Evening all.

I don't usually post on forums (except for one to discuss how awful my football team are) but having looked at various forums the past few months I thought it was time to start talking to people and getting / sharing advice as no one else I know has crohn's. Plus I could really do with some help understanding methotrexate

I got diagnosed with crohn's about 3 years ago. To this day I still beleive I contracted crohn's with the stress I went through when me and my wife lost our first baby (stillborn at 28 weeks). Some doctors I have spoken to since have said they beleive stress can cause crohn's, while others say it's nonsense.

I have managed to keep my crohn's farily under control over the last few years, although 2 years ago it got pretty bad and I was put on steroids for a few months. Had a big flare up in August this year and went back on the steriods (the only other medication I have constantly been on is Pentasa).

My doctor recommended Methotrexate and to be honest after reading about it I pretty much told him to get lost (plus I saw a vast improvement after taking the steroids again). After a colonsocopy a couple of weeks ago we saw that nothing much had changed (which I was pleased about) although he still recommened I try methotrexate (although now I will take the tablet rather than the injection as my condition since August has got considerably better). So I have taken his advice and will start them on Friday.

So if anyone is still reading my drivel now comes really what I am after.

The Methotrexate is on my kitchen worktop along with the folic acid i'll take the day after. I have read and read and read about Methotrextae and am s**tting myself on a number of levels.

My medication will start on a Friday (1 pill increasing to 6 on a weekly basis). I travel to London from Kent every day on the train and although my work are very understanding (been there 10 years) I don't know if they can handle me having every Friday off of work (understand it can prettyh much turn you into a zombie for the day). I now have 2 young boys (2 years and 9 months) and an amazing wife, how is this gonna effect them??? are my moods gonna change in anyway.

Can anyone offer any advice that may help me, things to avoid etc.

Sorry for rambling on, in the 3 years I have had this disease I have never spoken about it to anyone outside of my family or my boss, so no one really understands what we go through.

Thanks for reading

Scallywag

Welcome Scallywag , im really sorry cant help , ive not had the plesure of the methotrexmate myself, but you will feel better for talking to peep on here about all your problems and worries, thats what we r here for, let me know how u go on, Tc and have agreat new year xxxsuexxx

hey scallywag, welcome to the site mate, its a great sauce of info and support, ive had crohns for 6 years now mate, and unfortunatly the doctors have tried pretty much every thing and my disease has just smiled and kept on coming (the only thing left for me is more surgery or a treatment still in its test phases), and yea ive had the methortrexate, although i didnt have tablet form, i had the weekly injections so i dont know if there different, as far as mood swings go, i didnt suffer with them , and also as far as being zombified i didnt suffer with that either, i'd go to hospital , have my injection then get straight in the car an be fine to drive right through the rest of the week, the only thing i will say is that i did feel a little queesy and during the 12 weeks i was on it i was sick twice, but i suppose that was my own fault as im crap at taking tablets an actually forgot on a few occasions to take the folic acid, if i was you i'd take the drug an see how you get on , your work sound quite supportive, if they do have a problem then go on the nacc website , there you can find fact sheets to download and print and hand out to inform people of what we need and how we feel, they have one for near enough every eventuallity.
hope ive been of help, take it easy fella.

Hi
By now you will have started your medication (Methotrexate). Hope all is well.
I have been on this medication 25mg for approx 8 months. My experience started with the injections weekly and am now on the tablet form. I was told it may take between 8 to 12 weeks for any changes in my condition but it took a lot longer. Apart from a few aches and pains (withdrawal from Prednisolone) I have stableised. I did not notice any side affects and had regular blood tests, weekly for 8 weeks then bi weekly and now monthly. Plan is to get me off steroids and maintain remission with methotrexate and hopefully also reduce that to 15mgs. I know we are all different and hope methotrexate works for you. Ensure you do have the bloods checked frequently and ask questions of levels if they drop. Any other questions then please ask. Good luck
Smurf

Hi I'm also taking Methotrexate 25mg and have been for about six months.  My consultant told me Methotrxate on a Monday, and the Folic on a Friday, lol.  Anyway, I've suffered no side effects.   Most annoying thing is having to pop 10 of the little beggers from the foil!.  Hope it makes a difference.

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Crohns after thinking I had IBS for many years.  After all the tests possible (cameras in all directions) and two courses of steriods in six months I am now about to start on Methotrexate tablets.  Have read quite a bit about them and quite frankly am not happy taking  them.  Is it all bad ?   Still on the Prednisolone which I have been reducing but as I have reduced them the problems start to reoccur.  I was in hospital in November with a bowel obstruction so have also been on a low residue diet until a couple of weeks ago and now have low fibre.  Would welcome any comments and or advice.