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I'm concerned that tomorrow my dr. will want me to start Methotrexate along with my Prednisone!!!

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leonard12916
leonard12916

I see my dr. tomorrow and I'm concerned he will want to add MTX to my Prednisone because in the last 2 month ago my CRP was its lowest ever at 1.3 and now has gone to 7.3 and 7.6 on a test two days ago.  I have been on 9 mg of Pred for over a month but I admittedly dropped from 12 to 9mg over another 2 months.  My CRP readings coincide with increased morning stiffness and the duration it lasts.  From what I've read here with the 'dead slow' approach it appears I've dropped too fast and 9 mg is too low for me.  I expect tomorrow my family dr. will push for me to introduce Methotrexate but I want to ask for another chance to introduce the 'dead slow' approach.  I'm concerned he'll say we've tried this 3 or 4 times already and the Pred is not working. I'm hoping the approach Eileen and Mrs. O have outlined will work for me and will try to get my dr. to go along with this, after all he's the one I need to keep writing the prescriptions!  I would start by going to 10 mg for a few days and see how I feel and if there's no improvement go to 11 and slowly increase until I'm comfortable then get another CRP.  Even when my CRP was at 1.3 a few months ago I wasn't totally pain free but certainly doing better than I am now.  Might any of you have advice for me as I go into tomorrow's meeting?

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    misdiagnose leonard12916

    Posted

    Explain your concerns about the MTX and ask for a reason why Prednisolone is not sufficient (as it has managed the illness for you in the recent past and you are on an extremely low dose). Doctors usually use a very quick reduction programme which often causes the illness to recur. I had 3 flares in the first 12 months! Now I've been on 7mg for 6 months, I am hoping my body has had a chance to heal itself. 
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