It's 2.00 in the morning I can't sleep. my wrists and fingers ache and I've had a very weepy day
Diagnosed in july this year, the thought that initially distressed me the most was having to take MTX but it has been, so far, nowhere near as awful as I expected. My DAS is reducing but not as quickly as my rheumie would like so the dose has been upped to 20mg. For a couple of weeks before the dose increase I had a window of feeling almost normal and got my paintbrushes and rollers out and started a bit of decorating but have now returned to that being who empties the cupboard, fills the toilet and sleeps. I know this dip is probably only temporary but it seems an opportune time for me to say hello to all you amazing people who offer your support and love to those of us in need.
.....eve

Hi Eve,

Welcome to the forum!
Now you will no longer feel alone with RA, you'll get lots of friendly support on here.
As you no doubt have come to realise, there is no quick fix for RA, it's a long process of finding out which drugs will work for you, as we all react differently to them. You need to rest as much as possible during the early stages, no painting and decorating just because you have a "good" day! If you feel you need to sleep, then sleep! It can only do you good.
I am 61 and have had RA for almost 10 years now, I am now on mtx and humira.
I hope the increase in mtx works for you, if not there are plenty of others to try.
Keep posting to let us know how things go with you.
Looking forward to getting to know you.

Love, Doreen xx

Hi Eve

Why is it that wrists and hands like to play up in the early hours or whenever you want to rest?

I use resting wrist splints at night that help surprisingly well. Also now take Amiltryptiline that helps me sleep through the night. Might be an option for you.

Definitely try the resting wrist splints, very cumbersome and can only wear one at a time (for safety) but immobilise and support the wrist. Sort of like strapping a skateboard to your forearm, although they are shaped to your hands.

Lastly, as posted above, don't be tempted to overdo it, we always end up paying the price (as I am experiencing this week).

Take care

Angie

hi Eve,

welcome to the Forum,

i am also on 20mg Methotrexate have been since 17th June and i was terrified about starting it, unfortunately it hasn't worked for me ... well my inflammation has come down but not enough so i am now just about to start Hydroxy.

can sympathise with the bad nights had plenty of those, my sleep pattern has changed so much.

have you had a Depo injection i had one yesterday and have to say i can really feel the difference this morning ... the last one didn't work for me.


and if i'm honest i still haven't fully come to terms with RA ... i prefer to take it day by day as i know we are all different.

keep posting you will get lots of support,

Suzanne x

Hi Eve,

A very warm welcome to this super site, we are all here to give our best support and advice. We have all been where you are now and have come a long way, some longer than others. I am Lorna, I was diagnosed 3 years ago I have been on the triple therapy since then. I too had nightmares about all these medicines but I was in such a state at that time I thought things could not get any worse. In the space of five weeks I went from being a decorator, gardener and every job imaginable to an invalid who could do precious little for myself. It was a terrible time for me, but the good news is I am so much better now so believe in the drugs and focus on getting better, it does happen.

Once you get the drugs suited to you it will make such a difference, so then learn to pace yourself and stop when tiredness sets in. I can do everything I did before but I take more care and pace myself. It is a difficult journey but being positive really does help. I kept a diary so I saw the differences when I started to get better. I know how hard it is when your hands are that sore, you do not realise just how much you need your joints until they do not work. Mine were solid I could not bend them at all, I used to cry lots too. It really does get easier in time.

Thinking about you and sending a gentle hug to make you feel better. Lorna x

what can I say but thank you to all of you who have supported me today. I've not read all the forum discussions but I am sure many will have said before me that sometimes you feel as though you have become the illness rather than the person you were. I was still playing tennis right up to the moment the pain got worse and the pill popping began and now I have my own tupperware pharmacy and insoles! But I do have a supportive husband (an experimental week without NSAIDS before deciding to take MTX, shocked him with the amount of pain that seemed to appear out of nowhere and into our lives) and an amazing daughter though unfortunately neither of them are with me at the moment - my husband travels a lot for work and my daughter is at university in holland. My day is ending as it began with tears but these for the beautiful sound of the lone piper piping in the guests to a local restaurant - so life isn't all bad.

Hi Eve
Glad you've found this forum which is made up of a really supportive group of people who manage to find something to laugh about even on the really bad days. Sorry you had to be diagnosed with RA to find it though, but hope your current dip is short lived and you're soon feeling brighter.

Anthea x

Hello Eve,

Glad you had a couple of nights sleep. I rarely put my laptop on when I have up during
the night. I find it makes me more alert. I tend to sit and put music on or tv. I am not
a member of facebook.


Rose

Hi Eve,

I'm not on facebook either, this is the only forum I have ever been on. So glad you are getting some sleep now.

Anne

x