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RA and fatigue

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 10/13/2013 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I have really been noticing that my fatigue levels have gone up after getting off of Prednizone about 8 days ago after being on it for 6 months or so. The best way I can describe it is that its almost like getting RA all over again. When I was on Pred I felt like before I had my first symptoms of RA at least in terms of energy and my interest in things I enjoy. Since stopping it has really been hard to find the drive to do much of anything. Even when I do the things I have interest in such as try to work on a motorcycle project I have in the garage I just don't find the joy and feelings of satisfaction that I did before.

Mentally I also feel less sharp and also less creative. I don't know if any of this makes sense. I have dealt with this alot over the years. It has never been enough to lose a job over or whatever. I do still get things done that need to be I just don't feel passionate about much of anything and it compounds the weary feeling quite a bit.

My physical symptoms have been much better but I am still sore alot of the time and that never helps. I have an appointment on Wednesday and I will be talking with my Rhuemy about all of this. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has dealt with this and what you all do to get past it.

-Don
Posted 10/14/2013 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Don,

I know exactly how you feel! I am not completely off prednisone yet (currently tapering each week)but i feel the same symptoms as you. I, too, have lost the joy of things I liked to do. I am a musician and I have to really talk myself in to going to practice. (Sometimes it it just too hard physically. My fingers don't move like they use to!)


Mentally I just feel lost. I say and do things that just don't make sense! It is really frustrating for me. I seem to be walking around in a daze. Sometimes I am just so fatigued that I just have to stop whatever I am doing and rest.

I am sorry that I don't have any helpful tips for you, hopefully your rheumy will have some answers. I have to call my rheumy and schedule an appt. tomorrow for other issues I have developed (lumps under skin of 2 knuckles) and will be discussing this issue as well.

I hope you feel better soon! :)
Posted 10/14/2013 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Don, It takes sometime to get the pred completly out of your system. You will feel a lot better once it's out of your system.
Posted 10/14/2013 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying guys. I was hoping that some of this had to do with the steroids cause it's been really hard to find any joy in things I usually do. Hopefully after a few weeks things will go back to normal whatever that is! God bless -Don
Posted 10/14/2013 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Don, I agree with Teddybear that it does take time to get back to your old self after going off prednisone. Hopefully you did taper off of it. Even then, it can take a week or two to start feeling better. Been there, done that. It's all part of the withdrawal process. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/14/2013 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I know the feeling. I loved being on Prednisone and felt like my "old self." I was only on it for short-term stints; the first time was 40 mg/day for 10 days and the second was 20 mg/day with a taper at the end down to 2.5 mg/day for a total of about four weeks. I don't want to go back on it because of the side effects, but I feel so much better when I take it.

Now that the weather has changed I'm feeling really crummy. My hands and feet hurt every morning and it's really hard to get up and get moving. I see the rheumy next week, so maybe I'll try another short-term bout of Prednisone.

I hope everyone has a better day today.
Posted 10/15/2013 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I did taper, I was on it for several months this year because of a really bad flare when Enbrel stopped working for me. I was all over the place for quite a bit of that trying to taper off and having flares but was finally able to ween off of it. Im definitely romanticizing it I suppose in my own mind. I had some really horrible side effects on it. I think of all the drugs Ive had over the years it is definitely the most addictive per say if only because it made me feel at times "normal".

Thanks everyone for the support and for sharing your experiences. It helps ALOT. -Don
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