I finally know!

I have been posting for a while now and have never had a dx until now. I went to my rheumy last Wed and he said that I have RA and Sjogrens. He said that my antibodies to both are high. My RF was 40 (5 being normal) and my Sjogrens antibodies were 130 (0-99 normal). He has put me on methotrexate and I feel so sick the morning after I take it. I have the shakes all over, diarrhea, and headache. The doctor told me that my RA is aggressive and we needed to get it under control. I am still in a lot of pain and haven't noticed a difference yet, but it probably takes time. I have the arthritis so bad in my tailbone it hurts to sit or stand and my eyes are aways red and burn so bad. I am so glad to finally know, now the hard part is getting through the getting better process. Thanks for all of your support and take care.

[txsilver]

Isn't it wonderful when we get a dx?  I have both of those too.  I can tell you from experience that it takes time for the MTX to make a difference.  There are fewer side effects on the injections than the pills, which form are you taking?  Are you taking folic acid?  If not, call your doctor about it immediately as it is essential that you take it while on MTX.  Another trick for side effects is Leucovorin.  It is basically the antidote to MTX and must be taken exactly 24 hours after the MTX.  Switching to the injections and adding the leucovorin changed my life.  
About your eyes, have you been to the opthamologist?  You may need steroid eye drops or restasis to provide relief of that symptom.  Do not put off having this checked out as it could be something more serious.  
Please keep us posted on how you are doing.  As long as it takes to get a dx, the process of getting the treatment in the right doses and combinations of meds can take a long time too.  It has taken me a year and we are still tweaking the meds.  Not to scare you, but it was my experience that I actually got worse due to symptoms and side effects for over 6 months before I started to feel any improvement at all.
The good news, once the treatment is right you can have pain free days.  Honest to goodness days where you are able to function and think clearly.  It is amazing.  I cried and laughed the first day it happened for me.  I know I will never be well, but I found elation in just being better.  I pray the same for you and everyone else here.

[pietiangel]

Thank you so much tx! I am on the pill form and no I am not on Folic Acid. I have seen people on here mention taking it at the same time. I will call my doctor today and ask how much I should take. I woke this morning with really red and sore eyes. They burn so bad. I tried Dry Eyes re wetting drops and they made my vision blurry and stayed that way for hours.
I have been to an ophthalmologist and he said that he did not see anything wrong except that my astigmatism got worse. I have to change my prescription every year. I am being patient with the meds since I have only taken 2 doses, it just makes me feel horrible the day after I take it.
I have never heard of the leucovorin, is it an herbal or over the counter med? I wouldn't mind switching to the injections if the side effects don't subside. I will stay on the pill for the next few months and if I don't see improvement I will ask to switch.

Thanks so much again tx! Take care and have a wonderful day!

[txsilver]

I am glad you are calling the doctor about the folic acid.  Usually they write a prescription for it at the same time as the MTX because MTX will reduce your folic acid levels.
Your eye problems remind me of what I went through.  I suggest you try some over the counter natural tears to see if that helps (ask your pharmacist for a recommendation) but if that does not help or you find yourself using them too frequently, get back to the eye doc for prescription strength help.
Leucovorin is by prescription only.  Your doctor will have to give you a script but they seem to hold back on writing a script for it unless you are really suffering from side effects.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing!  

[pietiangel]

Thanks tx! I did buy some over the counter eye drops and it made my eyes worse. I woke up with horribly red irritated eyes and the drops had blurred my vision. I will try a different kind and see if that helps, the one I bought (visine-dry eyes) might have had chemicals in it that irritated my eyes more. I received a rx for vicodin 5 mg yesterday and when I took it last night it made me wide awake and tight in the chest. I thought it would help me sleep, but it did the opposite. I am at work now on 3 hours of sleep and can barely function. I can barely function at work anymore and seem to be slacking at my work performance. I am too young for disability and don't know how much longer I can stand working like this. Thanks for all of your support and kindness. I wish you well. Have a good day!

[txsilver]

It does get better.  I completely relate to how tired you are, how hard it is to work and function and to having drugs affect you the opposite of how you think they will.  
About your eyes, I used Genteal Lubricant Eye Drops.  When they stopped working, I saw the eye doc and got some steroid drops and restasis.
Try to hang in there.  If you are having lots of nights without sleep consider asking the doc for something.  I use ambien only when I I get way off track but I have shift work sleep disorder (I work in IT) on top of all this other fun stuff so my sleep patterns can get wildly out of whack.