I really don't know how much more I can take. I just feel so ill! I have nausea, diarrhoea, and a sense of malaise that I can't explain. I am so so tired all the time I could cry. No matter how much sleep and rest I get I can't seem to get any better. On top of that my joints are getting worse instead of better, especially in the fingers, wrists and shoulders. I have no appetite for food and dread meals as it hurts to swallow. I feel so much worse now than before I started on the Mtx 14 weeks ago. I honestly feel like stopping all the medications that I'm on in a desperate attempt to feel better but I know this would be unwise, and I don't even know if it's the drugs or the RA making me feel like this. I am seeing the consultant on Monday thank goodness but don't think I will be able to get across how bad I feel. I know it's early days (diagnosed in August 2011) and I should have more patience but I feel so utterly worn down. Can anyone tell me if this is normal for RA?

Sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly Naomi.
I agree with Julie, write down as if you were writing to us, just how bad you are feeling and hand it to your consultant, that way you should get the message across.
Hope he can come up with something to help you feel better.

Love Doreen xx

Naomi

I am so sorry to read how poorly you feel. Unfortunately it is likely you will feel worse before you feel better. You are taking powerful drugs and it is going to take time for your body to adjust. You also need to mentally adjust to your diagnosis. I think fatigue is the worst to deal with. Do not stop your medication. You will be suprised how much it is helping you, even though it may not feel that way.

I wish you luck with your Consultant tomorrow. Hopefully they will be able to give you something (maybe a steroid injection) to help you along.

I promise you it will get better as you will learn to listen to your body and your first twelve months after diagnosis is the steepest learning curve you are ever likely to negotiate but there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep us posted.

Take care

Jackie
xx

Hang on in there. You will need to explain everything to the Consultant, I cannot add to the others
points. All means to see Good luck and let us know how you get on

Rose

Thinking of you today Naomi.

Hi Naomi,

Its a dark place isn't it? Such a struggle to keep going, everything is like wading through treacle and you don't know how much more you can take or want to. So then you pick yourself up off the floor and start planning and taking control. Its really hard to do but you have got the inner resources to do it, believe me, you have, honest.

February this year was 3 months in to the MTX for me, I didn't really believe it was working even though all the inflammation markers were down I still felt so unwell and have felt up and down since. Looking back generally more up than down. After the last couple of months with a bad run of infections, antibiotics and about half the MTX I should be taking I now really realise the effect the MTX has on my body in terms of side effects as well as the effect of not taking it. It seems that I've got used to feeling so rubbish! The contrast is much clearer. So taking it makes me feel like I have a hangover the next day but without it I can feel my joints swelling and swelling and swelling.

Unfortunately its a fine balance and it takes a while to find the right one but I reckon if you can get to a more fair days than bad then that's pretty brilliant! All I can suggest is complete rest at the minute to give yourself a break.

Hope your appointment went well and you start to feel better soon

Sara
x

Thinking of you Naomi.
Hope you got some joy today.
Diane x

I'm wondering if maybe you could do with some anti-depressants to tide you over Naomi. RA and depression seem to go hand in hand and very many of us on the forum take them in one form or another. They have certainly helped me enormously. Just a thought. xxx

Hi Naomi

I am so pleased that your appointment went well today and even more pleased that you have been referred to a Psychologist. The physical pain of RA is horrendous, as we all know, but the mental anguish and depression is as bad if not worse in some cases and needs to be dealt with urgently. Your Consultant seems to be on the ball to me so well done her and well done you for telling her exactly how you feel.

Love Sheila x