Methotrexate side effects - when do they kick in

[Jack]

Worst thing is when I answer the phone and then can't speak for coughing!

[elephant]

Andrew you do sound @#$% sick! You are hilarious and have a great sense of humor throughout all this crap! Looking forward to your appointment and hopefully they will get to the bottom of this. I just read recently that rubbing vics on the bottom of your feet (covered with a sock) will stop your cough for hours. I don't know if this would be contraindicated with our WG disease/meds.

[Sangye]

Andrew, I don't like the sound of that at all. The difficulty breathing, fatigue, cough... It sounds like Wegs and/or a reaction to the mtx. You can have both at once-- a two-fer. I'm so glad you're seeing your main doc tomorrow.

I don't know if vicks on your feet is contraindicated with Wegs, but it might be contraindicated with chasing women.

[andrew]

Yeah but....the S.O.B. started way before the rest of the symptoms and my ANCA is the lowest it has been. Went to see the doc today. He thinks most of my symptoms except the S.O.B and the fever are related to the MTX. he has told me to step back to 10mg this week then up to 15mg next week then stay there. If I can't tolerate that then I have to call my GP to whom he is writing a letter today. He was also a bit taken aback with the outcome of my visit to the lung specialist. He thinks they should be doing more particularly as I have a fever (which typically hasn't come up today). He's going to suggest that to them today as well

I would like to change my MTX night from Wednesday (tonight) to Friday just in case the fatigue kicks in again. Forgot to ask about that. What do you think if I went ahead and did that anyway? If I can't handle the reduced dose then I'll probably go back to Imuran and will have to 'suck it up' when the gout comes back. At least I'll be awake

I would normally think that some of my symptoms would be the WG acting up. There are so many other things to consider, from a lung infection, to the MTX reaction, to sleep apnea to the WG etc etc.

Oh yes...my gout is making a comeback again. Merry %$^#* Christmas hahahaha

[andrew]

A eureka moment. Today my gout came back with a vengeance. Sitting on the couch just now thinking what the heck could have triggered it this time I remembered that right before the last attack I was eating toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches with fair regularity (I love my toasted sandwiches). Guess what? Just started eating them again a couple days ago. Looked it up and what do you know, processed meat is one of the leading causes of gout. Sighs.

[elephant]

Hi Andrew, I am wondering if you are having a reaction to the methotrexate. When I had my reaction to the imuran, I had fevers on/off, chest/back pain, flu like symptoms...and then on the other hand these symptoms can be Wegeners too. I was hospitalized and they checked my out like a guinea pig!
Just stay on top of your symptoms and bug the docs! Hang in there Andrew, I am here to listen ....

[Sangye]

I hope they get the gout under control. Glad you figured out the processed meat connection!

[andrew]

Oh yeah me too. Foot feels a lot better today, I think I nipped it in the bud.

Today: I feel a thousand percent better. Didn't take the MTX last night 'cause I plum forgot so will take the half-dose the doc told me to take tonight. I'm almost resolved to ask him to take me off the MTX and put me back on Imuran. There's a definite link between how I feel and when I take the MTX. I'm actually fully awake, my lungs are still S.N.A.F.U. but much less so today. I felt refreshed when I woke up this morning BEFORE my alarm.

Oh, one other thing. I sweat like a pig overnight. Pillows get soaked. Suddenly hit me yesterday that there might be an issue breathing in all that dried gunk so bought two new pillows. Wondering if that's part of the reason I'm breathing so much easier today???

Still got that darn cough though....

[jola57]

Andrew, you get better now, you hear. I think its the season to get sick. I get funny neural symptoms and will make an appointment with neuro in the new year. Hope you keep feeling better every day.

[andrew]

Thanks Jolanta! I'm feeling so much better today, almost like normal. Even yesterday I was running out of breath crossing the road at a slow walk. Today, I had to hustle crossing the same road and not a problem. Weird but cool!