Methotrexate Side Effects

I am just over 72hrs past my first methotrexate injection.  I have definitely noticed the side effects, but so far they have not been as bad as I thought.

Over the first 24hrs I felt nauseous and had a very dry mouth despite drinking lots – apparently this is very normal.  My bleeding also stopped – not what I was expecting.  Since those first 24 hrs, the nausea has continued 😦  I have spotted on and off (no more need for a pad, just a thin panty liner).  I have been super tired, but have been sleeping deeply – a silver lining I guess.  Last night I had weird pin-point pupils, Chris noticed them and so I looked in the mirror and absolutely freaked out.  With a quick google, it looks like it could be the painkillers that did that, so I am not keen on taking those anymore!  Pain has been bearable with pain killers – acetaminophen extra strong (NSAIDs like Ibuprofren are not good with the methotrexate), but the pain has been different to when I first started miscarrying where it felt like the worst period cramps, the pain I am experiencing now is short sharp bursts around my ovaries, but not constant.  Each time I get a short sharp burst of pain I hold my breathe (not literally) as I hope there is nothing crazy going on down there with a burst tube.

Apparently with methotrexate, the deed starts to kick in after 72 hrs, so I am hoping that tomorrow morning my hCG levels have begun to drop.

Emotionally, I have only broken down in tears three times – an average of once per day I believe is not bad going.  The things that upset the most is thinking about how for particular very short moments I actually believed this was a viable pregnancy and talked about the ‘may be’ and ‘what ifs’.  It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking like that.  Having said all that, I don’t think those thoughts are going to go away anytime soon.  So we have been focusing on our road trip out West, it helps a lot to re-focus the mind.  I think I am ready to go back to work tomorrow – I hope so, I’ve got a meeting in Stockholm to prepare for!  (that is if my doctor lets me fly :-s )

PS.  I have got to the point that I am not sure what category to post this under – ectopic pregnancy, suspected ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, part of IVF vol I???? I just hate not knowing if this was actually ectopic or not, they had no visible proof of where the pregnancy was and it frustrates the hell out of me – I think I will put it under feelings for now and figure it out later.  I wonder what the doctors call this?

10 thoughts on “Methotrexate Side Effects

  1. My Perfect Breakdown says:

    Even though knowing wouldn’t change the outcome you are experiencing right now, it would also drive me crazy to not know. I’m so sorry you are going though this and I really hope you next HCG test finally starts to show a drop and you don’t have much more pain.

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  2. libraryowl33 says:

    I can’t imagine not knowing. That would just be so… hard. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this, but I’m glad your pain levels have been bearable. I’d say if you’re only crying once a day you are doing better than expected. *hugs*

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  3. heatherhopeful says:

    I am just getting caught up–so sorry to hear about all of this. It’s crazy that even with advances in modern medicine there’s still no clear cut answer. You’ve been through so much already, and I’m sure your ready to be done. Sending you virtual hugs.

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