Update- Starting Methorexate Tabs

[mantaray]

Hi
I have just had my appointment with my consultant, I have been taken off sulfasalazine due to pancreatitis and have been put on prednisolone for 9 weeks and to go on methotrexate tablets . Hopefully this will make me feel better. I never see the same consultant but this was very good I went in 10 mins earlier than my appt time and he had loads of time to explain and I felt he listened to me. Has anyone had any experience with methotrexate tablets, I am having weekly blood tests with these.
Many Thanks

 

[ronroush7]

Hi. I wish you the best. Besides this site, there is a section called Treatment. You might try posting it there also.

 

[northwesterner]

Hi
I have just had my appointment with my consultant, I have been taken off sulfasalazine due to pancreatitis and have been put on prednisolone for 9 weeks and to go on methotrexate tablets . Hopefully this will make me feel better. I never see the same consultant but this was very good I went in 10 mins earlier than my appt time and he had loads of time to explain and I felt he listened to me. Has anyone had any experience with methotrexate tablets, I am having weekly blood tests with these.
Many Thanks

Typical experience with the tablets is heavy nausea.

Many on this forum and their doctor's report the tablets are hard to handle.

Need to take folic acid along with it, at a minimum.

If the tablets cause unbearable nausea, you may switch to an injection. Typically injected MTX has much lower side effects, though, of course, you have to take the long needle and do a once weekly intramuscular injection, typically into your thigh.

I did injected MTX for nearly a year, but the nausea became unbearable. At the point I was puking in the trash can in my office the next morning after an injection, I knew I couldn't do it any more.

Good luck.

 

[FrozenGirl]

I'm on mtx tablets. Been on them for about 4 months. I actually switched from injections to the tablets. I found with the injections I got intense nausea (to the point where I was leaning over the toilet trying not to vomit before I even injected myself. I have been doin better on the tablets. The only issue I have is the day after I take them I am quite tired. I would reccomend taking them in the evening on a night where you have he next day off, in case you are tired or nauseous etc.

 

[mantaray]

Thanks for all the advice, greatly appreciated.

 

[Lynda Lynda]

All these Methotrexate posts are pretty old. I will start taking Methotrexate next week because I am having a Crohn's flare.
So I will be using the Humira Injection Pen weekly with the Methotrexate weekly, plus folic acid for my Crohn's.

I am almost more concerned about the possibility of nausea than the dangers of the Methotrexate itself, being nauseated is so uncomfortable to me.
And if I vomit then the likelihood of me wanting to continue taking the Methotrexate is low.
I already have bad acid reflux.
I won't eat if I am nauseated and vomiting.

Some worries I have about what I call my "IBD Treatment Team" .....

I called my Gastroenterologist office last week and found out an appointment I had with the FNP scheduled for May 5th was cancelled.
At the time of my phone call I had other things to talk to the Receptionist / Scheduler about, so I did not question her further.
Now I will have to call them again on Monday, May 3rd, because I have no appointment scheduled until May 26th with my Gastroenterologist and I need a question & answer session with the FNP or the Gastroenterologist regarding my new treatment plan.
These are not questions to be answered by the Medical Assistant during a brief phone call, that's for sure.

I don't care much for that FNP, I feel that she focuses too much on negatives.
She mentions surgery.
She mentions my low hemoglobin.
Don't scare me with surgery talk when I have many treatment options before a surgery would be needed.
And don't mention my low hemoglobin because my hemoglibin was checked by another doctor a month after my Hospital stay and my hemoglobin was at a somewhat acceptable level by then.
My PCP monitors things like my hemoglobin.
Too many doctors !

I need to know what my CT Enterography results are, why I am being prescribed Methotrexate, how Methotrexate works, explain the dosage, explain the length of time I will be taking the Methotrexate, why am I being prescribed folic acid, any blood draws that need to be done while taking the Methotrexate, why my May 5th appointment was cancelled, who cancelled that appointment, why wasn't a follow up appointment scheduled after I saw the FNP on 4/14/ 2021, and does the FNP talk to my Gastroenterologist before she makes decisions about my treatment.

My 20 day Prednisone prescription ends on May 5th. Should I start taking the Methotrexate on May 6th ? This is another question for my Gastroenterologist / FNP. And then I have to be careful because my 2nd Covid vaccine is on May 17th.

I have not had this much going on with my IBD treatment since 2018.
I'm just so tired.
If I was younger I might have more energy, but I am 60 years old.
I don't work anymore, so that is a plus because I can stay home when bad symptoms take place or if I have medication side effects.

I had 9 medically related appointments in April, for a variety of reasons. That is just too many appointments.
It's the Gastroenterologist or FNP, the PCP, the Pulmonologist, the dentist, Sonora Labs, the Imaging place, the Pharmacy. Then the Covid vaccine.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's 3 years ago and I felt like I was doing OK until this year.
I have been on the Humira Injection Pen for 3 years.
I see my Gastroenterologist or FNP at the Gastroenterologist office for regular visits to monitor my IBD symptoms / treatment.

Take Care and Have A Good Weekend.

 

[my little penguin]

They can give you rescue meds for nausea if needed (zofran ) and the like
Your cte results would be in the patient portal
(App on your phone ) or on the gi/hospital website where you had it done
Most Gi specialists etc .. will “talk “ to you through email in the portal
There you can see all your records /blood tests
Next appts and scans or images /results