Is it typical to feel this way with RA, or is this in my head? :)

April 8, 2008

I sure am glad I found this board...I think I have needed this! It

looks like there is some wonderful support here. I hope it is alright

if I throw in a question... I've wondered about this for awhile and

wondered if I am normal, or what...

I was diagnosed with RA nearly 2 years ago by my general

practitioner. My blood work and symptoms screamed RA. At this time I

was so sick, and my legs so bad I could not walk at the time. After 2

weeks I could walk again, but I was still sick for many months. My

hands were so weak and painful I could do nothing with them. I could

not drive. Then I think I went into remission for several months. I

finally got into a Rhumatologist, who said, " No, you don't have RA.

Maybe it is tendonitis " . I was confused because all my blood work and

symptoms pointed to it, I did research on the internet, but I was

feeling okay, though my hands always ached and were stiff. I let it

go. Until I started not feeling well again. I went back to my doctor,

who did blood work again. We went on vacation, it was summertime

again, and I had a horrible flair where I could not walk for two

weeks again. I called the doctor, who told me my blood work all came

out positive for RA. This time she sent me to another Rhumatologist

who told me yes I had RA, and I had had it for several years.

So now I am on mtx injection 1x a week, hydroxychloriquin, and

Sulfasalzine, along with folic acid and calcium. I don't have such

sever flairs anymore, though I still have constant pain in my heels

and stabbing pain now in my ankles. But I can walk. Though, when

first standing it is hard to do if I have been sitting...that's

normal for all of us, isn't it? And only occasionally I can't drive.

(I have a teenage son who teases me about it... he can really make me

smile during the hard times. He is also the first to say, " don't

worry mom..I'll take care of it.) My hands are still always stiff, I

occasionally drop things. But things are much better now. I figure I

probably only have this mildly. So,

Why do I still feel mental and sometimes physical fatigue? I don't

feel like I can do the things I used to be able to do. Do any of you

ever feel this way... just tired? Isn't the physical fatigue supposed

to go away after awhile? I just feel...mentally drained. Is this

normal?

Thanks for any input...!

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