Fatigue | Arthritis Information

I've been reading the posts here for a few months. I have recently been diagnosed with mild RA and have been dealing with fatigue since about 2003. I am taking mtx, folic, and hydroxychl. I do have a litle bit more energy and sleep better because my shoulders are not hurting like they used too. Does anyone know of any remedies for the fatigue?HI, I found the only thing that has helped my fatigue is enbrel.It's counter-intuitive but exercise helps (even if you can only walk a little bit in a warm water pool). You're tired right afterwards but it improves your overall energy level, as well as keeping you more limber and stronger.Gimpy is right...exercise will help. In addition to improving your overall health the work out will also make you physically tired which will help you sleep better at nightHi Karelian. I don't know how long you've been on your current meds, but it may just be that you need to give it more time. It was several months before I felt any change in my overall strength level. I didn't think I had a fatigue issue at all, but after about four or five months I found I could climb the stairs and get out of the car again without struggling. If hydroxychl is the same thing as generic Plaquenil, then you're on the same meds I am. Give it more time and in the meantime, the exercise advice you've been given is excellent. That makes everything better. I don't have anything to add...but wanted to say....Hi Karelian...welcome!

Thanks for the advice. I have been on these meds since November 2007. I recently started taking yoga twice a week. I've been trying to tune into what my body is saying and have found that it is really hard when you don't know what you are looking for. I was working on the house yesterday (painting trim and cleaning) and I got really, really tired all of a sudden, my feet were tired and I was exhausted so I quit. My pain is tolerable at this point but my fatigue is extremely irritating.

I live in Fairbanks, AK and have to travel to Anchorage to see a Rheumy so I like would like to get the most out of my visit when I go. I really don't like the idea of taking these medicines but I see no other alternative at this time. My mom had RA and she never saw a Rheumy and only took MSM and ibuprofen which helped with her pain. Because she didn't take anything to slow the damage that is caused from this disease her hands and feet where disfigured, she worked until she passed away in 2004 at the age of 61 from a brain stem stroke. Mom never really talked much about this disease and what she was going through. I did know she was in pain and was tired all the time.

Hi Karelian, I was dianosed a couple of months ago, I have exteme fatigue, my ruemuy says that once Ra is controlled fatigue will improve. maybe they need to increase your meds? Caffeine is the only thing that gets me through the day, lotsa caffeine!!! I'm upping my meds in a few weeks hopefully that will help. welcome to the board this is a great place to be!!!My fatigue did improve once I started enbrel, but the only way I could work was to take provigil. It is a med for narcolepsy. I didn't take it yesterday and I had to have 2 naps and still went to bed at 9:30. The fatigue is very difficult to tolerate. Yes my fatigue went to the rediculas and the specialist prescibed Provigil for me. He said most people with chronic fatigue syndrom do well on Provigil. In addition to what the others have said, I have found Emergen-C to be an energy booster. You can find it at any drugstore of Walmart, Target, grocery store, etc... It has 1000 mg vitamin C and has 32 mineral complexes and B vitamins. It comes in a box and has individual packets. You mix a packet with 4 oz. of water. It's fizzy and tastes good. One word of caution, do not take it before bed. I'm always always tired, take numerous naps.. and have to schedule everything..

like if i go out one day, i plan the day before and after (sometimes 2 days after,)

Not to do anything! but REST.. i'm also bipolar, so dbl whammy..

i think acceptance is key...

and welcome to the board!~