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Posted 6/7/2008 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

 

i know this subject has been touched on before but I couldn't find the answer and maybe someone can help.

I know we are all at different places in the disease process, but has anyone dealt with

EXTREME FATIGUE.  I am in a flare right now with +++ pain and swelling everywhere (in most joints).  My current sleep pattern goes something like this.  Up at 0730 with the kids, back to bed from 0930 to 1130.  I then nap again from 1:00pm-3:00pm, then usually up from 3pm until

11-12pm.  Basically I am sleeping about 12hrs a day.  Is this normal with RA and Fibro??  Is there something I could take as in a vitamin or supplement???  I know many of my meds can cause sleepiness or drowsyness  but I'm not sure if there is any I can not take.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!!

Thanks again in advance for everyones support on this site!

Have a great weekend.

 

Raven

 

Posted 6/7/2008 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
I was given Provigil to specifically keep me up and alert during the day with the kids.

I sometimes think of the fatigue as 'crippling" because that is what it feels like.

Provigil is a stimulant, but doesn't give you that wired feeling, and there are less side effects than other stimulants. It is a controlled substance, I assume teenagers would have a ball with large doses or something. Just like any other medicine, it works for some and not for others. I only take it when I really need it.

You really take a lot of meds already so talk to your doc, cause if you can't stay awake that definately needs to be addressed.

I've also tried NADH, a natural energy supplement. It did not help me so I stopped taking it.


I also take Rx D and folic acid, soma, baclofen, MTX, enbrel, vicodin, prozac, oh what else, I'm sure I forgot something. Provigil is a Rx .

I do hope you find something that helps, if I think of anything else I'll pipe up again.
-nev
Posted 6/7/2008 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Raven,
I have always described my RA as being more systemic and less joint related mostly for that reason. Everytime I have a flare I go back to sleeping 12 hrs a day. When I was first sick one of my doctors told me I wasn't sleeping enough and I agreed with him. What I did not tell him was that at that time I was sleeping almost twenty hours a day.
I find that the plaquinel is the only thing I have tried that helps with the fatigue. I see you're already taking that so I don't know what else to suggest.
Of course, if it hasn't already been done you should have a CMP, a CBC, and if neccessary have your b-12 levels done.
I hope you start to feel better soon.
Sj
Posted 6/7/2008 9:17 PM (GMT 0)

Raven

Not to be critical but yes some of your medicine can be causing sleepiness....especally your pain medicine and ativan...Do you take your ativan at bedtime????? Because if usung that for sleep its working quit well and maybe you can discuss cutting down on it or try sleeping without it...your oxycontin can be causing it too but if your in that much pain than maybe just start with the ativan....only my opinion....diane

Posted 6/7/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)

Raven,

I recently had a flare too when I ran out of Enbrel for a couple of weeks..I went downhill in a hurry and by the second week was having difficulty getting out of bed in the mornings, the fatigue was awful.  I think Sj had a good idea, maybe the B12? and it looks like you are already on the plaquenil. Are you still taking the pain pills and the benzos? that is a pretty good combo to make you sleepy, especially if you are in a heavy flare.  I hurt my back about a week ago and the doctor gave me flexeralls (sp?) and I could hardly stay awake on them, and my husband told me he used to take them all the time for a back injury? well sheesh! I was needing serious naps!  I did tell my rheumy that I couldn't get out of bed on the second week without my Enbrel and he looked concerned but that was it, but I don't have anything except RA so I guess he just figured I would take the Enbrel and feel better eyes

I'm sorry you are feeling so tired, and I hope it gets better soon.

Posted 6/8/2008 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for the replies and advise.  Diane, I think it might be the ativan as well.  I've been on it for a little over 7 years.   My first husband committed suicide in Feb 2001 and I experienced panic attacks for a long period of time.  My PCP put me on the Ativan at the time but I'm not really sure if I still need them, on the other hand I'm not sure how to go about stopping them.  Until I was diagnosed with RA sleepiness was not an issue but I wasn't on all of the other meds either.

I think I am going to try and cut the dose slowly and see how that goes. 

Mom, yes I am still taking both, I am scared to stop with the pain meds because it is the first med that has actually taken the edge off of the pain.  I've been on the same dosage for a year and a half.  I see my Rheumy at the end of the month and hopefully he will have some suggestions.

Sj, what is CMP?  I am also going to ask my MD to check my B12 and I've also heard someone mention that if your Vitamin D levels are low this could cause sleepiness as well.

Thanks again,

Raven

Posted 6/8/2008 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Raven, I know you do have go off slowly of benzos,but maybe you should run it by your doctger on how the best way to do it...hope you get feeling better  diane
Posted 6/8/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
CMP is complete metabolic panel-it checks your liver and kidney function as well as some other things. Your rhuemy may already be testing it periodically but if not you might want to request one next time you have blood drawn.
Sj
Posted 6/8/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Raven,

Just a note about the benzos, and I'm sure you already know that they are highly addictive and it looks like you have been taking them for a long time..I'm surprised that a pcp gave them to you and didn't refer you to a mental health specialist for care. This is something you may want to think about if you are considering tapering off of them, since you will need to begin slowly. I think it was nuttynurse who said something similar? I took Klonopin for a short period of time a few years back and stopped cold turkey...huge mistake!! So please be careful with them. Benzo's along with the pain pills are most likely some of your tiredness because the benzo's, and I am not sure about the particular one you are taking but they tend to make you drowsy.
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