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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 3/27/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
confused  So this is not making any sense to me. Last night I slept 10 hours, not continuous as I always wake up every 2-3 hours and go to the bathroom. But each time I go back to sleep. My usual total sleep hours though is 4-8. After being in bed 10  hours, I thought I would be refreshed. Didnt happen! I am more fatigued now then I have been for the past week (when the fatigue was letting up just a little). Does this make any sense? Do any of you have more trouble with fatigue if you sleep too many hours or is this probably just a random fatigue day for me? VIEW IMAGE
Posted 3/27/2011 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
songwriter,
I'm sorry to hear your having a rough day or night. I do get that, a lot. I feel like I am walking through mud. It is even worse now with the mttx. I go to sleep at 7 or 8 get up at 5 and still am exhausted..all day. I know that doesn't make you feel any better. I wish I knew something to tell you but hang in there. Maybe it's just the poly rearing it's nasty head and you are in a flare. When I am in a flare I tend to be more exhausted than ever and no amount of sleep helps me get over it. It usually passes in a couple of days but will come back if I overdo. Take care and hope you feel better. Heather
Posted 3/28/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I'm really tired too, can't seem to get a run of sleep and when I do I feel exhausted! I always put it down to prednisone mucking up my sleep routines.
Are you on prednisone?
Otherwise good old RA can make you feel oh so tired as well. I often have to have a power nap when I get home from work so I can then cook dinner, cope with homework etc.
Plus pain makes you tired, constant nagging pain is really tiring.
So I can imagine any of these things adding to your weariness, golitho
Posted 3/28/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi golitho, The doctor just decided that I have PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica), with RA symptoms maybe popping up later as I wean off the prednisone. Same disease family as RA but without the joint damage (though I have no cartilage in my right knee). Started on 60 mg/day, now weaned down to 17 1/2 mg/day. The PMR symptoms usually reappear under 10 mg, so they wean 1/2 to 1 mg at a time. PMR, just like RA, can cause the extreme fatigue. But I really was fooled into thinking today would be a good day since I had slept so well! Go figure. Just glad to have some better days and trying not to outguess myself when a bad day comes along. I was actually thinking maybe I should set an alarm for 8 hours if 10 was going to be detremental. But thinking about that now just seems pretty lame since most nights I dont get enough sleep (not the other way around). Why do I think logic should enter into this equation? It just doesnt!!
Posted 3/28/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi yes Fatigue is Definatly part of the RA i found that was the first symptom i went to seek answers for "why am i so tired?" i find around 3-4pm i just Have to Stop i feel Wipedout But worst thing i can do is sleep otherwise forget sleeping at night up all time ,so i just rest,mind you i am at the stage where i can't work anymore so home all time i can pace myself get up walk to kitchen sit down pick up cup sit down walk to sink rest on sink etc etc smhair i have been on iron tablets for the Anemia latley and that seems to help a bit don't wake up feeling quite so tired so perhaps a good Vitamin with high iron could help, it Won't cure but can't hurt,

Do you get night sweats?that's bad for waking me up thru night just wake up soaked.

Posted 3/28/2011 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bad, I am home all the time too, retired. I try to avoid naps so that it does not keep me from getting to sleep at night. I can relate to your short trips around the house. I too make very short trips around the house and then have to rest. This is usually on my bad days. On good days I can do a few things without sitting down or leaning on a counter. Showers are the hardest for me. Not sure why that seems to take so much energy, but I have to ly down for a few minutes after showering. And if I was my hair too, then I can hardly finish the shower. Going today to look at Walmart or Walgreens for a shower chair. Also probably need the flexible hose shower contraption. I take vitamins now and am not anemic. Thanks your your post.
Posted 3/28/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Songwriter,
I bought a wonderful flexible hose shower head. It's called a waterpik. It has several settings that can be combined that feel so good. The levels can change on the handle but spinning the neck. It very easy to do if your hands are sore.
Posted 3/28/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi couchtater, where did you buy the waterpik?
Posted 3/28/2011 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes the same thing happens to me, the more I sleep, the worse I feel. I get fatigue too and they aren't sure what kind of AI disease I have exactly!! However, I've had horrible fatigue, malaise and joint pain. I tried to take savella and it helped a lot but gave me horrible stomach cramps. I was so disappointed. So now, I am trying cymbalta again. I had problems with it before but I am hoping it will work for me for a while at least. It is helping the fatigue. Prednisone was a wonder drug for me until I checked my blood sugar one day and it ws 200. Don't want to get into diabetes meds, so I had to stop it. I've been on plaquenil for 2.5 months and it is slow to work. Sometimes taking something for pain like 1/2 a loritab, I wake up feeling much better. I think the constant pain runs us down and we don't get good sleep b/c of the pain. We can't relax. I hope the prednisone taper works for you.
Posted 3/28/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Songwriter, I found it at HomeDepot.

Jean, I just got a report of positive ANA. My body ache symptoms are very similar to the flu, but I know it's not the flu. I wake up exhausted and in pain every morning. My arms feel like lead weights are tied to them.
Posted 3/29/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
i definatly try to time my bathing i find mid morning the best as too early im sore too late im tired and there have been times ive rugged up in a towel and drip dried back in bed as drying really takes it out of you my hubby carer tends to do the drying but that is So bad you really want to try and do it yourself but some days just can't.
Posted 3/29/2011 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BadDay, thanks for the suggestions. I might switch to nighttime as I do rely on my husband at least being in the house when I shower. I am a little afraid of falling or getting so weak I cant get to the bed even. Today I tried something new. I sat on the highrise toilet and dried off! It helped some. I still had to ly down, but at least it was not soaking wet!
Posted 3/29/2011 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Have you guys considered a walk-in tub? I can't get in the tub for a soak anymore so I'm restricted to showers. However I do love a good soak and have been considering buying one with a whirlpool, if the price is right.
Posted 3/29/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Whether it was walk-in or not, I would not be able to sit in a tub. My knees dont bend well plus I would never have the strength to stand up when I was done. I do like the whirlpools that you can walk into at motels.
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