Hi Caz

Sorry to hear you're feeling so rough. I can't offr any solutions though- just support and sympathy!I've found that fatigue can hit me at any time- there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it. I work 4 days a week- as from September I will be down to 4 with weds off, and I'm hoping that will help. I often sleep a lot at weekends- Friday and yesterday I slept a lot both days. Sometimes it takes me about 1/2 hr to walk back from town- uually takes 10 mins! How long have you had RA? At the beginning I really suffered with fatigue,t got better after about a year (I've had RA 2 1/2 yrs). You say bloods are ok- have you had iron and hemoglobin checked? Mine have been below normal for a few tests so I'm very tired and anemic- they're keeping an eye on it. To be honest, I just go with it if I'm tired. Maybe you oculd ring oyur rheummy helpline to see if they can help you at all?

Take care

Maria x

Hello Caz

Gentle hugs,i recently posted same thing im finding the excessive hot weather is adding to my fatigue levels,for me it is also affecting daily life big time.im sleeping well napping alot more.
It can be number things adding to it,have you come out of bad flare and not Ra controlled,for me i have and also mini flares i et fatigue afterwards,way body showing needs some rest maybe.

but i can say at some point it will ease off again,id ahd good period of little fatigue for some months.
maybe mention to gp aswell.
are you overdoing things this is big trigger for alot.
my heart goes out to you to share in creeping along same path as you,except fact your doing well workig im not well only as volunteer.
much lv keep posting when can.
extra water as well with heat.


lv Melly

hi all

bloods are being monitored 2 weekly

iron/haemo is very good --this is the trouble everything points to me being healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

altho dr has looked this week at my thyroid to make sure he's not missing something.

i'm not aware of a bad flare up--that i'm aware of--only tjhing that has changed is the start of SLZ

maybe i've had lots of mini flares--like youself and am still stuggling to get back on track

due for review on the 6th aug--hubby is coming in with me this time--normally he will take me and wait unless i ask for him--cos my memory is b---dy awful and i don't always ask the questions i had planned to.

fatigue is something i've been aware of really from day 1-----this all started 2 1/2 years ago--dr was quick off the mark naproxen/co-codamol/omeprazol-went to hosp diag with sjurgrens --given hydoxy--consult said this should help with pain and fatigue---altho has helped with pain--fatugue is still a prob.

back in january---consult dropped half his list----no one told me and i had to ask for my next rev---anyway seen new consult and within a month i was told bloods are now clear enough to diag RA---so in may after further blds she started me on SLZ--but i have not been able to increase to full dose of 2000mg--i have been feeling worse as far as fatugue since i started--hubby says my energy lvels have bcome worse since i started SLZ---but blds are the best they've ever been as far as inflamation and heamoglobin etc--so in limbo at the moment
keep fingers crossed that she will have an answer end of next week


many thanks for you reply

i haven'y been on line much recently --hubby is creating a web site so he tends to hog the computer

i had forgotten how much help talking to all of you with RA helps


many thanks again

i promise to stay in touch more often

thankyou everybody

caz x

Hi Caz,I'm afraid I can't offer any helpful advice as I am in the same position regarding tiredness. I've been on Hydroxy for over 2 years and have been on Methotrexate for about 10 weeks and find tiredness and fatigue has escalated since starting the MTX.My walking pace has become a lot slower and I find I now only have small bursts of energy throughout the day.Just standing doing the ironing takes it's toll.But I find it's best if I try and pace myself throughout the day,doing a job,taking a short break then starting again.Some evenings I feel I am ready for bed at 8pm but I force myself to stay up to at least 10pm otherwise the nights are so long.I have blood tests done every two weeks and they have been OK so far.I think fatigue is something which all RA sufferers complain about.The only time I had loads of energy was when I was on steroids for 6 weeks and I could do anything without getting tired. Take care, Brenda.

Hi Caz

You aren't by any chance RA sero-negative are you? This does affect the blood results which often become very unreliable. My ESR is 25 CRP 1, and I'm in an absolute mess! Last year ESR 122 CRP 7, I could have climbed Everest!!! Needless to say I am sero-negative!

Just thought I would ask! Hope things improve very soon,

Lyn x

hi lynn

altho have been sjogrens in the past recent letter from hospital states--anti ccp blds very highlypositive for RA so should start SLZ and.or methotrexate

my dr also says blood are the vest they've ver been since all this started

so not at all sure where i stand at the moment

like you very good bloods--ESR 10 CRP less than 1.5--


am due a review next friday the 6th so i'll wait and see what consult says--but VERY FRUSTRATED

thanks for your reply

caz x

Hi again,I'm only on 7.5mg of MTX and so far so good,no side effects except for fatigue. I was originally started on 15mg but after two weeks came out in a red itchy rash so the consultant halved the dosage and it's been OK since.I see the rheumy nuse beginning of Sept. so the dose may be increased then.Must say I've had no severe pain or joint probs since being on MTX.The last bad flare I had was back in Jan/Feb.My last Das score was good so the Hydroxy and MTX must be doing some good.Hope your review goes well. Brenda.x

Hi, have just picked up this thread, I had awful problems with sulph so much so had to come off it. Extreme tiredness was one of the better side effects I had! It made me feel very ill, tired and terrible black moods and depression. My rheummy nurse told me that it wasnt unusual to have these side effects, he knew of onepatient who was on sulph and wanted to kill his wife!!!!

Hope you are feeling much better now?

Take care

Heatherxxx

I definitely put my mood and fatigue down to Sulf too. My only advice is don't fight the fatigue. If I have to go for a nap, I just have to. Not always easy with two small children, but luckily Osh still has a 2 hour nap lol, and I take advantage.