Re: Yellow

[Guest guest]

Hi Anita - I haven't been posting much this last week, but have been

reading everything.

Getting RA under control takes different drugs for different people -

and also takes different lengths of time and feels different. (For

me under control still means taking a lot of pain medication to get

through the day, but I have little swelling and the fatigue comes

and goes). In general, when your RA is under control you have less

swelling, less pain and less fatigue. When things flare up you may

experience just pain or just fatigue and the other things stay ok.

The first few months after I was diagnosed, but before the

medication kicked in I was tired all the time - I would come home

from work and barely be able to cook dinner. On Saturday I would

sleep late, go to the grocery store, come home and put things away,

and take a nap. Fortunately I have an understanding husband who was

able to take over a lot with our son (who was 4 at that time). I

still often nap on the weekends, but not all the time, and my

standards of what counts as a clean house have really gotten relaxed

(not that they were ever all that high to begin with!)

As for your first rheumy appointment - they are all different, but

here are some thoughts to prepare:

- make a list of the symptoms and problems you have been having,

whether you think they are RA related or not.

- make a list of what hurts when, if certain activities make it

worse, and if anything makes it better (medication, ice, heat,

eating certain foods, etc)

- make a list of the questions you want to ask. I would ask if he

agrees with the diagnosis (based on whatever tests were done), his

approach to treating the disease, how he likes to partner with

patients, when and how he wants you to contact the office between

visits, and things like that.

I'm fortunate to have a rheumy who is good to talk with and likes it

if I ask questions or come in with information about something I've

read for us to discuss.

Hope it goes well for you. It can take awhile to build up a rapport

with a new doctor, but if things don't feel right and you don't feel

comfortable or like you're being taken seriously, then see if

there's another rheumy you can try.

Beth

> Hello Yellow, I also have PCOS and RA too. So my severe fatigue

is

> coming from both probably. As I have neither one under control

yet.

> I see my rheumy on Oct. 4th. My family dr. said since my glucose

> level was fine, which he did a blood test for with no fasting,

there

> is nothing he can do for the PCOS.

>

> To everyone else as well, when your RA is under control and you

have

> a flare up does the fatigue set it then? I have been having a bad

> flare up all over this week. Especially in my neck and my back.

> Today it is real bad in my hands and feet. The fatugue is not as

> bad, but is still present. I am not falling asleep, but feel I

could

> go take a veeery long nap. I need to clean my house (which has

not

> been done all week), but just do not have the energy. I guess I

will

> do a little at a time.

>

> I hope everyone has a great day and wonderful weekend!

>

> What should I expect at my first visit with my Rheumy dr? Could

> someone tell me so I do not go in there not knowing anything at

all.

> Should I tell him everything that is going on even if I do not

think

> it is RA related?

>

> Anita

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I know you were writing to Anita,

but as I too haven't posted that much, but read everything,

I saw your list to take to the doctor's. Thanks, I needed

that also. I am going on Tuesday and this will help me to

get across I need help.

Hope you have better days ahead. All of us are in the same

boat and we need to keep on chugging along as best we can.

Wally