u/Pomegranate003

Hey all, I’m writing this post seeking for any advice or tips on starting methotrexate, ESPECIALLY if you have to take it with other DMARDS
-also please share any advice related to
Staying comfortable on this drug as I know I’m most likely to feel very miserable lol
Specifically I’ll be continuing hydroxychloroquine 200 mg and adding in 4 2.5mg methotrexate once a week along with folic acid. And I also got a zofran prescription just incase as well.
I do plan to take the methotrexate at night and I’ve been heavily considering hair skin and nail supplements.

This is going to be long but this is very new for me and I would appreciate some advice and honest feedback on how my life is going to be with this. I am 22yo f, I just had an AVISE CTD panel on March 31st that came back negative for all bookmakers, positive for ANTI-CARP. (Other blood work has shown chronically elevated WBC, platelets, and high ESR)Only symptoms I had prior to testing was joint pain in my entire body (that I have ignored since 2022 bc I thought everyone felt like that) severe fatigue, nausea, and weight gain despite healthy diet and being active. I ended up having to go to the er about 2 weeks after my first rheumatologist appointment due to my right knee being so swollen and stiff I couldn’t walk without assistance anymore. Swelling started on April 9th and hasn’t improved. Er X-rays showed joint effusion in my left knee. A couple days after ER rheum did imaging on my hands and feet and said they were normal so far and wanted to prescribe me Celecoxib to take 2x a day until my next apt in July to see if that helps reduce systemic inflammation before DMARDs, and if swelling persists to come back to get my knees drained. He also said he didn’t want to call this rheumatoid arthritis yet, so I said ok so is it like baby RA? And he said no that would be insulting and basically said it’s very early onset. I looked at the medical notes after my apt to view the ultrasound results and the radiologist noted “Unremarkable except for synovial thickening at all imaged MCP joints.” After that visit my knee pain and swelling didn’t reduce using the Celecoxib for over a week so I went back in today to get my right knee drained and he said he couldn’t drain the fluid since it wasnt localized only above the kneecap, which is understandable because the fluid has literally spread up my thigh and down my shin. He gave me a steroid injection in my knee instead and told me I should feel better and be able to resume normal activities like sitting at a damn desk and going upstairs to sleep in my bed as long as I also use one of those knee brace things. What I want to know is— what should I expect long term, realistically and no bullshit. Bc I haven’t been able to move around on my own for almost a full month now, I’m sick of feeling sick all of the time but this is another beast, my independence is being taken from me because of this.