Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 My husband has asked me several times why I'm so tired with RA. Like most people we thought RA was about joint pain and swelling, but my worst symptom is fatigue - at least since I've been on medication. I just found this article naming the cause of my exhaustion besides being 55 & deconditioned it's apparently related to interleukin-1. WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE? from Healthtalk with Dr. Belza November 1, 2001 www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/interviews/belza/page02.cfm What Causes Fatigue? Amy:Thank you for being with us.... Usually with RA they think about pain and stiffness and swollen joints, but fatigue is one of the markers for RA, isn't that true? Dr. Belza:Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it a marker. I clearly would say that it's a symptom associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis being one of them. And when we survey patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ask them what their most problematic symptoms are, typically pain is the number one, but next to it or as equally impacting function is fatigue. People have told me in the past that with pain they frequently can just do things a different way, but with fatigue, they're not able to even mount an effort to do a certain activity. Amy:And what causes the fatigue? Dr. Belza:There's probably multiple causes of fatigue when we look specifically at rheumatoid arthritis as an inflammatory condition, and research on fatigue really has been increasing over the last ten years. I think earlier we really did just focus on pain which causes fatigue. People may be fatigued due to problems with quantity and quality of sleep. We focused on functional impairment. But now we're realizing what an impact fatigue and the lack of energy has on people's everyday functioning. So, in answer to your question then as far as what actually causes fatigue, more than likely there are multiple causes of fatigue. It's typically not just one cause. For someone with an inflammatory condition, clearly the inflammation itself can produce things such as interleukin-1, which probably can be linked to fatigue. So, the inflammatory process if left untreated can lead to fatigue. Frequently, people with rheumatoid arthritis are very deconditioned, and when you're deconditioned, you typically experience a lot of fatigue. It's also not unlikely that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may have a change in your mood, anywhere from just sadness to possibly being depressed, and depression we clearly know that there is a fatigue that can be associated with that. And then there's any number of other medical and psychological conditions that may contribute to fatigue that someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have but may not be treated. So, if for example you have problems with anemia, you have problems with thyroid, and if those go unchecked, they too can lead to fatigue. So, typically what we would like is that people with rheumatoid arthritis look at fatigue and its role in their life relative to perhaps multiple causes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I agree, the fatigue is my biggest gripe. I have been trying to work w/ my rheumy on what I can do. My labs are fine, no thyroid problems. I just did a sleep study and I don't have a sleep disorder. I need to see a psych to better manage my meds to see if that helps so I can prescribed provigil or a " stimulant " medication. I don't think my rheumy feels comfortable messing w/ the doses of my mental health medications. I am hoping that once my medications are " readjusted " , I can be prescribed provigil. I have tried everything...vitamins, caffine, excerise and I am still constantly fatigued. My husband understands, but my family doesn't get it. I have a good friend of mine who has lupus, so she understands. Having this web board has been a great support system for me so I wanted to tell you all THANKS for being there for me and understanding. LOVE YOU GUYS!!! > > My husband has asked me several times why I'm so tired with RA. Like > most people we thought RA was about joint pain and swelling, but my > worst symptom is fatigue - at least since I've been on medication. I > just found this article naming the cause of my exhaustion besides > being 55 & deconditioned it's apparently related to interleukin-1. > > WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE? > from Healthtalk with Dr. Belza > November 1, 2001 > www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/interviews/belza/page02.cfm > What Causes Fatigue? > > Amy:Thank you for being with us.... Usually with RA they think about > pain and stiffness and swollen joints, but fatigue is one of the > markers for RA, isn't that true? > > Dr. Belza:Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it a marker. I clearly > would say that it's a symptom associated with chronic inflammatory > diseases, rheumatoid arthritis being one of them. And when we survey > patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ask them what their most > problematic symptoms are, typically pain is the number one, but next > to it or as equally impacting function is fatigue. People have told me > in the past that with pain they frequently can just do things a > different way, but with fatigue, they're not able to even mount an > effort to do a certain activity. > > Amy:And what causes the fatigue? > > Dr. Belza:There's probably multiple causes of fatigue when we look > specifically at rheumatoid arthritis as an inflammatory condition, and > research on fatigue really has been increasing over the last ten > years. I think earlier we really did just focus on pain which causes > fatigue. People may be fatigued due to problems with quantity and > quality of sleep. We focused on functional impairment. But now we're > realizing what an impact fatigue and the lack of energy has on > people's everyday functioning. > > So, in answer to your question then as far as what actually causes > fatigue, more than likely there are multiple causes of fatigue. It's > typically not just one cause. For someone with an inflammatory > condition, clearly the inflammation itself can produce things such as > interleukin-1, which probably can be linked to fatigue. So, the > inflammatory process if left untreated can lead to fatigue. > > Frequently, people with rheumatoid arthritis are very deconditioned, > and when you're deconditioned, you typically experience a lot of > fatigue. It's also not unlikely that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, > you may have a change in your mood, anywhere from just sadness to > possibly being depressed, and depression we clearly know that there is > a fatigue that can be associated with that. > > And then there's any number of other medical and psychological > conditions that may contribute to fatigue that someone with rheumatoid > arthritis may have but may not be treated. So, if for example you have > problems with anemia, you have problems with thyroid, and if those go > unchecked, they too can lead to fatigue. So, typically what we would > like is that people with rheumatoid arthritis look at fatigue and its > role in their life relative to perhaps multiple causes.... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 I think you are so right with the rheumatologists not wanting to bother with adjusting psych meds. We knew I had an anxiety disorder but Medicaid wouldn't pay to let me see anyone. Medicare only pays 50% of psych visits so my bills are still pretty high. So for the longest time, 2 years, my anxiety disorder and panic disorder went untreated. The family doctor didn't want to do anything either and I couldn't see any psychs due to not having insurance coverage for it. My dad died a couple of years ago at the age of 55 2 weeks after being diagnosed with AML leukemia. It was a very stressful time. My rheumatologist did give me 5 days worth of the lowest dose of xanax so that I could get through the funeral. Now, she knows I am being treated, and she asks me how I am doing. But when I first was diagnosed at the age of 30 with FMS first, they kept saying its so important to get treatment for the anxiety and any stress or depression. So they kept pushing to get a doctor. Two years later, once Medicare kicked in, I was finally able to. They pay attention to what I am on, but they won't touch those medications at all. One rheumatologist wont even touch pain meds. She says " see the family doctor " since he is closer to me and could monitor it better than every 2 to 3 months <man_u8@...> wrote: I agree, the fatigue is my biggest gripe. I have been trying to work w/ my rheumy on what I can do. My labs are fine, no thyroid problems. I just did a sleep study and I don't have a sleep disorder. I need to see a psych to better manage my meds to see if that helps so I can prescribed provigil or a " stimulant " medication. I don't think my rheumy feels comfortable messing w/ the doses of my mental health medications. I am hoping that once my medications are " readjusted " , I can be prescribed provigil. I have tried everything...vitamins, caffine, excerise and I am still constantly fatigued. My husband understands, but my family doesn't get it. I have a good friend of mine who has lupus, so she understands. Having this web board has been a great support system for me so I wanted to tell you all THANKS for being there for me and understanding. LOVE YOU GUYS!!! > > My husband has asked me several times why I'm so tired with RA. Like > most people we thought RA was about joint pain and swelling, but my > worst symptom is fatigue - at least since I've been on medication. I > just found this article naming the cause of my exhaustion besides > being 55 & deconditioned it's apparently related to interleukin-1. > > WHAT CAUSES FATIGUE? > from Healthtalk with Dr. Belza > November 1, 2001 > www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/interviews/belza/page02.cfm > What Causes Fatigue? > > Amy:Thank you for being with us.... Usually with RA they think about > pain and stiffness and swollen joints, but fatigue is one of the > markers for RA, isn't that true? > > Dr. Belza:Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it a marker. I clearly > would say that it's a symptom associated with chronic inflammatory > diseases, rheumatoid arthritis being one of them. And when we survey > patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ask them what their most > problematic symptoms are, typically pain is the number one, but next > to it or as equally impacting function is fatigue. People have told me > in the past that with pain they frequently can just do things a > different way, but with fatigue, they're not able to even mount an > effort to do a certain activity. > > Amy:And what causes the fatigue? > > Dr. Belza:There's probably multiple causes of fatigue when we look > specifically at rheumatoid arthritis as an inflammatory condition, and > research on fatigue really has been increasing over the last ten > years. I think earlier we really did just focus on pain which causes > fatigue. People may be fatigued due to problems with quantity and > quality of sleep. We focused on functional impairment. But now we're > realizing what an impact fatigue and the lack of energy has on > people's everyday functioning. > > So, in answer to your question then as far as what actually causes > fatigue, more than likely there are multiple causes of fatigue. It's > typically not just one cause. For someone with an inflammatory > condition, clearly the inflammation itself can produce things such as > interleukin-1, which probably can be linked to fatigue. So, the > inflammatory process if left untreated can lead to fatigue. > > Frequently, people with rheumatoid arthritis are very deconditioned, > and when you're deconditioned, you typically experience a lot of > fatigue. It's also not unlikely that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, > you may have a change in your mood, anywhere from just sadness to > possibly being depressed, and depression we clearly know that there is > a fatigue that can be associated with that. > > And then there's any number of other medical and psychological > conditions that may contribute to fatigue that someone with rheumatoid > arthritis may have but may not be treated. So, if for example you have > problems with anemia, you have problems with thyroid, and if those go > unchecked, they too can lead to fatigue. So, typically what we would > like is that people with rheumatoid arthritis look at fatigue and its > role in their life relative to perhaps multiple causes.... > --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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