Re: Work, Fatigue, and limits-Smita

[Guest guest]

Smita, I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but am glad that it was caught

in the early stages and that you have a doctor that wants to get you started on

treatment. I do understand where you are coming from. I am 26 and was

diagnosed at 25 with RA and Lupus. I also have 2 young very active boys. I

started on the methotrexate about a month ago and I have to take it on Friday

because it does cause me to become even more fatigued at least for a couple

days. The plus side--I do believe it is starting to help as I have had my first

2 days of absolutely no swelling in my hands ( I do have damage to both my hands

and feet) in at least 6 months. The metho works for a lot of people. I am

still learning to deal with the fatigue as will you. Keep your hopes up and

feel free to vent anytime. Best wishes. Holly

basak_s <basak_s@...> wrote:

QUESTION: Is the fatigue RA related even being

on meds? Will methotrexate make me more tired than I already am?

Any advice would be very appreciated.

Thank you for reading,

Smita

> >

> > > Does everyone have

> > > overwhelming fatigue? I get up in the morning, take a shower,

> then

> > > lay back down. I get up, make the bed, and have to lay back

> down

> > > again. It seems like I have to rest sooo much, I am exhausted.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for much for your support and well wishes! What a great

group. I know I am not alone. I am just now realizing that this is

something that I have to deal with and the fact that there are

support groups out there shows that this is not to be taken

lightly. And that we indeed do need the support of friends and

family to see it through good and bad days.

I'm a neophyte in all this but I hope to be able to contribute to

this group as you all have done for me.

Thanks! Smita

PS. I'm reading First Year - Rheumatoid Arthritis by McNeil. A

good read on the basics and HUGE emphasis on how to make time for

yourself, enlist the help of others, re-focus your energy on things

that matter and remain optimistic on life choices. Very eye opening

for me esp with 2 small kids.

--- In , Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Smita:

>

> Welcome to the group - this is a great place for

> information, as well for sharing with caring and

> supportive people. We truly know and understand what

> you are going through.

>

> Yes, the RA itself does have a fatigue component, and

> it can get very bad, especially when you are in a

> flare, or exacerbation of symptoms. I was on

> Plaquenil for 2-1/2 years when I was first diagnosed 8

> years ago, and did really well with it, but it

> gradually began to not work, and I was switched other

> meds, and finally to Mtx. I have been on Mtx now for

> about 4-5 years, and it has helped. Yes, it could

> increase your fatigue, but usually for me that only

> happens in the first day or so after my Mtx dose, then

> I am just back to the " usual " fatigue.

>

> It must be very hard to take care of young children,

> and deal with RA. My kids were 14 and 11 when I was

> diagnosed, so pretty much able to take care of

> themselves if need be when I was in more pain. My

> husband is also very supportive, but it did take some

> reading of information on RA (I emailed him as it was

> easier than just talking and talking to him - his eyes

> would glaze over lol) for him to really get it.

>

> The first few months/years are absolutely the most

> important time to really get started on aggressive RA

> treatment, so yeah! to your doctor for doing so. My

> grandma had RA and back then they would wait for her

> to be in pain, then give her medication, and then stop

> when she felt better, and she was quite crippled by

> it. But the chances of this sort of thing happening

> to me, I hope, are made much less by the fact that my

> doctors have always treated aggressively.

>

> Just remember also, with the Mtx to take Folic Acid,

> very important, and get blood work every 8 weeks to

> check for any increase in liver enzymes. This has

> never happened in my years on Mtx. Also, I take

> additionally another supplment called Milk Thistle

> which further protects the liver.

>

> Anyway, hope this helps - there is life after RA, with

> the right medications and treatment. Hang in there -

>

> Kathe in CA

>

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I have not read that book, but maybe I should. :-) Thanks!

I know the way my illnes came on so hard and fast, I was ugly about the whole

mess. and becuz I had been so very physically active, it was such a smack in

the face for me. I took it personal.

ANd yes, my youngest child was 5 when mine hit, I know lots of peoples kids are

younger than that...but I worried so hard how I would be an effective parent as

sick as I was.

Turns out I was a much different parent as I adjusted to my new physical limits.

Not better maybe but not worse, really, either, just..different.

But I liked the new parent I became with it, and my older kids also seemed to

like the new parent I became, too. I am far more available to them....I am not

too busy on them. My whole familys lifes all changed by my illness. It changed

a lot, but not all for the bad, after all. Our house is not as clean and we do

not have as much money coming in, but we do different things now than we used

to, and I think it is all OK. It just took me awhile to " get it "

- In , " basak_s " <basak_s@...> wrote:

>

> Thanks for much for your support and well wishes! What a great

> group. I know I am not alone. I am just now realizing that this is

> something that I have to deal with and the fact that there are

> support groups out there shows that this is not to be taken

> lightly. And that we indeed do need the support of friends and

> family to see it through good and bad days.

>

> I'm a neophyte in all this but I hope to be able to contribute to

> this group as you all have done for me.

>

> Thanks! Smita

>

> PS. I'm reading First Year - Rheumatoid Arthritis by McNeil. A

> good read on the basics and HUGE emphasis on how to make time for

> yourself, enlist the help of others, re-focus your energy on things

> that matter and remain optimistic on life choices. Very eye opening

> for me esp with 2 small kids.

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi Smita:

> >

> > Welcome to the group - this is a great place for

> > information, as well for sharing with caring and

> > supportive people. We truly know and understand what

> > you are going through.

> >

> > Yes, the RA itself does have a fatigue component, and

> > it can get very bad, especially when you are in a

> > flare, or exacerbation of symptoms. I was on

> > Plaquenil for 2-1/2 years when I was first diagnosed 8

> > years ago, and did really well with it, but it

> > gradually began to not work, and I was switched other

> > meds, and finally to Mtx. I have been on Mtx now for

> > about 4-5 years, and it has helped. Yes, it could

> > increase your fatigue, but usually for me that only

> > happens in the first day or so after my Mtx dose, then

> > I am just back to the " usual " fatigue.

> >

> > It must be very hard to take care of young children,

> > and deal with RA. My kids were 14 and 11 when I was

> > diagnosed, so pretty much able to take care of

> > themselves if need be when I was in more pain. My

> > husband is also very supportive, but it did take some

> > reading of information on RA (I emailed him as it was

> > easier than just talking and talking to him - his eyes

> > would glaze over lol) for him to really get it.

> >

> > The first few months/years are absolutely the most

> > important time to really get started on aggressive RA

> > treatment, so yeah! to your doctor for doing so. My

> > grandma had RA and back then they would wait for her

> > to be in pain, then give her medication, and then stop

> > when she felt better, and she was quite crippled by

> > it. But the chances of this sort of thing happening

> > to me, I hope, are made much less by the fact that my

> > doctors have always treated aggressively.

> >

> > Just remember also, with the Mtx to take Folic Acid,

> > very important, and get blood work every 8 weeks to

> > check for any increase in liver enzymes. This has

> > never happened in my years on Mtx. Also, I take

> > additionally another supplment called Milk Thistle

> > which further protects the liver.

> >

> > Anyway, hope this helps - there is life after RA, with

> > the right medications and treatment. Hang in there -

> >

> > Kathe in CA

> >

> > > >

> > > >