Falling Asleep | Arthritis Information

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Hi everyone-I am soooo tired. Getting worse every
week. I've caught my self falling asleep several
times at work. And many times when I get up in the
am (after I am finally able to wake up) I sit on the
couch and have my coffee and fall asleep there.
(Monday I only woke up because I fell asleep holding
my coffee and it started spilling all over me.

At work I try to get up and go for walks and even that
doesn't help. My mind is constantly saying 'sleep,
sleep' Anyone else have this problem? I asked my
RD about provigil but he told me that he felt that i
should go to my gp for that, so going to try to get in to
see him soon. Any other ideas anyone?

Well, thanks for listening. I'm off to SLEEP.   


When my RA is active I want to sleep a lot too. Don't always get to; and can't ever remember just falling asleep like that; but the fatigue is horrible.

The're a few here on provigil and they are having great results. Definately check into it.

Rest when you can...hopefully it will pass soon.

Lovie

Could also be your med combo. Isn't Wellbutin & Zoloft both antidepressants? Seems like that might turn you into some what of a zombie. Do you not take folic acid with your MTX? That might help as well.

Tara, I have had the same problem lately.  I just started back on pred today and I'm hoping that will make all the difference.  Like you, I can't stay awake and it is very difficult while at work.  I mentioned it to the doc yesterday and he is hoping with the pred that it will all resolve itself although he did send me for a thyroid check.  I'm already hypothyroid so he wanted to make sure my levels weren't changing. 

There was a great article out that I wish I still had regarding women and RA.  It dealt with some consistencies amongst women who are dx'd with RA.  If you have/had endometriosis and thyroid problems, you have a high probabilty of being dx'd with RA.  My dx'd followed the exact pattern, first the endo, then the thyroid and RA; however, I have had problems since I was a kid but they were blamed on growing pains.  Go figure!

I hope you wake up soon!!

I am also very tired when my RA is active. SO much so that when I take a trip to the grocery store or run an errand I lie down on the couch when I get back and am utterly exhausted. I feel your pain--it totally sucks. I am supposed to be going to law school this fall for first year and am totally scared as to how I'm going to be able to make it through. Hopefully your doctor can prescribe a better medication for your body--I think that the methotrexate I'm on is actually making it worse.

Brit

Hi Tara,

My last visit to the RD I complained of the exact kind of fatigue you are describing.  Waking up in the morning and all I could think about was bedtime.  I would get to work and by 9:00 AM be feeling like I would fall asleep.

My RD attributed this to mostly to fibro and started me on a very low dose anti-depressant, that when given in a very low dose helps with fibro fatigue and muscle pain.  He said the extreme fatigue and pain are due to the fact that even if you are sleeping at night, the sleep that you get is not restfull, hence you awaken exhuasted and sore. Maybe Lovie is right about the 2 antidepressants you take (could be overload)??I don't know, but souds possible.

It takes a week or 2 for the med to kick in and I have to say I am feeling a difference, still feel tired, but no urge to fall asleep at work.  In fact have not napped at all this week:0) Horrible muscle pain is gone too.

That is a terrible feeling, I hope you feel better soon!

    

 

TARA, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.  I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.  NO ENERGY TO THINK, SPEAK, BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK AND LEAVING TWO HOURS EARLY.  THE PROVIGIL MY MD GAVE ME HELPED SO MUCH BUT THINK IT IS PUSHING MY BODY MORE THAN IT'S ABLE.  I AM NOW DOWN TO WORKING FOUR DAYS A WEEK, APPROX 6 HOURS A DAY.  THAT'S ALL I'M GOOD FOR.  WHEN I WAS AT THE ER WITH ULCER TALKED OVER THE PROBLEM WITH ER DR AND HE WANTED TO DO A CORDISOL TEST; SAID COULD BE ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY.  WHEN YOU TAKE PREDNISONE FOR AWHILE AND WEAN OFF, SOMETIMES YOUR ADREANAL GLANDS CAN'T START MAKING RIGHT AWAY... IE....ADREANAL INSUFFICIENCY.  BEEN TRYING TO GET RESULTS FOR TWO WEEKS.  NOTICED THE NURSE HAD CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGE ON MY MACHINE AND I CALLED BACK TO DR OFFICE AND LEFT MESSAGE.  TO GET RESULTS TODAY.   I KNOW RA CAUSES FATIGUE, KNOW FIBRO CAUSES FATIGUE KNOW ANTI DEPRESSANTS CAN MAKE YOU TIRED BUT THIS IS REDICULOUS!!!!!!!     I CANNOT FUNCTION IN THIS  STATE AND HATE TO TAKE A DRUG FOR NARCOLEPSY TO FUNCTION  (THE PROVIGIL).  ONE DAY A WEEK I DO NOTHING BUT SLEEP AND NOT TAKE THE PROVIGIL.   HOPE TO GET SOME ANSWERS SOON.  I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

I once had a nice gp who told me to 'blame' the drugs first. Especially something that crops ups new, or gets way worse suddenly. 

One spring I had fatigue so intense that I wanted to lay down in the ailse at work, to rest up before finishing the walk out the door to the parking garage. It turned out not to be drugs, but lung inflamation. My gp checked out my little cough for asthma - I could'nt blow hardly at all. One steroid inhaler fixed it. Never had it again. 



I think you guys are right with the drug combo I have
going on right now. I have actually been thinking
about cutting back on the wellbutrin, as my
depression is not as bad and I think alot of it was
due to just not feeling well physically.

I've been on the depakote for about 23 years
(incredibly long time!!). I had a couple of seizures
back then and then a small seizure about 12 years
ago. My gp told me last year that i could wean off of it
and that the dose I was taking wasn't even theraputic
anymore. I would LOVE to (with dr.'s guidance) cut
back on medications, especially I have added ra
meds,

I'm sure alot of the fatigue is from the ra and fibro
too. Sorry to hear that so many of you are dealing
with this too. Marian-i can relate to your wanting to
take a nap in the aisles!! Similar thoughts have
crossed my mind when I am waiting in the dr's office!

Looking forward to a weekend of sleeping! (and
Yea! I have monday off!!)

I have had that awful tired and sleepy feeling too,especially when I was really in a bad flare.Awful feeling.I hope you can just go to bed and sleep.That's what you need right now.I have heard good things about provigil.I think it is worth a try for you.

Sleep tight.

 

Tara you should have your thyroid checked too, alot of women have underactive thyroids as they grow older.  My  level is relly bad right now, but that is my fault I have switched shifts and am still trying to get everything on schedule and I was a bad girl
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