Switching to injectable MTX/rosacea/Crestor

[luvwinnie]

Saw rheum today. He gave me a script for INJECTABLE methotrexate, said it should work better for my shoulder pain...almost jumped off table when he twisted my arm up.

Although my face is barely pink today (figures) he said it sounds like I have MILD rosacea and to not do anything for it unless it worsens...said A LOT of connective tissue disease and psoriasis patients have it.

AND, if my chol is still up this week he wants me on CRESTOR which HE ALSO TAKES. He said that people with inflamm. arth. and autoimmune disease have the same heart attack/stroke risk as people with DIABETES. I knew it was higher, but not that high! He said it's also decreased his migraines. That would be a nice side effect.

[luvwinnie]

anyone else on Crestor?

[grannyfranny]

I got rosacea back in Feb,,,I think. My doc prescribed Protopic and I only used it for a few days. There are things that trigger it. I found that yogurt was mine. I have not been bothered anymore. Maybe you can find what trigged yours.
http://www.rosacea.org/

[MikeK]

There are things that trigger it. I found that yogurt was mine. I have not been bothered anymore. Maybe you can find what trigged yours.That's very interesting. Isn't amazing how different things affect different people? (I.E., Peggy (PTener) and Bonnie (bonnie25) have both posted (click here (http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18581&highlight=Chamomile)) that they're allergic to chamomile.) Every time that I read something like this, I scratch my head and say: "Wow! No wonder why these are such hard diseases to treat."

Mike

[grannyfranny]

Mike, it takes dedication and a lot or trials and errors to find some of these things. I decided to give up all dairy products as a test. I now use Rice and Almond milk. I did have an allergy test for 16 most likely foods. Even though dairy did not show up, I feel much better after stopping the milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. My allergies tend to be chemicals and pollen.
Since I can't take any p meds, I have nothing to lose,,,well,,,weight, :) after being ao inactive.

The difference for me is amazing. Rosacea,,,gone,,,6 lbs,,,gone,,,,digestive problems,,,gone,,,no new pustular places since back in the beginning of February. I am starting to take over the cooking again,,,,,DH is good but is getting tired of doing most of it. He still helps.

I just hope this last,,,,,,I have had a very bad 7 years.

[jdgarwood]

it.

AND, if my chol is still up this week he wants me on CRESTOR which HE ALSO TAKES. He said that people with inflamm. arth. and autoimmune disease have the same heart attack/stroke risk as people with DIABETES. I knew it was higher, but not that high!


I'm not on Crestor, but I've been on Lipitor since I was 34(I'm 46). I had 2 heart attacks when I was 34 and ended up having angioplasty. I never knew that there was a relationship between my heart condition and my P & PA. Interesting.

Joel

[tmartha]

I've had rosacea off and on - whenever it comes, I get good results with either metrogel and emgel. But keep using it 'til you're all clear! Haven't had it now for over 5 years - I think not eating dairy or tomatoes has definitely helped - my face always acts up if I eat a lot of each.

What? Crestor? What? More risk of heart attack and stroke? I'm really sorry to hear of your experiences, Joel. I'm getting a follow up on some chest pain I've been having for a few weeks, a particularly insistent episode sent me to the ER last week. Doc gave me no info other than the tests they did were fine and see my regular doc. Discharge nurse said not to worry about my heart..."you're young, you're healthy, you don't have the risk factors..." !!! And if anyone else suggests indigestion again I'll....button my lip and give them an icy stare. :) Doc on Friday, cooling my jets 'til then.

thanks for sharing -
Tani

[MikeK]

Hi Michele,

I wish I had read today's (3/14/2006) Wall Street Journal this afternoon, instead of this evening. There was a very interesting article about using cholesterol meds can prevent heart disease. (I can't post a link, because the online edition of the Wall Street Journal is available by subscription only.) Unfortunately, none of these meds are not without side effects.

(Which is why I'm resisting my internists efforts to put me on Lipitor. My internist is concerned with my cholesterol level (it was 256) and my family history of heart disease. (My dad and his youngest sister have both had bypass operations; his oldest brother and a cousin both died young of massive heart attacks.) He also said something very interesting. He more or less confirmed what your rheumy said: "You have a lot of autoimmune issues going on and people with autoimmune issues have a higher risk of heart disease." That's certainly food for thought.

I have to go for more bloodwork soon.

Looks like I have to do a little more research.

Mike

[luvwinnie]

Mike, Genetics are working against me too. My mom had a triple bypass, dad has a stent, both had/have high chol and BP. My sister had chol of over 300 when she was just 28 and she was an AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR...but you know my dad keeps bringing home pastries from Hoboken!

[Mybadgenes]

Saw rheum today. He gave me a script for INJECTABLE methotrexate, said it should work better for my shoulder pain...almost jumped off table when he twisted my arm up.

Although my face is barely pink today (figures) he said it sounds like I have MILD rosacea and to not do anything for it unless it worsens...said A LOT of connective tissue disease and psoriasis patients have it.

AND, if my chol is still up this week he wants me on CRESTOR which HE ALSO TAKES. He said that people with inflamm. arth. and autoimmune disease have the same heart attack/stroke risk as people with DIABETES. I knew it was higher, but not that high! He said it's also decreased his migraines. That would be a nice side effect.

Being a diabetic with all of the risks I would take the Crestor or any of the statins my doctor would prescribe IF I COULD to protect my heart.

I tried Pravachol (along with my Methotrexate) and it took only three weeks and then blood work to show that my liver enzymes sky-rocketed. I am not saying it would happen to you and I am sure your doctor will monitor you but it is a possibility. Of course the Methotrexate keeps one of my liver enzymes up but I have that quality of life thing going with the psoriasis. Two biologics did not work for me but as they say we are all different.

I guess what I am saying is go with the Crestor if it agrees with you.

Good luck and let us know!

Juanita

[Noxide]

anyone else on Crestor?

Hi, I'm on crestor for high chol. Been on it for about a year or so...

[jdgarwood]

I'm really sorry to hear of your experiences, Joel. I'm getting a follow up on some chest pain I've been having for a few weeks, a particularly insistent episode sent me to the ER last week. Doc gave me no info other than the tests they did were fine and see my regular doc. Discharge nurse said not to worry about my heart..."you're young, you're healthy, you don't have the risk factors..." !!! And if anyone else suggests indigestion again I'll....button my lip and give them an icy stare. :) Doc on Friday, cooling my jets 'til then.

thanks for sharing -
Tani

Hi Tani,

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're too young to have heart problems. I passed 2 Stress Tests and a few weeks later had heart attack #1. There IS a family history of high chol. and heart disease, so my risk factors were there. If you suspect you have a problem, make sure your Doc does everything possible to rule out heart disease. Good luck!!

Joel

[JesseLou]

I have done a lot of searching on a connection between PA and heart disease, and have found only a reference to very rare instances of vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels.

I also talked with a cardiologist and both of my rheumatologists about this, and they all said that heart conditions are associated with RA, not PA.

Anyway, if anyone finds a source of information that is different, I'd really like to have it. Thanks.

[janelee]

I know that my C-reactibe protein was high when I was first diagnosed...My rheumy said not to worry about that....that is was normal for PA...but reading this below makes me wonder............
.
C-reactive protein is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is only present during episodes of acute inflammation. The most important role of CRP is its interaction with the complement system, which is one of the body's immunologic defense mechanisms.

While this is not a specific test, it does give a general indication of acute inflammation. Your health care provider might use this test to check for flare-ups of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or vasculitis. The test might also be useful to monitor response to therapy.


However, even in instances of inflammation in rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erthematosus, the CRP levels may not always be elevated. The reason for this is not known at this time. Thus, a low CRP level does not always mean that there is no inflammation present.
@@@@@@@@@@@
especially this paragraph.........
.
Recently, new studies have suggested that CRP may also be elevated in heart attacks. The role of CRP in coronary artery disease remains unclear. It is not known whether it is merely a marker of disease or whether it actually plays a role in causing atherosclerotic disease. Many consider elevated CRP to be a positive risk factor for coronary artery disease.

[tmartha]

Whether or not heart disease risk is greater with PA as with diabetes, it's worth looking into further.

And thanks for the firm reminder, Joel, I guess I needed it - this week I haven't had so many chest pains so at times I've been tempted to ignore it - that part of me that wants to be in denial of any illness. But I'm not going to be dumb - I'm getting checked, period.

And actually, I do have some risk factors, my mom had high cholesterol and mild heart attack in her 40's. I had totally forgotten this but my husband reminded me as he brought me to the ER. That particular nurse hadn't seen me at all except to bring in the discharge papers so was just speaking to soothe, I suspect. Why are there so many medical professionals who seem to make that job #1, rather than really investigating what's going on?

Enough venting - thanks for the info, all. You and your heart doing well, I hope, Joel? Anyway - thanks again.
Tani

[jdgarwood]

You and your heart doing well, I hope, Joel? Anyway - thanks again.
Tani

I went in for a heart cath. last year to see how everything looked. They told me that the only blockage I have is the same as it was (20%) after they did the angioplasty....that's a good thing...it was 85% blocked when I was 34. I "try" to eat right, and now that the Enbrel has kicked in, I'm back to exercising on a regular basis. Thanks for asking.

Joel

[KarenLD]

I'm on Crestor too. My doctor put me on it this week.

[tmartha]

I'm glad to hear of your healthy outcome, Joel - that's really great. They're scheduling me for a stress echocardiogram. (Could you tell how slowly I typed that word to get it right?!) If anything turns up I'll post.

[jdgarwood]

I'm glad to hear of your healthy outcome, Joel - that's really great. They're scheduling me for a stress echocardiogram. (Could you tell how slowly I typed that word to get it right?!) If anything turns up I'll post.


Good luck on the Stress-Echo. Please let me know how you do.

Joel

[Nasus]

I have high cholesterol right now also. Trying the diet thing to lower first. I also think I am getting rosecea. My face is redder than normal and my nose. Sometimes it feels like I am flushed or embarassed. There is nothing we can do for this really is there. No cure. Don't need to wear blush anymore, that's for sure? Any suggestions? Had PA diagnosed since August.

[grannyfranny]

I just had my first experience with rosacea and it was not real bad.
My doc prescribed Metro-gel which didn't do much. My derm was out of town but when I saw him, he prescribed Protopic. It worked great and I only used it a few days.
I think I found my trigger,,,yogurt. I have not had anymore problems.

Go to this site and read and maybe you can find what triggered yours.

http://www.rosacea.org/

[tmartha]

No cure for rosacea, but mine's been in remission for over 5 years, as in NO sign of it. Always, there's hope! My cousin also had great luck with identifying her triggers food-wise, is doing much better. Her nose actually swelled up with rosacea. 24 years old.

It always helped me to treat it earlier rather than later, so if it keeps up, luvwinnie - insist on meds for it. That's my 2 cents. :)

Tani