Re: Is it the effects of age or RA?

[Guest guest]

I'm 75 and I have had RA for about 20 months. I have no doubt that my pain, fatigue, weakness, and slowing down is primarily due to RA. I can get over it pretty well by taking Prednisone and that does nothing for the aging process but it does help with inflammation. I try to stay off Prednisone when I can function reasonably well but I go back on Prednisone when needed. I would prefer for my DMARDs to work so I don't ever need Prednisone again. You might ask about a short-term jolt of Prednisone (a Pred Pack) to distinguish between RA problems and aging. Good luck and God bless.

Harold Van Tuyl (Grandpavan1927)

----- Original Message -----

From: Jan Dean

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 4:58 PM

Subject: Is it the effects of age or RA?

Does anyone older on this list wonder if they tire easily because of the RAor because of natural aging and slowing down? I'm 63, have had RA for 15+years and some days I can't decide if it's my age or the RA that is tiringme. I mention this because I'm sometimes concerned I'll give myrheumatologist the wrong impression about my fatigue and I'll end up takingmore meds than I need. Am I worrying about nothing?Jan

[Guest guest]

>Does anyone older on this list wonder if they tire easily because of the RA<BR>

>or because of natural aging and slowing down? I'm 63, have had RA for 15+<BR>

>years and some days I can't decide if it's my age or the RA that is tiring<BR>

>me. I mention this because I'm sometimes concerned I'll give my<BR>

>rheumatologist the wrong impression about my fatigue and I'll end up taking<BR>

>more meds than I need. Am I worrying about nothing?<BR>

><BR>

>Jan <BR>

My mom (51) always wonders that with her Fibromyalgia, but I can assure you that

I feel the same thing when I wasn't taking my herbs and vitamins and I'm only

32. More meds is never a good thing, you should always try a natural alternative

first and use the new meds as a last resort.

--

Kara Hoover

Check out my website! Sign the guest book and get a free sample!

http://diamond.myarbonne.com

diamond@...

--

[Guest guest]

You're right, Harold. I wasn't taking into consideration how much better I

feel when I take Prednisone which, as you say, has nothing to do with

alleviating the problems of aging. And besides, I'm much too young to be

experiencing " aging " .

Jan

>I'm 75 and I have had RA for about 20 months. I have no doubt that my

>pain, fatigue, weakness, and slowing down is primarily due to RA. I can

>get over it pretty well by taking Prednisone and that does nothing for the

>aging process but it does help with inflammation. I try to stay off

>Prednisone when I can function reasonably well but I go back on Prednisone

>when needed. I would prefer for my DMARDs to work so I don't ever need

>Prednisone again. You might ask about a short-term jolt of Prednisone (a

>Pred Pack) to distinguish between RA problems and aging. Good luck and

>God bless.

>

>Harold Van Tuyl (Grandpavan1927)

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Jan Dean

> Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 4:58 PM

> Subject: Is it the effects of age or RA?

>

>

> Does anyone older on this list wonder if they tire easily because of the

>RA

> or because of natural aging and slowing down? I'm 63, have had RA for

15+

> years and some days I can't decide if it's my age or the RA that is

>tiring

> me. I mention this because I'm sometimes concerned I'll give my

> rheumatologist the wrong impression about my fatigue and I'll end up

>taking

> more meds than I need. Am I worrying about nothing?

>

> Jan

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm exhausted all the time but I'm 28 years old and have had RA for

9 years. It's a tough call to determine what is causing fatigue -

age, quality/quantity of sleep, flare-ups, medication, activity

level, stress, etc...

I basically always blame my RA :-) for my fatigue.

One other thing I want to mention and see if this is something you

can relate to. I have not been sleeping well (due to my husband

being deployed). I sleep 4 or 5 hours a night and it's not good

quality sleep. But, when I wake up, I don't feel so stiff. I am not

in as much morning pain as I used to be. Although I'm tired, I like

not hurting so much. It's a trade off, more sleep = more stiffness.

Less sleep = less stiffness but also = extreme fatique. Anyone want

to comment on how lack of sleep effects you.

-

> You're right, Harold. I wasn't taking into consideration how much

better I

> feel when I take Prednisone which, as you say, has nothing to do

with

> alleviating the problems of aging. And besides, I'm much too young

to be

> experiencing " aging " .

>

> Jan

>

> >I'm 75 and I have had RA for about 20 months. I have no doubt

that my

> >pain, fatigue, weakness, and slowing down is primarily due to

RA. I can

> >get over it pretty well by taking Prednisone and that does

nothing for the

> >aging process but it does help with inflammation. I try to stay

off

> >Prednisone when I can function reasonably well but I go back on

Prednisone

> >when needed. I would prefer for my DMARDs to work so I don't

ever need

> >Prednisone again. You might ask about a short-term jolt of

Prednisone (a

> >Pred Pack) to distinguish between RA problems and aging. Good

luck and

> >God bless.

> >

> >Harold Van Tuyl (Grandpavan1927)

> > ----- Original Message -----

> > From: Jan Dean

> > Rheumatoid Arthritis

> > Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 4:58 PM

> > Subject: Is it the effects of age or RA?

> >

> >

> > Does anyone older on this list wonder if they tire easily

because of the

> >RA

> > or because of natural aging and slowing down? I'm 63, have had

RA for

> 15+

> > years and some days I can't decide if it's my age or the RA

that is

> >tiring

> > me. I mention this because I'm sometimes concerned I'll give my

> > rheumatologist the wrong impression about my fatigue and I'll

end up

> >taking

> > more meds than I need. Am I worrying about nothing?

> >

> > Jan

> >

> >

> >

> >