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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 8/22/2012 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty new to having r.a. - just diagnosed in July - and I know there are good days and bad days but today felt overwhelming. I worked from home because I was so tired and didn't have the energy to get dressed. Easier to stay in my comfy clothes. I went out at lunchtime to get my hair cut and when I came back, I was pooped. Everything aches. My neck, my back, even my legs. Worse are my hands and feet. They are visibly swollen.

I had to go to the store after work to get new bedding. I was gone a few hours and when I got home, I was moving slow. I had to make two trips from the car up to my condo because I couldn't carry everything. I then started to make the bed and it felt like I was trying to lift a thousand pounds. My hands hurt trying to put the sheets on the bed. :( Plus, I am still sweating so I had to take a shower after I was done.

I have a doctor's appt next week and I'm going to talk to him about this. I have been on the mtx for 5 weeks now and I don't feel like I'm getting any better. I am off the prednisone. I hate the side effects. Hunger, moody, sweating and my weight jumped up. :(

Maybe I need to add in another biologic like Enbrel ?

I'm just venting... maybe tomorrow will be better. rolleyes
Posted 8/22/2012 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Diane,

What you described is so typical of RA. The fatigue is as bad as the pain some times. On days like that, it is best to rest as much as you can so that you don't flare. MTX can take up to three months to work. I know prednisone is the drug we love to hate, but sometimes we need it. I am at 10 mg a day waiting for Orencia to kick in before I taper down to five mg Can't seem to get completely off of it and it does cause weight gain. Arrrrrrrrrrrgh. If you have any weight loss tips, I am all ears. ; ) BTW, do you take any anti-inflammatory meds such as Naproxyn or Celbrex or Advil?

Vannie
Posted 8/22/2012 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Vannie,

Today is really rough for me. I had to get to work this morning with meetings and I barely slept last nite. I had the hand, fingers, wrist, ankles and foot pain but added to that were my elbows! This is new. Years ago, 1992, I had tendonitis in my right elbow and had surgery to release the tendon. That was the first and only orthopedic surgery I've ever had. It helped and my "tennis elbow" was pretty much gone. I didn't have it in my left elbow (I'm right handed). But last night my elbows hurt. I'm sure it's the inflammation.

I've been trying to take days off here and there but I think I need a couple of weeks of just downtime. But, not sure how I can do that with my job. I've had to take off time to get to doctor's appts, the MRI, blood work and it's hard balancing. I know I'm not alone in this.

I might need to bite the bullet and take the dang prednisone but I just hate it. And thank you for the update about the mtx and taking 3 months. I am on a low dose compared to what I've seen on this board. I take the 5mg on Sunday. Not sure if that will be increased and if so, that will make the difference.

Back to work for me. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday tongue
Posted 8/23/2012 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
If you take the prednisone just until the mtx kicks in you should be good. Its when you take it long term that the problems start. I managed a year before I noticed side effects apart from weight increase of course and the moon face. But short term its really good, pain just goes and you feel much more energised.
Like Vannie I've been trying to come off it after 5 years on the stuff, it is so hard to get off it. So try your hardest to just use it short term and knock your flare on the head.
Best wishes, golitho
Posted 8/23/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Golithio, Thanks for your input. I called the doctor's office today and told them what was going on. It's back to taking the dang prednisone. They said to try 10mg and stay on it until I see the doctor on 9/13. I'm so uncomfortable that I'll try anything right now.

cry
Posted 8/24/2012 9:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Diane,

Have you considered filing FMLA? You just need to request the paper work from HR and have your doc fill it out. Filing FMLA was one of the best things I ever did. I have had it in place now for two years. Unfortunately, I am going to have to resign my position next week. I will give them three weeks notice, just because I feel bad about it. They are depending on my right now because of an upsurge in my dept's work. There are only two of us in the dept, and what I do requries very specific knowledge. My friend at work doesn't think I should feel guilty. She said, "After the way they have treated you?" Still, you know how it is. If I were you, I would file FMLA. If you file for intermittant FMLA, you can use it for doctor's appts, testing, and days you just can't make it to work. Those days are not paid, but it takes the pressure off about missing work.

Hang in there, sweetie.

V
Posted 8/30/2012 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
At the risk of sounding dumb, what is FMLA?
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