Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Welcome to the group PJ. I also have Fibromyalgia (FM) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Its taken me a while, but I can pretty much tell which one is causing me the troubles. Both will cause the fatigue, but if the joints are involved you can be pretty sure its the RA rearing its ugly head. I've found for me, FM causes this v-shaped area of pain up my back - which may be different than what others experience. Do you know what your doctor meant by " hyper-sensitivity to most drugs " ? Does that mean that you aren't able to take certain meds for your FM? I take Neurontin (Gabapentin) and Robaxin for my FM. I take MTX, SSZ and Enbrel for my RA. So far I've not found the right combo of meds for me to keep this all under control. Best of luck to you - welcome to the group - I think you'll enjoy all the information that is shared here. It helps to make things not so scary.....Doreen Hi, My name is Pru, I am 55 yrs old & I live in Australia. I have been " homebound " with Fibromyalgia for the past 18 months & now I am being referred back to the rheumatologist for treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Apparently a blood test showed a " significant " Anti-CCP result & I have had positive RF in the past BUT not enough for a diagnosis. Anyway ... I really do need some clarification of what happens as per symptoms of RA. I had worked out that I can go pretty well here at home, without major Fibro flares, providing I don't go out at all but in the last 6 months massive fatigue is just bombing me out even without " going out " & I do notice that I may get some mild pain in my wrist joints or thumbs, around the same time. So now I am wondering if this new, added fatigue is caused by the RA & not so much the Fibro? The physician, who referred me on to the rheumie, said that he was very hesitant to recommend any medications due to my severe Fibromyalgia which includes hyper-sensitivity to most drugs - anyone else experience this & how does it work out for treatment of yr RA? PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Hi Mimi - thanks for yr reply [] That's also exactly what I say " ...RA rearing it's ugly head " - so that was good to see that others describe it like that too. By " hyper-sensitivity " it's actually my words to describe how my body cannot tolerate just about any drugs or herbs or supplements even - I can judge how bad or not a substance is by how long it takes for my heart to start pounding. And the physician could see that by my history & said he didn't wish to make anything worse for my body & so he would let my original Fibro diagnosing rheumie handle it. I did go pretty well on Cymbalta for 3 months late last year but then the fatigue took over again & in combination for a few other annoying side effects, I had to give it up. So I am not on anything regularly now - only Valium for spasms. It's just a bit disappointing to now find that even with 18 months of rearranging & limiting & managing my activities to prevent Fibro flares & maintain health, I am now brought even further down by RA fatigue - I kind of feel like " what's the point in trying to improve ANYTHING in my life conditions " - so I am just back to sitting on the couch & watching TV whereas formerly I would at least do some exercise everyday but lately that seems to cause additional fatigue the next day [] PJ > > Welcome to the group PJ. I also have Fibromyalgia (FM) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Its taken me a while, but I can pretty much tell which one is causing me the troubles. Both will cause the fatigue, but if the joints are involved you can be pretty sure its the RA rearing its ugly head. I've found for me, FM causes this v-shaped area of pain up my back - which may be different than what others experience. > > Do you know what your doctor meant by " hyper-sensitivity to most drugs " ? Does that mean that you aren't able to take certain meds for your FM? I take Neurontin (Gabapentin) and Robaxin for my FM. I take MTX, SSZ and Enbrel for my RA. So far I've not found the right combo of meds for me to keep this all under control. > > Best of luck to you - welcome to the group - I think you'll enjoy all the information that is shared here. It helps to make things not so scary.....Doreen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Hi PJ - you're quite welcome. These diseases have been a challenge. But don't give up. If you can't do the same exercises you used to, then get with a physical therapist and learn new ways to keep your mobility going without causing you additional pain and fatigue. I have a pool and find my best relief and movement in there. I understand what you mean about " hyper-sensitivity " to certain medications. I have to wonder - and this is from experience - is it possible that some of your " reactions " (ie: pounding heart) could be a result of anxiety over the medication rather than a side effect of the medication? I ask this because I also suffer from anxiety issues and I know how that pounding heart can be one of the first signs of a panic attack. I may be off base about this - please forgive me if I am - but it may be something worth considering. I also took Cymbalta for a bit and while it did help in some areas, it was not enough to keep my anxiety under control - I now take Celexa and it been better for me. Please don't be afraid to try and become creative in your activities. I take it as a challenge to find new ways to do the things I love. Some things I've had to accept that I just can't do anymore and sometimes I just throw all caution to the wind and do whatever I can for as long as I can - even though I know I'm going to pay for it the next day. Yesterday (July 4th), I played long and hard in the pool with my grandsons and then we were out in the heat and humidity for quite a while watching fireworks. Last night, the pain kept me awake half the night and its not any better right now. BUT - we had fun and now I know I just need to take it easy and rest and pray I can sleep pain free tonight. So, are you taking any meds for RA? Have you tried Neurontin or Lyrica for the Fibromyalgia? Talk to your Rheumy. Don't give up. Keep us posted. We care.....Doreen > Hi Mimi - thanks for yr reply [] > > That's also exactly what I say " ...RA rearing it's ugly head " - so > that was good to see that others describe it like that too. > > By " hyper-sensitivity " it's actually my words to describe how my > body cannot tolerate just about any drugs or herbs or supplements > even - I can judge how bad or not a substance is by how long it > takes for my heart to start pounding. And the physician could see > that by my history & said he didn't wish to make anything worse for > my body & so he would let my original Fibro diagnosing rheumie > handle it. > > I did go pretty well on Cymbalta for 3 months late last year but > then the fatigue took over again & in combination for a few other > annoying side effects, I had to give it up. So I am not on > anything regularly now - only Valium for spasms. > > It's just a bit disappointing to now find that even with 18 months > of rearranging & limiting & managing my activities to prevent Fibro > flares & maintain health, I am now brought even further down by RA > fatigue - I kind of feel like " what's the point in trying to > improve ANYTHING in my life conditions " - so I am just back to > sitting on the couch & watching TV whereas formerly I would at > least do some exercise everyday but lately that seems to cause > additional fatigue the next day [] > > PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Welcome PJ, I am sorry you have been going through so much pain with the fibro, and now another problem. I have RA and fibro, and I'm on neurontin and cymbalta. Its helping the pain so much. I was also having fibro fog, and I am able to think clearly. With RA, you have pain and swelling in your joints. The hands, fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, feet, and toes. You also have fatigue too. Most of the auto-immune disorders have the same symptoms, so don't guess it could be something else. I seem to do that a lot. Just write all your symptoms down for the doctor, along with all your questions you want to ask. It helps me a lot. Between the fibro fog, and the rheumy trying to find out what's up, I always forget. I look forward to knowing more about you. I am 46, live in Oklahoma. I have RA, fibro, neuropathy pain, along with othe health problems, too many. Keep us posted, Tawny > > Hi, > > My name is Pru, I am 55 yrs old & I live in Australia. > > I have been " homebound " with Fibromyalgia for the past 18 months & now I am being referred back to the rheumatologist for treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Apparently a blood test showed a " significant " Anti-CCP result & I have had positive RF in the past BUT not enough for a diagnosis. > > Anyway ... I really do need some clarification of what happens as per symptoms of RA. I had worked out that I can go pretty well here at home, without major Fibro flares, providing I don't go out at all but in the last 6 months massive fatigue is just bombing me out even without " going out " & I do notice that I may get some mild pain in my wrist joints or thumbs, around the same time. So now I am wondering if this new, added fatigue is caused by the RA & not so much the Fibro? > > The physician, who referred me on to the rheumie, said that he was very hesitant to recommend any medications due to my severe Fibromyalgia which includes hyper-sensitivity to most drugs - anyone else experience this & how does it work out for treatment of yr RA? > > PJ > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Hi Doreen & Tawny - I appreciate yr thoughts for you - thank you. I don't think the " pounding heart " is caused by anxiety although I hadn't considered it before. The pounding takes days or weeks to start not instantly at all. Good tip re water exercise - I had just yesterday decided that I would try to organize that & so I start twice weekly classes in 2 weeks time. Today I also tried walking slowly for 20 minutes on my swing walk machine & I am hopeful that my body will tolerate it but I won't really know until tomorrow. The Cymbalta certainly did stop the neuropathy pain in my legs but I notice that it is building up again (3 mths after stopping). I think I am starting to adjust to the new " symptoms " - it was just VERY disappointing at first. PJ To help the planet ~ World Society for the Protection of Animals ~ & thus also ourselves To help yourself ~ Conscious Mental Rest ~ & thus also everything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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