Methotrexate risks versus inflammation risks

I have nothing to contribute but am following. I have similar circumstances so want more info on this particular choice of drug (edited). Following. Thank you for the post. Hope you find relief soon!

I spoke to a fabulous NHS pharmacist this morning who had been told to put me on MTX, and asked her this question. She couldn't answer it but she did agree that it seemed unwise to take methotrexate when I'm symptom free. So she has referred me back to the Rheumatologist for ultrasound investigation of whether i do or don't have active inflammation going on in my joints and so I can ask the question of a Rheumatologist. That'll probably take 2 months to happen, which will give the supplements more time to work. I've bought the test kit already to take another blood sample to get a third CRP reading which will tell me if the CRP is going up, down, or stable. Up, I'll take MTX, down I'll stick with the supplements, level, I'll do what the Rheumatologist tells me to do.

Apparently there are 1 million people in the UK on methotrexate but there's no doubt it's a nasty drug. Taking it for cancer to save your life is one thing. Having blood tests every 3 months for the rest of your life to take it when you don't have any symptoms, only blood markers, is quite another!

Good research in your self interest. The decision relates to the type of
vasculitis that has been diagnosed as some variants are more subtly aggressive
than others as far as your cardiovascular risks. What treatment are you using
for symptoms control with your RA?
With systemic inflammation our risk factors for atherosclerosis are increased.
My US cardiologist started me on statin for psoriatic arthritis with my CRP
being normal. There is some data suggesting biologics may mitigate that risk as well. Supplements that I found likely to help are vitamin D, turmeric,
melatonin and CoQ10. Consider Mediterranean diet.
Your pharmacist has appropriate suggestions to discuss with your rheumatologist.
I paid out of pocket to have an Interleukin- 6 level lab drawn which is
the major active inflammatory component of our CRP. After observing
my progress over time my rheumatologist is more concerned with symptoms
than repeating lab. Good to be well informed.

I'm running my own bloods through a local hospital, the NHS is trying to prescribe MTX on, in my opinion, too little data.

No rheumatologist will diagnose my vasculitis, I have no idea why. I suspect it's because they would have to refer me to a vascular expert and they don't want to. My GP said I had it on the basis of bruising, purple skin, white fingers, spontaneous blood spots under my skin, skin so thin I drew blood if I sctrached an itch, all over skin itching, extreme tiredness, tinnitus, collapsing dark blue veins across my wrist when raised above heart height. But one rheumatologist even said that my daily capillary nosebleeds weren't a symptom when even the NHS website says it is!

There is literally no-one here I can trust but myself. I'm completely symptom free right now, except for a slight tinnitus which is still reducing, taking MSM, liquorice root, curcumin and cats claw. All those have been tested as anti-inflammatory agents and are of proven effectiveness.

I've got really good heart function at the moment, we have a home ECG because of my husband's heart condition and I test with that. I'm certainly prepared to give the supplements longer to work to bring down the CRP before I go on MTX.

Thanks for your input.