First dose of Methotrexate

Trevor started the Methotrexate last night.  I was so scared to give him the medication.  I didn't want to scare him but in the same sense I wanted him to come get me if he got sick or felt funny during the night.  He only woke up one time and said he felt "dizzy" but went right back to sleep.  When he got up this morning he seems tired but is doing fine. So far so good, but I realize we are only on the first dose. He wants to play in his last basketball game today.  The doctor told him he was okay to play so off we go...

Trevor at Shands on February 20, 2012

His 1st visit of many...He's such a Gator fan!!

Trevor's Travel begins

We love to travel and the thrill of adventure however, this is one adventure we were not prepared for or even wanted to take. Trevor was an active 11 year old boy.  He played football, basketball, ran, etc.  He was ALWAYS moving.  During the summer of 2011 we noticed he started to limp and complain that his leg hurt.  We told him for probably 2 months that it was just growing pains.  His dad had really bad growing pains so what else could it be?  One day when family was over (a couple in the medical field) they said they noticed Trevor's knees looked swollen.  (Side note: You know as a mother when they are younger, you bathe them, and "look them over" to be sure everything looks normal.  Once they get older, you don't "check them over" as much unless they complain about something.)  After that day, we made an appointment for Trevor with his pediatrician, Dr. Eanett (he has been his doctor since he was born).  The doctor did many tests, put him on Aleve, and followed Trevor for at least four months.  He said sometimes children can get a virus that causes these type of symptoms.  He was very optimistic that it would eventually go away.  After over 4 months, he finally made the referral to a pediatric rheumatologist.  He said he believed he had Enthesitis-related Juvenile Arthritis (ERA).   More blood work was done and it was found, Trevor carries a gene (HLA-B27).  This gene is common in children with ERA.  Two months later, February 20, 2012, we were at Shands.  Trevor saw Dr. Sukumaran.  He made the diagnosis of ERA and prescribed a higher dose of Naproxen (375 mg, 2 times a day) and Omeprazole 20 mg (1 time a day), Methotrexate (2.5 mg, 10 pills on Friday night) and Leucovorin Calcium (5 mg, taken Saturday night after the Methotrexate).  He wanted Trevor to have an eye exam (which is scheduled for April 6, 2012) with Dr. Williams-Wallace in Brandon.  And so Trevor's Travels begin...