will have a sports drink its all about knowing what your body needsand being in tune with your body

[pberggren1]

That's interesting Kelly. Thanks for sharing. I learn something new every day. I'm supposed to come to Calgary on March 7 for another dilation. I will let you know if I am free around that time for coffee.

[Col 23]

Hi I say Whatever works for you, The amount of poison going through our bodies and in the air, not going to make much difference what we have. The Electrolytes makes sense too if your sweating lots I'm addicted to diet coke. Its the only drink that cools my insides, gives me energy and soothes dry throat. Everyone says how bad that is for me but everything is. I cant drink much tea anymore as it overheats me and makes me sweat and I do like my cuppa. Col 23