Arthritis Life

What’s it like to *still* be on methotrexate? Updates from Paulina, Ananthi and Jo

Episode Summary

In today’s episode, Paulina, Ananthi and Jo share what’s new in their experience of taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.

Episode Notes

 Paulina, Ananthi and Jo update the audience about their methotrexate journeys for rheumatoid arthritis, including having to titrate the dosage up or down due to liver enzyme numbers, decisions about whether to add a biologic medication in addition to methotrexate, and reflections on the emotional ups and downs of living with a chronic, unpredictable illness during a pandemic.

This episode is a follow up to episode 45 (which was originally recorded in July 2020), where eight patients shared their experiences taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Today’s episode was recorded in the fall of 2021.

Episode at a glance:

• Paulina provides an update to her methotrexate journey and what has helped her cope with the ups and downs of rheumatoid arthritis
• Ananthi shares how she initially tolerated methotrexate but her liver enzymes went up so she had to fiddle around with the dosage a bit to get to a just right amount
• Reflections on the need to stay on top of tracking our bloodwork and take charge of our care
• Jo explains how she felt she wasn’t able to control her disease well with methotrexate alone but her doctor did not think she qualified yet for biologics, which was a very sad and frustrating experience
• Everyone reflects on how the pandemic continues to affect their ability to make appointments and see their doctors
• We reflect on the limitations of standardized assessments for rheumatoid arthritis
• Everyone gives a piece of wisdom for listeners

Medical disclaimer:

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode Sponsors

Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! 

Full Episode Details

For full episode details including a complete transcript, please go to the show page on the Arthritis Life Website.