Anyone else/symptoms help

Posted , 6 users are following.

I want to thank everyone for the awesome feedback I'm somewhat new to RA, I got diagnosed with RA during deployment in May of this year, they had to send me back 2 months early from deployment to be seen by a rheumatologist, we'll I basically wake up every day swollen in pain and very stiff! I really don't think I have any good days it's a everyday thing with me! Me and the rheumy are trying to find the right medicine that will work for me I have been on methotrexate for about 9 weeks now along with folic acid, prednisone, and celebrate. My question for you is I am extremely and I don't use that word lightly, FATIGUE! It's getting bad I literally have no energy or want to do anything! I try not to even sit down at work bc I will just end up falling asleep it feels like my body is exhausted and I haven't even started the day!! Is this normal? I go back to rheumy in 6 days I will be bringing this up to her

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Chris, I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 15 years and have always had fatigue, unfortunately I don't think they can do anything about this symptom, long term chronic disease and also the medication are the cause.

  • Posted

    Hi Chris, I was diagnosed with RA 8yrs ago and I think the tiredness has been the most difficult part for me to get to grips with. It's not like even a good nights sleep can help sometimes as this morning for instance I slept well but woke up feeling exhausted. I've been told that you should just rest when you need to but keep active as much as you can too. I'm still struggling to get that balance and I've retired now. I don't know how people cope holding down a job. Fortunately when I was working it was from home so I could rest whenever I wanted to but it was still hard at times. Often in the day if I sit down for a rest I end up falling asleep...it's not a pattern I want to get into but sometimes you just have to take note of what your body is telling you. I haven't been so good at taking my own advice but I'm learning to be sensible and to try and do the right things. A lot of people don't really understand the sort of extreme tiredness we get and it's hard sometimes not to feel a bit wimpy because of it especially when you were probably used to being able to do so much more. In time though with medication , rest/keeping active and the right help and support you will get to grips with it all.

  • Posted

    Hi Chris

    I have had RA for nearly three years. The first year was great. I was on methotrexate and felt normal. But unfortunately I had bad side effects and they kept stopping it. Now I am on Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine which are not working on me. Yes I am really tired as everything I do is quite painful. Will go onto biologicals. Hopefully will feel better. But you may need to space yourself out a bit

    Good luck

  • Posted

    Hi Chris, I can sympathise with extreme fatigue. I've had ra for 7 years and feel it hasn't been under proper control for most of this time. I've been on mtx, sulfasalazine and leflunomide periods of prednisone along with high dose anti inflammatory and different doses of dihydracodeine but for me the most difficult symptom at times has been the extreme fatigue. I get bouts of it and when it hits it's like a stream train, I can sleep 12 hrs a night and wake up feeling exhausted then struggle through the day cat napping when I can. Trying to hold down a job and seeing to my kids can be very challenging but always get there in the end. I sleep when I can and rest when I need to. I'm on cimzia now and so far it's helped the pain fatigue and stiffness though it's taken 7 months of persevering to get to this point. You're def not alone and you'll have times that are worse than others. I wish you well and lots of rest. G.

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