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methotrexate and flying

Posted , 4 users are following.

cjbrownlow36
cjbrownlow36

my mum takes methotrexate and embril injections for her arthritus but every time we travel she ends up with a really bad cold and ruins her holiday for a week anyone have any tips ??

thankyou

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • cheria
    cheria cjbrownlow36

    Posted

    Hi, both methotrexate and embril are so extremely hard on the immune system year round, and the reason many stop taking the methotrexate all together. My research shows that less than 30% who try methotrexate stop taking this because it induces all over pain due to triggering systemic infections, fibromyalga, induced temporary lupus as well as dental infections. I am off both for these reasons, and take plaquunil, but remember trying to go on trips, and my immune system with the usual extra stress of vacationing causing it to be even much more compromised, and not only getting much sickness, but hurting all over with fever, inflammation and body pain. I stopped the methotrexate 2 full wks before my vacation at the time, and took the biweekly injection (I had been on humira) the week before my vacation. It helped to reduce much all over body pain that was present every day due to the toxic effects of these types of RA drugs, and greatly reduced the toxic overload of these immunity compromising drugs. Like many, I never went back on the mtx as I felt so much better, with the RA better managed to a degree. It wasn't until I went off the biologic though and replaced it with plaquunil, and had a tooth extracted contributing to systemic infection, that approx 90% of my all over pain went away. I rarely if ever get sick or have flares now, and can enjoy my trips, as long as I am not on my feet for to long, or are in congested or stressful environments for many hours without breaks or rest periodically. My RA is managed very well now, and other than supplementing with vitamins (magnesium glycinate a must!! As all those with RA and on RA medications are greatly depleted in this...which must be taken twice daily in a 1:1 ratio with calcium carbonate and D3 (2000 mg daily), I take only plaquinil, mobic (anti inflammatory) and 5 mg prednisone. There is previous damage to joints from poorly managed RA before getting off the methotrexate and biologics, but the difference now is that my immune system is not compromised, I do not get sick or have fibromyalga, all over pain, infections, or continuous flares and fatigue. I did this on my own, with not the best support from my RA doctor..but I was no longer willing to suffer and have my immune system so badly and continuously compromised, as many others have decided. So much more research is needed for RA treatment, as current treatments are not managing RA condition well for so many.

    • cheria
      cheria

      Posted

      I'm sorry, I do also take tramadol (once or twice daily) due to 2 1/2 yrs of poorly managed RA, when further damage to my joints happened.
    • cjbrownlow36
      cjbrownlow36 cheria

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply

      Mum also self injects enbrel

      What shall we do as it has ruined our last three family holidays but I think she is afraid to tell her current RA doctor ?

    • cheria
      cheria cjbrownlow36

      Posted

      Gosh I can only tell you what worked for me. It is a personal decision on how we advocate for ourselves. I personally made the decision to stop methotrexate, which was a huge step in helping myself to stop coming down with continuous infections, and stopped so much other induced pain. I thought to myself, with all my health education in my RN curriculum, I needed to try a process of elimination a little at a time, and found I was right. I understand her fears if telling her RA doctor, and we can be intimidated.. but I told myself that doctors are only using an educated guess, for each person when prescribing medications, to see if it is the right guess..as we are all different..their next step is determined by how well each patient feels their RA is managed, and what the patient wants to approach or contribute to their all around health and how empowered they feel in having some control over this.. I took the first steps myself, as I eliminated the first methotrexate dose, and saw what a difference this made for me, my immune system, pain, fatigue, etc and was so happy to see the results. I then went to my RA doctor, and said I would like to stop taking the mtx to see if it improves the way I feel, and stayed firm in this. When I next went to have my tooth extracted due to an induced low grade infection from previous dental work a year prior, from what i believed to be from my iced immune system
    • cheria
      cheria

      Posted

      ...from my compromised immune system.. Due to the dental infection, my RA doctor advised I go off from the bi weekly biologic self injection, until the infection was gone ( Augmentin Antibiotic prescribed), and discovered going off the biologic injection (humira) another immune compromising medication, my all over pain and sickness was approx 85 to 90 percent relieved. It was at this time I stopped the biologic. Eventually, I was convinced I should be on something, and was prescribed plaquinil (anti malaria medication). I can only speak for myself and what kept me from getting sick from a continuous compromised immune system, and am extremely happy with the decision I made to stop methotrexate before going on my trip.
    • cjbrownlow36
      cjbrownlow36 cheria

      Posted

      Your advice has been a real help. I think I will book her in with a specialist RA doctor to give a second opinion as she can ask him questions she may feel scared of asking her current doctor
  • maggie15623
    maggie15623 cjbrownlow36

    Posted

    I too take methotrexate and when I fly also end up with a bad cold more often than not.  However I put this down to the fact of all the germs being passed around the cabin through the air conditioning system.  Maybe if your  mum wore  a protection face mask she can avoid breathing in the germs.  It really might help.
    • cjbrownlow36
      cjbrownlow36 maggie15623

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice I think that will really help maybe with some anti allergy tablets a could of days before flying also !
  • johnfs49
    johnfs49 cjbrownlow36

    Posted

    I know this was posted a while back.

    I take 20mgs of oral MTX weekly and on the other 6 days 5mgs of Folic Acid.

    I have been on MTX since May 2002, i have found that taking 1000mgs of slow release vitamin C each night has stopped me from getting colds. ( Buy them from Tesco )

    I regularly fly to the USA and i don't have any problems.

    Hope this helps.

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