Advice on handling nausea
I’m 24f and started my journey 3 years ago, but I’ve been struggling to move through medications to find ones that work for me. It’s incredibly hard to actually see my rheumatologist to get any changes in medication, I’ve only managed to go through the specialist nurses most of the time, and even that takes having a severe flare and then waiting ages before they’ll even book an appointment to see me to look at my medication again. I don’t even technically have a rheumatologist anymore even though I’m under the department, because my previous one got sick and is permanently off work so I’m on a probably year long waiting list to get assigned to one of the other rheumatologists. In the meantime, my GP manages my medication and reviewing blood tests and the specialist nurses will occasionally see you for flares. But I’m struggling to get anywhere. So with that brief insight.
I was wondering if anyone has any advice for handling nausea on methotrexate and sulfasalazine. I’m on 20mg methotrexate injections with 5mg of folic acid 6 days a week.
Despite the folic acid and taking it by injection I am still suffering with nausea. I feel sick on and off throughout the entire week but particularly the day after my injection (Although it’s not often bad enough to cause vomiting and that’s always day after). I’m already on the max dose of folic acid they are willing to provide and taking it by injection to minimise gastric side effects. The nurses suggested anti nausea meds if I couldn’t tolerate it but I’m worried about drowsiness, and I have no way to get back in contact with them again to ask any questions because they’ve said I have to go through my GP for anything until I get a consultant again. They’ve put me on the list for an urgent rheumatology appointment but given that I don’t currently have a rheumatologist even though I’m still a patient in their department that could easily be a year from now.
So in the meantime, does anyone have any other suggestions that have worked for them for nausea?