Starting MTX

[pingu]

Well no ill effects today but did have to work half way through the night!

I am really pleased with the progress on MTX so far, maybe a little slower than I anticipated as I was hoping 3-4 weeks but was just building my dose. Entering week six now and if it continues as is I should be almost clear if not clear in about two weeks. Being clear after 8 weeks will be more than acceptable. Even if I stayed as I am now I will be a happy bunny. Not counting my chickens but now feel that I can go swimming without any shame, I know I know. I love swimming but it has been extremely sparse over the last many many years. Just that fact alone that I can go jump in a pool makes me smile.

I appreciate all the support and advice available here it really is a great forum.

[Fred]

I appreciate all the support and advice available here it really is a great forum.

Thank you for the kind words I'm pleased you find it useful, you're one of us now and your input could be helping others in return.

You enjoy your swim and wear that smile with pride, just don't forget your Speedo's may be a bit looser with less psoriasis  

[jiml]

Well no ill effects today but did have to work half way through the night!

I am really pleased with the progress on MTX so far, maybe a little slower than I anticipated as I was hoping 3-4 weeks but was just building my dose. Entering week six now and if it continues as is I should be almost clear if not clear in about two weeks. Being clear after 8 weeks will be more than acceptable. Even if I stayed as I am now I will be a happy bunny. Not counting my chickens but now feel that I can go swimming without any shame, I know I know. I love swimming but it has been extremely sparse over the last many many years. Just that fact alone that I can go jump in a pool makes me smile.

I appreciate all the support and advice available here it really is a great forum.

Great that you feel good enough to don swimwear... It is a great feeling after years of not uncovering ....

I would be careful mentioning chickens on here or Caroline will be round on her motorcycle  

Thanks for putting a positive spin on methotrexate, it's had a lot of knocking here ( mainly by me) but it's good to hear it working so well for you.... Long may it continue , and I hope you will continuing to update even when clear , as that gives others that follow in your path a great deal of hope... And we all know how important it is with this disease to stay positive and to read positive things about the drug you are prescribed
Enjoy a swim ... I know I do now after many years of not doing it in public  

[Caroline]

Well no ill effects today but did have to work half way through the night!

I am really pleased with the progress on MTX so far, maybe a little slower than I anticipated as I was hoping 3-4 weeks but was just building my dose. Entering week six now and if it continues as is I should be almost clear if not clear in about two weeks. Being clear after 8 weeks will be more than acceptable. Even if I stayed as I am now I will be a happy bunny. Not counting my chickens but now feel that I can go swimming without any shame, I know I know. I love swimming but it has been extremely sparse over the last many many years. Just that fact alone that I can go jump in a pool makes me smile.

I appreciate all the support and advice available here it really is a great forum.

Great that you feel good enough to don swimwear... It is a great feeling after years of not uncovering ....

I would be careful mentioning chickens on here or Caroline will be round on her motorcycle  

Thanks for putting a positive spin on methotrexate, it's had a lot of knocking here ( mainly by me) but it's good to hear it working so well for you.... Long may it continue , and I hope you will continuing to update even when clear , as that gives others that follow in your path a great deal of hope... And we all know how important it is with this disease to stay positive and to read positive things about the drug you are prescribed
Enjoy a swim ... I know I do now after many years of not doing it in public  

Chickens !!!!

[annieg]

Hey guys! Just an update on me - things are pretty much the same as far as MTX and scaling. Nothing new has appeared. Nothing has completely disappeared, either, but plaques are gone with mostly just redness remaining. So, it's still ugly but not as ugly as it used to be. Still no side effects with MTX (I start week 6 tomorrow). The only possible side effect I noticed was a small mouth sore, but it was gone two days later, and I can't say with certainty it was caused by the meds. So....all is good, even though in going in to week 6, I'm hoping to see some of the redness start to fade. Is it too early for such miracles?

Pingu - good to hear that you're doing well!

[jiml]

Hi Annie thanks for the update ......and no it's not too much to hope for. I think we all wait for the day we can say we are clear. You are at week six and the production of scales has stopped so it's working well

I would think you should see fading of the spots pretty soon .... It's very promising ... But it's not a quick fix. But should give lasting clearance when it does ... Keep faith with it .....the miracle will happen ...

[pingu]

Hey Annie that's pretty much how it was with me.

I appeared to shed lots of scale in the first few weeks and it broke down from large scale to very fine scale.

The redness faded to pink and the scaling has  largely disappeared and now it looks like a little dry skin.

Small patches disappeared but looks a little weird as I have been working away and had a little tan, the healed patches are very pale.

Stay with it and hopefully you will see some really positive results soon.

Good luck

[pingu]

Tonight is MTX night, 20mg or 8 x 2.5mg tabs which seems like a lot.

Now I am at about week 7 and my psoriasis looks a lot like dry skin. Most small patches disappeared and only dry on elbows and knees.

My skin is actually better than it has been in 35 years and it feels wonderful. Happy so far with the results, not clear but no real redness just a little dryness and very light scaling and the patches have reduced by I would say 90%. Forearm and knees looking pretty normal and you can only really tell there is residual psoriasis by touch. It just feels dry and a little scaly but nowhere near what it was.

I have not as yet suffered any side effects.

Do I feel better about myself. Only in minor ways, I generally hid my arms and legs from people I interacted with and no longer do this so that makes things easier. I can wear short sleeves and shorts without thinking about it. I don't worry about being tired and trying to fight a flare up, or making sure I have creamed properly for at least 4 days before going out etc. I will have more to report next week as I am away at present and my girlfriend will be a better judge.

Personally I wish I had done it long ago.

Thank you to everyone here for being both candid and supportive, although some have had bad experiences non said don't do it which is great. At the end of the day your mileage may vary. I imagine some people may be faster or slower, some will have side effects. For me so far so good.

However as I well know with this disease, currently without a cure it is just another step on the journey, but for now its all very positive and it has been and will be great discussing and sharing with the like minded people in this forum.

Thanks for the support so far.

[Fred]

Yep I would say to anyone with psoriasis to push and get a referral to a dermatologist, and like you have found out you wish you had done so earlier. Some may say they are not the best, but in most countries psoriasis is dealt with by a dermatologist so they are trained and far better suited to offer help.

And yes we are candid, we are just people with psoriasis. We may not always agree on what causes it or how to treat it, but as you have found we sure know how to support each other.

It is a long journey and one that will be with you for the rest of your life, you don't need to thank us for the support we enjoy doing it as we know what you are going through. I have noticed you are already giving support to others and are taking time to keep your thread updated, so you need thanking too.  

[annieg]

Pingu - that's great! I wish you continued success.

I'm not giving up. I *hate* taking it, but I'm so tired of answering "what's that on your hand?" a hundred times a day. (I work with kids, and sleeves only hide so much).

I, too, had read many horror stories about MTX, but I also know that everyone responds to medicine differently. So far, so good for me as far as side effects, so I'm optimistic.