My husband was diagnosed with RA about 1 1/2 yrs ago. He is currently on Prednisone, Plaquinal and Darvocet when needed. He is so fatigued most of the time. Is there anything that helps the fatigue? This morning he got up at 8:30 and went back to bed at 9, rising again at 10:30. Around 3 this afternoon he went back to bed and is still sleeping (it is 5:20 pm). I can tell that this chronic fatigue is really bothering him. Is there anything known to help with the fatigue?How long has your husband been on the meds? Did he start at diagnosis or just recently? I'm not sure what you mean that he takes the meds when needed. He needs to take them consistently and it can take several months for the meds to kick in and help. Fatigue was only a minor problem for me but it took five months for improvement. My sister with RA was so exhausted she couldn't get out of bed at all and she's been great for several years now, but I don't know how long it took for her meds (prednisone, Ultram and Plaquenil) to start working. I know it didn't take longer than several months, though. My point is, if several months have passed and your husband still is no better, maybe he needs to have his meds tweaked. He needs to talk to the RD about this.
I think she meant he takes the Darvocet as needed.
Typically fatigue goes along with RA that is out of control. As Jesse said, it can take a few months for everything to settle, treatment to start working and the fatigue to disapear. However, if he's been on this treatment for a while, and doesn't seem to be in any kind of a flare, I would speak to his doctor about something for the fatigue. They DO make medications for it. Call your doctor, and they can tell you what's avalible. Good luck!
Jesse,
He has been on Prednisone and Plaquinal from the onset. He used to take the Darvocet everyday (I think because he was afraid if he didn't he would be in pain all day). Now he takes the Darvocet as needed. I hope his RD knows what he is doing. He recently took him off of Methotrexate and Prednisone (2.5 mg) [he became dizzy, nauseous and weak] and scheduled him for liver biopsy which he had Wednesday. What a rough day. His RD told him last Monday to begin taking 10 mg of Prednisone because his hands looked active. He also told him that he was going to put him on something different after biopsy results come back that was not as toxic to the liver as MTX. My husband quit smoking about a month ago so his body has been through a lot of changes....maybe once his meds are stabalized the fatigue will go away....
The fatigue is usually the first thing to go.
You are wonderful to be searching for info for your husband. We've had a bit if the other way around lately - so I think you're the first woman to do this for a guy that I've seen.
Hugs,
Pip
i can't wait till i can get something for the fatique. This is the part i hate the most. i have to drink tons of caffine just to get out of bed to bath. i have people running to the bank and store for me. i didn't work last week. the caffine only keeps me awake for a little bit, but gives me no energy. i may throw the clothes in the wash, or take a bath but then i have no energy left to go out of the house. and the caffine has my sleeep schedual all messed up. This is my first RA attack. i had an earache and an upperresperatory infection, now that i think about it it was a virus because i took leviquin for ten days and the pressure on my ears was no better, it did go away on it's own eventually. Anyway i took a pain pill and went to bed.This was 5 weeks ago. I woke up with three of my fingers in just terrible pain, this two hours after taking a vicoden. Well my hand is still swollen and has an obvious nodule and the fatique has not left at all, only gotton worse if anything. I won't get out of bed at all if i don't take a pain pill. i get chills or i feel sweaty but nothing in between, honestly i just keep getting worse. Got my bloodtest only yesterday. I missed my first doc appiontment, over slept. Doc freaked, i mean you can see the arthritis, no questions there. I'm sure they thought the fibro lady was being paraniod, till they saw me. So god seed to the blood test. I am happy to hear there is help for the fatique. I just prey i will be able to take these drugs. As i have been allergic to everything i touch scince i was a child. Thanks all for putting up with me. I'm in a new and scary territory here. It's just all new to me.HI Dardlebug, you're very loving to look for information for your husband.
I use ADs for my anxiety disorder, but find they also take care of some of my little aches and pains, and they DO help with the fatiuge. They can be very versitile(sp) little pills!! Def ask the doc about it!