MTX Injection Reactions?

[NikkiNicole]

Has anyone had any weird reactions to MTX injections?

I'm trying to get in to see my rheumy this week (had a bit of a phone war with her assistant today) because I am not any better.

I DREADED giving myself my injection today because I'm still not feeling good. I didn't want it to be worse! The last time I remember feeling my halfway decent-ness was before my last injection however I'd had a sore throat for a week before that and with the flu floating around work I didn't know if it finally just hit me.

I keep getting dizzy, I feel SO run down, I have trouble walking without wanting desperately to go lie down (we are not talking long distances here), I get nauseous from being dizzy, I could sleep all day if I had the time.

Has anyone else ever had this kind of reaction?

I need to take a few weeks off, I wonder if my doctor would make that happen ....

[Dirty Don]

Can't help with the injections as I'm on tablets...but, I was terribly tired at first from mtx despite the pred. Could be just your reaction to it, but it sounds similar to my early reactions to it. It went away as body began to tolerate it better.

[NikkiNicole]

I've been on MTX since August, this is the WORST I've felt in a long time. Without the sinus crap, this is the worst I've felt all year. Like I literally feel unsafe driving, I feel like an unsafe dispatcher being here at work. I'm stuttering, I'm mixing up words.
I really am quite miserable again. I hesitate to go to the ER because I don't feel this is exactly considered a 'life threatening' emergency. Doing what I do for a living makes me pause before doing that.
I don't know ... I am quite distressed about all of it.

[mishb]

It may not have anything to do with your injections.

I don't think you need your doctor to tell you that you need to take some time off - I think you already know the answer to that.
You just need him to write the note.

It is possible that it is a flu type virus that you have caught.......or possibly you are flaring.

Have you had any bloods done lately?

I hope you start to feel better quickly, so that you can enjoy the festive season

[annekat]

Nikki, I've been thinking and worrying about you. I take the MTX tabs, like Don. If you've been on the injections since August, but have only been feeling a lot worse lately, I'd tend to doubt it is from those. I would tend to suspect stress more than anything, and the fact that you are probably constantly fighting off bugs that are floating around at work. It sounds like if you can still work at all, you are doing a good of of fighting them off, but it is all getting to be just too much, and if there is any way you could get time off, I think that would work wonders for you.

I'm going through a period of extreme fatigue myself, and had a little Wegs rash on my forearm, which went away, and I'm not having night sweats or anything, so I don't think I'm flaring. But I know that stress is getting to me. I have four days left of the Farmers Market and must crank to produce new pottery between now and then, since I'll have no income for a couple weeks after that. I know that I will probably spend Christmas asleep for the most part. I think that this must pale in comparison to the stress you are under with that job. I really hope you are able to get a break and some relief soon!

[Dirty Don]

If you feel that badly, it IS life threatening in that it is changing the way you feel and act, especially at work it appears. Personally, I think you're headed to rtx if the mtx isn't helping you. Nothing to mess with kiddo, quit being demanding and tough on yourself...get thee back to the doc...the right doc. Hang in there, you'll get thru this.

[carriej22]

Nikki, I had a reaction to MTX that put me in the hospital for a week on the ventilator.

I started MTX in June 2012 and took it until end of Aug - about 12 weeks. I felt terrible, but the key thing was I was having difficulty breathing. Like major difficulty. I remember complaining of it and my family doc telling me that it was probably just from the wegeners (as my breathing was bad prior to MTX, too) but I felt it was worse. However, she knows that I can be paranoid.

However, at the end I was gasping for breath and landed in the ER hooked up to all kinds of stuff. I don't remember that week well. I just remember being transferred to my Rheumy's hospital and him telling me that I was "really sick" and told me not to take anymore MTX. I asked him why and he pretty much said that if I take it again it could kill me. I have been on imuran ever since, which works better and less side effects.

[NikkiNicole]

I feel like I am backed into a corner. I'll admit, my hesitation to go to the doctor comes from still reeling from how I was treated at the beginning of all of this. I'm hesitant for them to say there is nothing wrong, etc. My doctor is in San Rafael, CA which is about a 40 minute drive from my local hospital. Would they listen to me if I tell them, "hey look, I've got this disease, I take these meds"
I had a rough night of sleep last night, so today I am worse worse worse. I thought I was going to have to pull over on the way to work.
I just sort of feel like there's "nothing wrong" and I should stick it out. But ... then again, that's my usual way of thinking. I watched my Dad fight Alpha-1 Anti-tripsyn deficiency and lung cancer so whenever I got sick, I was like "Well, I'm better than he is and he's dealing with it" so I'd just keep trucking.
I know I need to let go of this mentality.
I know I need to work less.
Alas, I feel like I need to keep moving .........

[Pete]

I know I need to let go of this mentality.
I know I need to work less.
Alas, I feel like I need to keep moving .........

These are not mutually exclusive choices. I hope you can make good progress on all three.

[Alysia]

Dear Nikki,
I think that you should listen to yourself and to your body and believe to what you sense. if you do it, then it will be easier to tell it to the docs.
The docs must listen to you and believe you.
don't give up. it is time to do something. it is too long that you are suffering so much.
sending you lots of hugs and my praying. take care.

[mishb]

Nikki, I can't see how things are going to get better without some sort of medical help.....NOW

I think it has gone to far.
You are no less important, or, in no less of medical need than another person is.

Look at poor Phil, he is in so much trouble at the moment and thankfully he went to the hospital and he was admitted and is now getting help.

The time has come for you to go to the hospital too (if it is closer than your doctors), and let them get you a little better (or a lot) before Christmas comes.

[windchime]

Nikki I too "powered" through this last year. Now that I'm on short term disability I understand just how sick I was. I urge you to see your doctor and have him put you out of work for awhile so you can get better. It's almost impossible to get better at work. If you work for a county I assume you have some type of disability. I also urge you to make the trip to the doc so they can properly assess you. Good luck and please stay home and recover.

[carriej22]

I find it's a constant balance for me..

When I stay home too much, my mind suffers...

When I work too much, my body suffers...

If I am home a few days a week I get depressed, irritable, and a little crazy. I feel like I LOVE staying home at the time, but I need to do something. I am always much more "sound" when I have had a good work week. However, I often overdo it and end up with issues... But it's finding that happy medium. When I'm home alone here not working I get almost paranoid and I worry about things. It's not a good place for me... So I keep busy.

[Debbie C]

Nikki, if it has gotten to the point where you are afraid to drive and pulling to the side of the road, not only are you putting yourself in worse danger but also someone else. You REALLY need to go get checked out and take some time off work

[Barbara N]

I didn't take MTX but I did have dizziness and I slept for 24 hours, straight through. I don-t seem to have any upper body strength. They are changing all of my meds. I will know by Monday what I will be taking and if I have to go on dialysis. It seems to hit a lot around rthe holiday season.Maybe we push to hard to get things done the way they used to be and thing will never be the way they use to be. One day at a time and make it the best. Take care and Christmas will be great even if the kitchen in a mess and things don-t look just like you would have them.

[mishb]

Nikki, it's nearly the end of the working week. How are you feeling now?

Is anything better - I hope so.

[Sydney Paris]

HI Nikki
I've been on 40mg/week for a year, and have experienced an increasing negative reaction the last month. Nausea and dizziness, especially the first 24h, increased fatigue, and a general "fogginess" in my brain. Will talk to my specialist next week.