TLDR: Newly diagnosed, prescribed 0.3ml injection. Take it in morning before work or wait until I get home? If you feel sick from this medicine, when do you start to feel the effects?

I either have RA or ankolising spondylitis. Rheum is leaning more towards the latter, because the bloodwork was pretty unremarkable, and X-rays show I have inflammation markers in all of the joints in my fingers, and supposedly RA usually spares the distal joints. However, my mother has RA so who knows. All I know is that my hands, elbows, and knees hurt, and I am scared.

Anyway, she prescribed me Methotrexate because it can treat both. She gave me the injectable version, because I already take immodium regularly (sometimes daily) because of long-term gastrointestinal issues and this way it bypasses my GI system.

I'm starting on a very low dose of 0.3ml, once a week. They will increase that, if my blood work is normal after the first two weeks.

How long until you feel sick from it? Will it hit me 24 hours later? A few hours later? How long does it last?

I had kind of wanted to start it earlier on Friday, only because I really need my weekends. I can't lose time right now. But I also can't leave work early if I get sick. Plus it will be embarrassing. I am a nanny and there is no privacy.

I also read that you are not supposed to take folic acid on the same day you take methotrexate, which nobody told me at the doctor's office. Is that true?

Finally, anyone have any tips on doing an injection? I've watched my father and sister treat their diabetes, but I am a first-timer!