u/islanderpm

I'm being screened for Biologics following about a year on a combination of hdx and mtx. I kept having flares and so, all being well, I will move to a Biologic. The Rheumatologist put me on 5mg a day prednisolone meanwhile because of the flares, and to protect my joints until (hopefully) the biologic works.

But I find that even a low dose of 5mg is preventing a lot of pain. Normally my neck, knees, wrists/hands and feet will be hurting pretty often. And so it surprises me that for the past 6 weeks with just 5mg the only thing that hurts is my left hand, and that's bearable. (My left hand has always previously been pretty bad.) I am wondering if the mtx and hdx might have started working so my question is: does anyone else get similar pain relief from just 5mg????? I am tempted to ask the Rheumatologist if I can stop the steroid and see how I am. Or am I being ridiculous....

I take mtx via injection and have a history of problems with taking folic acid. My rheumatologist finally gave me a prescription for folinic acid, rather than folic. But I could not find a chemist able to supply folinic. I wondered if anyone else in the UK might have had similar experience..

As an alternative, my rheumatologist has now given me a prescription for folic acid LIQUID, just in case my reaction was caused by the binder used in the folic acid pills. I could try that, but there's the risk 5 days of intense nausea and/or sitting on the toilet and I've got 3 separate medical appointments this week. But before biting the bullet, I thought it worth asking here if anyone else had the same problem, or suggestions.

Due to mtx nausea, I changed from tablets to injections yesterday and was surprised how easy it was to jab the pen into my leg. So that at least was a good start.

I'd been on mtx 15mg pills but developed pretty constant intense nausea when the mtx dose was increased to 20mg about a month ago. And the nausea would get worse on the day when I took the folate. Even when I moved the folate day further away from the mtx day.

To manage expectations - I am wondering how long it might be before the nausea lifts given I felt sick every single day previously. Also, did anyone else find that folate made nausea worse? I am worried that when I take the folate pill tomorrow, it will set me back. The rheumatologist felt sure the folic acid couldn't possibly make me feel worse. But it did. I've asked for an alternative to folate acid but the rheumatologist said she would have to look into that, so I don't know where that's going.