High dose methotrexate

Hi Uhtred and welcome to this little corner of the Mac Community. I see you joined a few months back so I hope you have found the group a help for you.

My type of NHL and indeed my treatment journey was rather different (see my profile) and I did not require Methotrexate as my plan required going onto Stem Cell Transplant.

There have been lots of others walk the same path as you so let’s see if anyone is around to help you out.

Good talking with you.

Hi Mike, 

I have found the community very useful and informative. I have also appreciated your positive and supportive role. I have attempted a thorough research prior to asking this question along with reading other peoples profiles. 

Thank you for replying to my request. 

Iain - Uhtred

Iain, did you truly putting Methotrexate into the search tool and have a look at the posts.

Hi Mike, I did carry out research on this and there was a hint in one post that Methotrexate affects your bodily functions more than RCHOP. In another request for info the replies focussed on one of the questions rather than the effect of methotrexate. I will research it again but if you have found an experience please could you send me the link. 

Thank you. 

Good morning Iain, you may want to hit the ‘reply’ tab on these threads and post some questions as some do stick around and answer where they have first hand experience.

I will have a look round and see if I can find some more info for you.

I'm being admitted to hospital tomorrow for high dose methotrexate, so I will report back.  I previously had a nasty reaction to intrathecal methotrexate, so I'm not sure that my experience will be typical.

The side effects from my last couple of cycles of R-CHOP definitely lasted longer than the ones from previous cycles, so your experience isn't unusual.

Apart from it taking 9 attempts for the infusion nurses to place the first cannula yesterday, it's been uneventful so far.

They've been pumping me full of fluids and bicarb overnight and will start the methotrexate in a couple of hours.

Hi Lolie, 

Gosh! 9 attempts seems a lot compared to some of my blood test attempts by a doctor. 

I hope it goes well! Will be thinking of you!

Best wishes

Iain (Uhtred)

Unfortunately a cannula for chemo has to stand up to a whole lot more then a surface vein being used for a quick blood draw and it can take previously used veins a long time to recover.

The doctor placed a new cannula yesterday.  He got it in two attempts but it only lasted an hour.  They got an infusion nurse to place one yesterday afternoon. That took five tries but seems good for now.  Hopefully it will hold until at least tomorrow.

No problems from the methotrexate itself apart from a little nausea and loose stools.  I can feel mucositis starting but I have mouthwash and antibiotics for that so hopefully it won't get bad.

Home at last.

I have fairly bad mucositis and my arms are badly bruised.

Tedious is probably the best way to describe the experience.  You're loaded up with fluids constantly and every pee has to be measured and PH tested.  I was peeing 30 times a day at least.

I retained fluid so I was put on dieuretics, which meant I also had to be given potassium.  You're always being given something.

My first blood level was 5600, the next day was 112, and today was 30.  My registrar said he's never seen someone clear methotrexate so fast before so it sounds like 5-6 days is a more typical hospitalisation.

Apart from the period of the methotrexate infusion, I was able to leave the ward.  I would have gone nuts if I wasn't.  I didn't feel sick enough to sleep or even rest during the day.

I'm very glad I only have to do it once more.  It was mentally more challenging than chemo.