Re: fatigue colleen

[Guest guest]

Hi Colleen:

Wow, can I relate to this. I am totally fatigued, I

mean beyond tired, like all of my energy has been

zapped out of my body and I can barely move, almost

every day. When I do get a good day and I have

energy, then I usually overdo, and end up back in bed

the next day. That is what happened yesterday. I had

done so much with the animals, feeding and filling

waters, walking up and down 2 acres to do it, and then

did two loads of laundry, watered my husband's trees

(his hobby and joy), and then came in and cooked

dinner. Yesterday I could barely move and slept until

1 p.m. My kids came in twice to see if I was still

breathing lol!

Nobody understands this type of fatigue but those of

us who have it. After I got up yesterday, I was still

so tired, and bumping into walls, took 8 tries to dial

a phone number, forgot things, I mean complete fibro

fog, along with shakiness in my hands and leg pain. I

kind of stumbled through the day, taking care of as

much as I could, and was just wiped out by 9, and back

to bed.

Today is a bit better, but still the fatigue is there,

lurking in the background, ready to pounce at any

time.

I think the fatigue is just simply a part of the RA

disease process, and the fibro I have too, and is

always going to be there, meds or not. The meds we

take, however, like Mtx and Enbrel (I take those) also

cause more fatigue for me the day after my doseage.

Humidity and cold causes more pain and thus more

fatigue.

I have heard that some people take Provigil with some

success in fatigue relief, you might ask you doc about

that. But the only thing that seems to help me, is to

take a nap, and there are days when my body simply

walks me into my bedroom and forces me to lay down and

sleep - it's almost like I am on auto-pilot. I just

get up and go to bed! Even then, sleep does not

really touch the fatigue, just gives me a few more

hours of being able to do what I need to for my home

and family.

So, that's my fatigue story and I am sure you will be

hearing others! It's part of the dang disease, part

of what is going on internally in our bodies because

we have RA. I have no idea how to fight it. Maybe a

nice bowl of ice cream lol?

Take care -

Kathe in CA

--- cmcpherson <cmcpherson@...> wrote:

> Welcome to our group. Sorry you are here because of

> your RA, but please feel welcome with this group, we

> understand.

> I am very interested in your fatigue problems. I

> have been diagnosed with RA, Colligeous Colitis and

> Hypothyroid 3 years ago. Yes, I have stiffness every

> morning, sometimes I hurt in one joint or the other

> and sometimes I hurt everywhere. I'm on Humira

> injections and Methotrexate weekly for the RA. My

> LARGE concern is my fatigue!!. I had a job where I

> could come home during the day and take a nap for 2

> 1/2 hours. That really kept me going, I would come

> home at 7 pm, eat dinner, and basically go to bed to

> start over again the next morning at 6:30am. That

> worked until my schedule was changed and I had to

> work from 7:30am until 6:30pm + if necessary with a

> short break during the day. The homes in my area

> went so high in price (andria, VA) 3X's what I'd

> paid 14 years before that I decided to sell and move

> to an area where housing wasn't as expensive. I'm in

> Florence, SC, great place. Instead of a 3 level

> townhouse where I went up and down stairs daily, I

> have a ranch, brick home with 3 bedrooms. I truly

> love my house, but this fatigue is still really

> hurting me. I've always been outgoing, but I haven't

> really met anyone in the 3 months I've lived here.

> Fatigue and not caring is the reason. I have planned

> on going to many activity I see in the newspaper,

> but when it comes down to it, I stay at home. I

> don't feel lonely, but I know I need to make some

> friends and get out some. I know I need some help,

> not sure where to get it. I have been in unusual

> pain since last Thursday. My new RA took me off

> Methotrexate 6 weeks ago and I believe it has just

> caught up with me. I took the Methotrexate last

> night, though I know it will take a while to begin

> to work. I had actually hoped without the

> Methotrexate, my fatigue would improve, didn't

> happen. I also take an injection on Humira weekly

> and I don't believe that is causing the fatigue. I

> am afraid to stop that biological because of the

> damage RA will cause to your joints and the

> biologicals are suppose to really slow down that

> process. I had an Aunt that just died before last

> Christmas with RA. She had been unable to feed

> herself, go to the bathroom alone, dress herself,

> write anything, for the last 6 years. I don't want

> to go there. I can put up with the fatigue if that

> what it takes to not become like my Aunt Dot, but If

> this fatigue isn't really necessary and I could go

> back to school, volunteer or become an active member

> of society, I would be VERY interested in how I

> could do that. Any comments would be appreciated.

> Colleen

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