I know I'm being a big baby, but I'm scared

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GemmaRose

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In a few days I’ll be starting some new medication - methotrexate - to treat my rheumatoid arthritis.

Methotrexate is a really potent drug that’s used to treat cancer, and in lower dosages, rheumatoid arthritis. The list of possible side effects goes on and on, and I’m really, really scared of starting this drug.

Right now, I don’t really have many people to talk to, and those I have - well, it’s just not like me to go into a litany of medical problems. When people ask how I’m doing or how I’m feeling, I usually say, “Okay!” - even though I’m not and I don’t.

I truly want God’s will to be done in my life, and I tell Him he can do whatever He wants with me - and I mean it… I try to be brave but I am a big baby at heart and I really could use some prayers from my friends here at CAF. God bless all of you.

Thanks.
 
Hi GemmaRose , so sorry to hear about your rheumatoid arthritis . I understand your fear and I’m just like you , a childlike soul , always answering " I’m okay" , even it’s not quite so …
You’ll be in my prayers and Rosary intention every day , may God, in His infinite mercy bring you back to full and complete health !
God Bless and please know, Jesus and Mary are always with you .
 
Praying for all to go well with this new medication for you and for your comfort…
 
†JMJTJ †
You will be in my prayers for your strength and healing.
With good medical follow ups you should do well; trust in the Lord ~
Your sufferings united to His Passion will save souls; may He strengthen and guide you, and fill you with His Presence and peace.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us, and increase Your mercy in us, so that in difficult moments we might not despair, nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen

God bless you †
 
GemmaRose,

As you undertake this journey with Methotrexate, please remember that this drug is an Old Drug and that many people before you have taken this drug, and have had spectacular results. I personally have given intravenous methotrexate to many a cancer patients, plus my step-father has taken it for his RA with no side effects.

When I would teach cancer patients about their chemotherapy drugs and go over the major side effects, I would always say “These are potential side effects, not probable side effects” and remind them that every medication has side effects, even tylenol and aspirin. 2 of the most used over the counter medications.

Please remember, when you are looking at the side effect profile for methotrexate, that includes the side effects for high dose, Moderate dose, and low dose. Being on low dose therapy you may experience mild nausea and fatigue, but typically those symptoms will go away as your body becomes accustomed to the medication. If not, there are supportive medications available.

Remember to be open and honest about your feelings to your Rheumatologist, and keep those lines open in case you do have any problems.
 
Oh, and one more thing…Your not being a baby. You have the same fears of most people starting on any Chemotherapeutic medication. 👍

Susan
 
GemmaRose,
Has your doctor provided a clear outline of the follow up required for taking methotraxate to treat R Arthritis?
This is absolutely essential. As long as the doc is going to require you ( and as long as you understand the absolute necessity) to get periodic blood tests done to monitor your blood levels, then all will be well.

Your follow through in conjunction with your docs very close watchful eye is going to be the key in using this very potent and potentially dangerous drug.

My grandmother used this drug to help control her severe arthritis and it did help her but I cannot stress the importance of the followup.

I hope you find relief from this hideous debilitating disease. God Bless and I will pray for you.
 
Praying for you.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10

From St. Faustina’s Diary:

"In the evening, Jesus gave me the subject for meditation. At the first moment, my heart was filled with fear and joy. Then I pressed myself close to His Heart, and the fear vanished; only joy remained. I felt entirely like a child of God, and the Lord said… ‘Fear nothing…Before I made the world, I loved you with the love your heart is experiencing today and, throughout the centuries, My love will never change.’ " ❤️
 
Praying for strength and comfort for you, and that the new medication truly helps!

:gopray2:
 
Thanks so much to all who have posted here, and especially Susan for your encouraging words about the drug treatment.

You know how doctors are so hurried and rush through explanations (even mine who is a wonderful doctor), and I couldn’t really find in my internet searching the differences between low and high dosage side effects. I’m especially concerned about how or if the methotrexate might affect my COPD.

Well, I guess I’ll know pretty soon how I’ll be feeling, and I’ll let you all know.
(If you don’t hear from me, then I guess… http://bestsmileys.com/dead/1.gif 😛 )

Thanks again for your prayers.
 
I was on methotrexate for 5 years (I have systemic lupus). I was very nervous about starting it and had heard a lot of scare stories about how awful it is. I was expecting the worst after I took the first dose.

You know what happened? Absolutely nothing.

I never had any problems with it the entire time I took it. 99% of patients on methotrexate have no problems whatsoever.

The odds are in your favor. You probably won’t have any problems.

Keeping you in my prayers.
 
GemmaRose here’s a link to Johns Hopkins Arthritis site:

hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-info/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheum_treat.html

There is a very good section on Methotrexate. It is specifically directed to the doses given for RA and not generalized side effect information. I have reviewed only the Methotrexate portion prior to posting. Since you mentioned that you have COPD, please refer to the section on intersticial pneumonitis. Depending on the severity of your COPD you may want to discuss this with your physician. If it is mild COPD you would still benefit from methotrexate given the <2% incidence. But you would benefit from routine chest xrays as well as a baseline, if you do not have a recent one on file.

Hope that this helps. It is a very good site.
 
Jesus please help GemmaRose in coping with this painful and frustrating illness. Please help her with the best medicaton and treatment, and give her peace and comfort.
 
Gemma, I too was on methotrexate for about a year.

There were no side effects.

Good luck and I’ll keep you in my prayers!
 
I’d like to thank everyone for their prayers, for the kind words of encouragement, and especially for those who have experience with the drug.

It made me really sleepy the first day I took it. Now, all I have to do is stop stressing about having so potent a drug floating around in my system… 😊 So, I guess I still need a prayer or two.

God bless to all.
 
GemmaRose said:
In a few days I’ll be starting some new medication - methotrexate - to treat my rheumatoid arthritis.

Methotrexate is a really potent drug that’s used to treat cancer, and in lower dosages, rheumatoid arthritis. The list of possible side effects goes on and on, and I’m really, really scared of starting this drug.

Right now, I don’t really have many people to talk to, and those I have - well, it’s just not like me to go into a litany of medical problems. When people ask how I’m doing or how I’m feeling, I usually say, “Okay!” - even though I’m not and I don’t.

I truly want God’s will to be done in my life, and I tell Him he can do whatever He wants with me - and I mean it… I try to be brave but I am a big baby at heart and I really could use some prayers from my friends here at CAF. God bless all of you.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have been on methotrexate on and off for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I know how you feel but the benefits far out way the side effects. They monitor your blood for anti-bodies while taking it. It is in such a small dose that there will be most likely no side effects. The warnings that come with it are scary though and my doc had to convince me that it is OK and that if you read the warnings of any drug out there it would scare you. Just like the commercials on TV about drugs and the disclaimers with them; makes you think why anyone would take those drugs with such side effects. Methotrexate is a miracle drug for me and it really works!! I am off it now as my health insurance to longer covers psoriasis and the arthritis caused from it. The only reason I share this, is that I hope that it helps relieve your fears. God Bless and you are in my prayers.
 
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
 
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