I think the Mtx/Plaquenil combination is working on my joints. I still get pain and mini flare ups and weakness etc but on the whole they are much better. What about the fatigue though? It doesn't seem to be letting up at all. Is this something i just have to put up with now? Has anyone found any drugs that have tackled it? I rest lots and eat well so don't think it's my lifestyle. I work 3 days a week, having gone down from full time. I suffer from crippling fatigue and I hate it. I had to let a friend down today as I just needed to go back to bed rather than meet up as planned. I slept for 3 1/2 hours this afternoon and still feel exhausted. I'll face up to the fact that this is permanent if I have to....like so many other RA losses that I grieve, but if other people have any ideas on how to tackle it then please tell me. Thanks from Naomi, X

Yes Naomi I can sympathise with the fatigue. Humira has been so good for me and more or less given me back my life but I still get the fatigue.
I'm quite good at pacing myself because I don't go out to work, but anything out of the ordinary and I suffer the next day or two.
Then of course there are the days when the fatigue is just overwhelming, without even having stretched myself. These days are fewer since I've been on humira but I still get them.
Of all the pills we have to take you would think there would be one for fatigue!

Love Doreen xx

hi naomi, i hate to say but i dont think there is any thing for our fatigue,i am a really sad case too i dont go out at night much,i have done in the past scared myself as didnt realise how tired i would get and had to drive home, next day could hardly get up,i have learned the pacing thing,took forever,but still get so tired,i have one friend who tries to understand the why i cant do all the normall things with her,her mother had ra so she has a bit of insight,i am 55 not old and not young an inbetweenie but i have friends in their 70+ who can go on for ever,i hate it when people say "oh come on your only 55"very annoying,because our problems are not visible they dont see them,sorry but im not helping am i,just rest up and go at your own speed,i catch up with what i have recorded from tv or skype my sister for a moan, when i get the snoozies,must say the dog hates as he gets walked by my kids and they dont let him dawddle,take care,dorothy.

I have a feeling I'm just going to have to put up with the fatigue forever. Some days are better than others and pacing helps somewhat. Most people just do not understand how debilitating it can be. Only those that suffer the same fate REALLY understand. I have some friends, a couple, who come to stay a couple of times a year. The male has MS and he gets the same kind of fatigue as me and they both completely understand...so when I say I must go to bed at 9.30 they don't get offended. I have a very good friend who tries her best to understand, and bless her for it. She never judges me on it and believes me when I tell her about how the fatigue affects me. My partner Nick is the same, thank goodness. Other people just DO NOT get it. Even when I've explained about it they treat me like a party pooper and get hurt and offended if I need to cancel dates. They just do not realise that fatigue can be so debilitating and that if I push myself too far I will pay for it in feeling so tired that I feel really ill. They make judgements and say things like if I can manage this at 60, or my mother can travel all day at 70 (or whatever) then you can certainly do it in your forties. Just another part of the battle of having RA I suppose. Ah well.......never mind. I'll deal with this and keep it in perspective as I have bigger battles to fight like staying in work and coping with pain etc. Thanks for your replies everyone. It helps to know that I'm not alone with this. Naomi, X

Thanks Jenni. What's the traffic light method? I do have my iron levels checked as part of the Mtx monitoring but I'll ask about Vitamin D when I see the consultant. X

Hi Naomi

I understand your fatigue, some days for me the overwhelming fatigue can be worse to cope with than the pain and because people can not see it they don't really understand or have any empathy. It's also so difficult to manage, you are right to take naps when you need them and to pace yourself really slowly...

Do you wake up alot in the night? Lack of quality sleep can really make you suffer the next day. Also as Jenni says make sure you are not anaemic, my hemoglobin levels are really low at the moment which makes the fatigue even worse. Also extreme fatigue can be a side effect of the drugs especially methotrexate.

My rheumy always advises that the fatigue will improve as the inflammation improves, having inflamed joints takes alot of energy out of the body.

The only thing I have found that helps the fatigue is a course of B-Vitamins, they are supposed to help regulate the body's level of energy but check with your GP first if they can be taken with methotrexate.

Love
Rebecca

Thanks everyone. Really useful advice. I love being able to come here and pick your brains. it really is a Godsend.