Hi all,
I haven’t been on here in a long time, I guess I have been in denial hoping I don’t really have PsA and have been avoiding anything PsA related. Up until about December 2013 I had been having a horrible time getting my meds under control - often ending up at the doctors surgery finally giving up after hours of uncontrollable vomitting after taking my Mtx. I took a 3 week holiday over Christmas and just enjoyed life and relaxed and it was the best thing I did! I didn’t go anywhere, we stayed home but it was what I needed! I returned to work full time again for 2014 with a new found energy and feeling much more normal! Slowly over the last couple of weeks back at work my joints are starting to play up again. Not too severe this time but just enough to burst my bubble. Last Sunday I ended up violently ill after taking my weekly Mtx pills on sat night. I slept for about 16hrs on the sat night and then woke up feeling like New Year’s Day except I hadn’t had any of the fun! So incredibly naseous everything was spinning, my head felt so foggy and I couldn’t even stand up after from when having to rush to the bathroom due to severe bowel issues 
my partner had to wait on me all day and keep sponging me off with a face washer to cool me down as I was sweating profusely due to a heat wave here in Aussie. It was depressing - I just kept crying! I had to go home early from work the next day as I just couldn’t do it! I got better through the week and felt great yesterday. And now again today is hangover day - Sunday, my least favourite day I woke up with that sick tummy and feeling so faitgued and groggy… But I thought no, I will not do this again, I refuse to, so I go up straight into the shower and went out for the day running some errands with my partner. After having breakfast out together I Had to run to a public toilet, with those horrible bowels again so gross. I pushed on throughout the day today, having rests when needed and sipping on cold water but I really struggled. It was no where near as bad as last week, but the reminder of last week was too vivid. We walked to dog this afternoon, I insisted despite my partner suggesting I should rest instead. While walking the dog I broke down in tears and told my partner my fears of this PsA ruling my life and that I don’t want to take my Mtx anymore because it makes me feel worse. We had a long walk and talked the whole way. My partner was extremely reassuring and told me I can talk to him anytime and he wants me to ask him for help more often instead of insisting to do things myself. He supports my in trying to lead a normal life but he doesn’t want me to deny my limitations and what the PsA does to me. He says he will do anything it takes to get me to my best health possible. I am so so grateful to have such an amazing man!! I’m lucky in a lot of ways too 
There are alternatives to MTX, as this really sounds as though it isn't working for you. First off, they can switch you to injectable MTX, which apparently has fewer of these side effects. You can be switched to leflunomide. There are one of two other options as well. You could be moved on to biologics, etc. I'm wondering why the doctor is keeping you on MTX orally, when it's so clearly causing a lot of harm.
So glad to hear that you have so much support. Having good support can be really important, and between your partner and the dog, it sounds like you have it. Keep at it, and working on finding meds that help control the disease without controlling you.
Kelly, this is rotten. No good. Horrible. I’m sorry you have this on top of the pain of PsA. It sounds as if you’ve given MTX a fair trial, and it’s maybe time to reconsider. As Stoney says, the injectable MTX may work for you. Or perhaps it’s time for a complete change of approach. I think you need a good talk with your doc.
Let us know how it goes. Wishing you the best!
I am so glad you have a supportive partner, it makes so much difference in how we see ourselves. Talk to your doctor. There are lots of things to try: dropping the dose and increasing more slowly, increasing folic acid, med to ease the nausea until your body is more use to it or trying a different DMARD. Chin up, better days are coming. We are hear for you.
So sorry you are having to go through this. Your partner sounds like he is very supportive. That is wonderful. Hope things turn around for you quickly.
Thank you so much guys, you are all so lovely I have always considered myself to be a very strong person after losing my father when I was 20 and having my fiancé commit suicide 5 years ago - I kept studying full time and working at least 2 jobs at a time to pay my own way through uni as my mother is on a disability pension for schizophrenia and I have had to help support her since I was 14. So I have been there and seen it all and I am only 30 this June… As horrible as my past was, there were wonderful times and great memories also. I have grown to be very independent, confident with a huge amount of compassion for my patients and a heartfelt desire to help my patients. I wouldn’t be the person I am without having been through all this, and the PsA as awful as it is, gives me huge empathy for the elderly who have to accept they cannot be as independent as they would like. It’s a massive blow to my pride to accept that I need help to do simple things like carrying the groceries from the car, up the back steps and into the house. But, these are the cards we were dealt and all we can do is make the best of our situation. I am only on a very low dose of 7.5mg mtx and 2000 mg sulfasalazine daily as I cannot tolerate higher doses of mtx because when i got up to 15mg I got far too sick. My rheumatologist says I will need higher doses eventually but I had been going ok with my peripheral joints so we left it as it was… But she did say when I need to increase the Mtx she will change me to injections… I see her soon in a couple of weeks on the 13th march,So she might change me over then because my knee has been swelling a lot lately…I really feel as though the Mtx isn’t the drug for me but I have to give the injections a try because I might be able to tolerate those ok based on what I hear from others. I will let you all know what happens.
The good news is, my fingers feel much better, I can cross them now
Kelly, you are strong and resilient and empathetic. You’ve been through so much. May I reach out and give you a cyber-hug?
I know, and you know, that you will get through this and find the treatment that works for you. It will get better. Stay with us.