I know we have discussed this in the past but I wonder if there are any new ideas. My pain level is not even worth mentioning and I am so grateful that I want to be living again. Problem is - I get exhausted so easily. I go out and water for 30 minutes - I am exhausted. I go swimming for an hour - I go to take a nap and do not wake up until the next day
I have ordered Acai berry, vitamin B complex, I take two multi vitamins, chondroitin/glucosamine, fish oil, Co Q 10, Calcium, niacin and low dose percocet (which is nothing compared to the high dose oxycontin I WAS on) and my Enbrel. I am grateful every minute that I can walk again and I am not in horrible pain but I want to celebrate life. Get involved again. Volunteer. But ............... I just go out to lunch with a friend and I am exhausted.
PS It is not my iron. I have been tested for anemia. I do have fibro and my sjojerns (sp) is getting worse according to eye doctor but I feel better than I have felt in years. Any suggestions will be appreciated and taken seriously.
Thank you all and wishing you the blessings I have woke up to lately - it can happen to you. I never thought I would get better
No suggestions, just empathy. My pain and swelling is under control, but my fatigue is just like you describe. I sleep like a rock for 8-10 hours per night plus naps on the weekend, and still not enough. My RD is perplexed. She prescribed Provigil to help with alertness because of my demaning, stressful job and difficulty staying awake for an hour drive to Denver. It helps some, but it doesn't do anything for the hit-by-a-mack-truck exhausted feeling.
Took last week off, and I think being away from the stress of work was the best thing I could do for my fatigue and health. That's as close to advice as I can come! If you get any answers, I'd love to hear.
Roxy, something called Pacing can help with fatigue and stability. Here is the best site I have found on it: http://www.cfidsselfhelp.org.
There are articles on here for every area of your life that you could imagine and practical ideas to implement to improve your stability and reduce the impact fatigue can have on your life.
A guy called Bruce Campbell started cfidsselfhelp. He has Chronic Fatigue and Fibro but the same ideas and techniques also apply for us with RA or PA
I'm so glad to hear how much better you are feeling. That's wonderful Roxy.
Everyone has great suggestions about the fatigue. I just want to add that it may take a while for you to build yourself back up, for your stamina to increase. When you have been inactive for so long, it takes time to get things going again. You're doing the right thing getting exercise. Just give it time and patience.
Cordellia - I will check out your websites. Thank you.
Waddie - Sleep is a problem. I sleep long hours but wake up many times. Mainly muscle pain. I will try to take an ambien tonight. I have been taking benedryl for sleep but it has lost its effectiveness. Ambien used to make me groggy the next day but that was b4 RA. I will try it again.
Colo - I have been wanting to try provigal. I have a lousy gp, shortage of doctors in this area especially if you take narcotics. I would drop her in a second if I could find other options. I hate HMOs but I am even considering Kaiser - My aide uses them and is quite happy.
Thanks for all the good advice. I am infamous for over doing. I got spring fever and the last couple days I went crazy in the yard. I cannot get down on the ground but can still use stand up yard tools. I am paying for it today. Cannot walk. I get high on nice weather and feeling better and always over do. I hope someday I will learn.
I use Trazadone for sleep, an old, cheap drug originally an antidepressant I believe. It is not as effective as it once was for me I don't think. Sleep seems to ever be elusive for RA suffers!
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