Methotrexate and alcohol

Im 26, have psoriatic arthrits and ive been taking methotrexate (6 tabs of 2.5 mg) weekly for about a year and a half with no real side effects and no problems in my blood tests.  I get my bloods tested every month but am going travelling around Australia for at least a year in a couple of months and will probably find it hard to ensure I get to a GP every month for my blood tests.  Does anyone know if this will be a massive issue?  Have spoke to GP here in UK and obviously they say i should try get it tested every month.

So, I should note that I've only been on methotrexate for about six months so far. I was also afraid of losing my hair and being nauseous and sick a lot, because these are problems my grandmother--who suffered from RA as I do--had. She had really thick hair that became incredibly thin and fragile while on methotrexate, though she never actually lost it to the point of appearing balding.

When I expressed these concerns to my doctor she told me that a lot of new information has come to light about treating RA since my grandmother suffered with it, and that many of the negative side effects were actually a result of vitamin deficiencies caused by the meds that can be circumvented by taking supplements. The side effects and their severity can also differ based on dose; I'm on a relatively low dose because that is all that's required to deal with my symptoms.

Right now, she has me on methotrexate and plaquenil, as well as a daily dose of calcium, vitamin D, B12, and folic acid supplements. And I am happy to say that so far, I feel pretty great. I have not noticed any problems with my hair. In fact, it's just as thick and unmanageable as ever! :D The only notable side effect I've seen with methotrexate is that on the day I take it, I'm usually very, very tired. Also, I notice that I used to be able to pull multiple all-nighters in a row, and I can't really do that anymore. Not in the sense that I get sick or anything, moreso in the sense that I just crash completely...I will fall asleep and not wake up until my body decides I've had enough rest!

I split the dose of six pills once a week into two pills three times, spaced four hours apart over the course of a day, and that has helped a lot. I've also found that getting an hour or two of extra sleep the night before seems to keep me from being tired. If all else fails, a cup of coffee fixes me right up!

As for alcohol, there are a couple of reasons you don't want to be drinking. First of all, the methotrexate already gives your liver some extra work, so adding alcohol to that significantly increases your risk of liver disease or damage. Especially if you're drinking multiple times a week. The other reason is that methotrexate can cause drowsiness and nausea, so adding alcohol (which can also cause both) to that mix is just a recipe for disaster.

My workplace is very centered around social drinking, but I've found that I can still have fun with my coworkers while sipping on a diet Coke or a ginger ale, even if at first it made me feel a bit square. My doctor's recommendation was that I could indulge in a glass of wine on my birthday, but no more than that.

It sucks sometimes, being 25 and unable to partake with the rest of my peer group, but honestly? I'd rather give up drinking than go back to the unbearable pain in my hands and feet from the RA, and the constant feeling of exhaustion and frustration from always being in that much pain.