Five weeks into the Methotrexate and it’s time for an update.  My rheumy doc told me that there was a strong possibility that by the time I came back to see her in 5 or 6 weeks, that I might feel no improvement, that it could take a bit longer than that since this dmard is very slow acting.  She said progress might be imperceptible and I might need other people to verify it, for instance, someone in my family saying “yeah, you are not limping as much” or “you don’t seem to be talking about your feet as much.”  So, I was not expecting miracles and was ready for no progress at the return appointment which will be in about a week and a half. Color me surprised, then, when I could feel noticeable progress at five weeks!  I’ll bullet it for brevity’s sake.

• When I wake up in the morning, I am not walking on broken feet and limping.  In fact, some mornings, I don’t even think about my feet.
• I don’t wince every time I pull up my pants.
• I can button my clothing easier.
• I can walk distances again.
• I want to walk.
• I am not as stiff when I rise from any period of sitting.
• I am taking much less Ibuprofen.

Now, I still have my needs.  My neck is killing me right now.  My knees still hurt when I go up and down stairs.  My thumb joint still aches and throbs at times.  But, in all, I am really happy with my progress.

The side effects of Mtx have not been unbearable.  I have some occasional stomach upset [mild] and some mood distress [mild to mod] that is quite interesting in the way it manifests.  Most people are slain the day after their dosage [which is when gastrointestinal stuff happens if it is going to], but I have like a 3 or 4 day delay.  For instance, I would take the Mtx on Sat evening and then it would hit me by Wed of the next week.  What happens is exhaustion that is akin to swimming in Karo syrup- feeling like lifting a hand is work but I don’t have the liberty to rest since I work two jobs, so I keep going and then everything ends up making me cry.  Well, I don’t actually cry in front of anyone but Bean and I am sure he wishes I would stop it, but there you have it.  Weird, but doable.  

What has helped in addition to the Mtx is taking my supplements correctly and remembering to take my prescription Folic Acid.  Thank you, Bean, for buying me a large pill manager compartment thingy so that I can remember to take them all each day at the right times. I take Armour Thyroid, Folic Acid, B vitamins, fish oil gummies, Krill oil capsule, Curcumin, Anti-inflammatory bio caps, 100 vitamin C, & vitamin D in addition to my 1x week Mtx.

I think I will tell the doc to ramp it up a notch when I go back because I need to get in shape for summer hiking.  I’ll go from 10 to 15 or something.  I have googled this whole mood thing with the Mtx. but I would like to hear if anyone else has experienced mood alteration or that kind of strange exhaustion on this drug.