Methotrexate side effects - when do they kick in

[Sangye]

I did mtx injections for the 2 months I was on it. I was in horrible shape in those days, but I didn't feel any worse after taking the mtx. I stopped it because it caused pulmonitis (allergic reaction to mtx, not that uncommon). My symptoms and x-ray mimicked severe pneumonia. Andrew, is there any way you might be having the same thing?

[andrew]

Nah I've had this @#$&@(! cough for nearly two months, way before I started the Meth. I'm also seeing the lung specialist dude tomorrow morning. Hopefully he can assist. I'm thinking that my chest infection hasn't gone away properly and I'll need more antibiotics. I'll see what the doc says tho....as long as he doesn't say "ok, now cough".

[Sangye]

Okay. I hope he can help you. Hawk up a loogie for him to culture.

[elephant]

Andrew I hope they do a culture on your sputum ( whatever the color).
You also need to rule out WG too....hope your better soon..

[andrew]

Well they can have all the sputum they can handle I have buckets of it. Last bloods were actually quote reasonable. ANCA was down to 14 which is the lowest it has been since diagnosis. The only blips were white cell count due to the lung infection and Uric Acid which was sky high due to the Gout.

[marta]

Wow Andrew. Holy crap, what a ride.

I started the process of changing over to Meth, but didn't actually make it there because of this flare. What the doc did say though is that taking it via injection is much better for the reasons that are mentioned in this thread (diminished side effects) and also apparently you increase your body's absorption of the drug. I was into taking it oraly - because I'm a bit of a chicken with self injections - but got talked into taking it via injection. My plan was to go to the local nursing unit and they could show me how and then I'd do it myself.

I really hope you get this ironed out and start feeling like yourself again. Nausea SUCKS! I can't think of too many things I hate more than nausea and vomitoriums.

[Psyborg]

Nah I've had this @#$&@(! cough for nearly two months, way before I started the Meth. I'm also seeing the lung specialist dude tomorrow morning. Hopefully he can assist. I'm thinking that my chest infection hasn't gone away properly and I'll need more antibiotics. I'll see what the doc says tho....as long as he doesn't say "ok, now cough".

I might be off base, but keep an eye out for stenosis with a persistent cough. It wasn't until way later that I realized my issue was in my trachea and not bronchitis. Actually not until I was diagnosed. I coughed a ton and it felt very similar to bronchitis, though with less mucus. Just my .02

[Tim Roberts]

Andrew, I should have indicated this in my previous posting but the injection I take weekly is sefl administered. I don't go into the doc for it as they taught me how to do it. It is very easy and takes just a matter of minutes. I know that people can be squemish about shots but this is really very easy. A very small volume (.8 of a cc) with a very small syringe and needle. There is really nothing to it. If I can do it, anyone can.

[andrew]

I might be off base, but keep an eye out for stenosis with a persistent cough. It wasn't until way later that I realized my issue was in my trachea and not bronchitis. Actually not until I was diagnosed. I coughed a ton and it felt very similar to bronchitis, though with less mucus. Just my .02

Wow, not off base at all. Stenosis is something my doc mentioned might be causing the breathing issues that originally inspired the referral to the lung specialist.

Andrew, I should have indicated this in my previous posting but the injection I take weekly is sefl administered. I don't go into the doc for it as they taught me how to do it. It is very easy and takes just a matter of minutes. I know that people can be squemish about shots but this is really very easy. A very small volume (.8 of a cc) with a very small syringe and needle. There is really nothing to it. If I can do it, anyone can.

Sounds easy enough I was self-administering injections for a couple of weeks after leaving hospital. Can't remember what they were but was reasonably easy to do. Thanks!

[JanW]

Andrew: if you get endoscopy on a regular basis the doc will be able to see what is blocked up down to the first few rings of the trachea. I don't remember if you regularly see an ENT for this procedure though.

I too had a constant cough and throat clearing with stenosis.