Strange title, I knowt, but I am just SO frustrated.
Pain, stiffness, tiredness geting worse and worse,
starting to wonder what is going to happen to me out
here on my own, slowly going down hill. I have
always been really blessed by posting and reading
posts on the board, and I'm so bummed, because I
have been so stiff and so tired, that I can only spend
a couple of minutes at a time on the board. BUT you
guys are always on my mind and even if i'm not
posting I'm still pulling for all of you,
Anyway, during the last month the stiffness and
tirednedness has really gotten bad. And it's not just
stiffness, but pain and swelling, and not being able
to move normally or use my hands right. I think next
time I go to the rd, I'll try to get some xrays. Actually
my whole entire body feelis like I have been run over
by a truck and I even have bruises on my back!! I try
the dreaded pred off and on and it does help some,
but I refuse to take it more that a couple of days.
On days that I can, I try to stretch and walk and other
days i just focus on getting out of my chair at work to
walk across the office or go into the bathroon and try
to touch my toes. Part of me thnk I should get a
cane, but then really can't use it because my hands
are so bad . Kind of funny if you this about it.
Guess I'm just getting a little discouraged with the
every dayness of things and wondering what hope
their might be for a better day. I know part of my
discouragement is that I'm alone, few friends, and
no family around, and it scares me to wounder what
will happen in the future if I get worse. But by
golly, got to keep going. My dad just moved into a
sun city retirement home that sounds really nice. I
was teasing him that if I was seven years older I'd
move there too. Ah well, I can wait a few years. LOL>
Hey rveryone, thanks for hanging in there with me!!
OK, I'm all done rambling. Thanks for listening.
May the Lord richly bless you all with a brand new
day filled with hope and joy.
[
Sorry your having a bad time right now. Been there too.
Sounds like your having a bad flare. Have you called your Rheumy? Mine puts me on Prendisone for a couple of weeks until it passes. It usually helps within days.
I know it's easy to get discourged we your feeling this bad. We're here to help support you through it, since we've all been there too! I usually try to remember that it will ease up eventually. Hang in there.
I'm going through kind of the same thing. I was doing really well for a little while. Now, everything is swelling, and I'm having the worst cramps in my neck & my feet, which the RD says is from the RA. They wake me up at night, and they're making my feet curl up (which is funny, because my toes don't curl - so it looks very strange). It hurts, and it's discouraging.Hang in there. Consider us family, I do. I don't think anyone, even family members can understand what it's like to be sick everyday and to not be able to do the things we used to take for granted. I just got diagnosed with shingles and am off meds for several weeks. I have one lesion on my eyelid and several in the hairline that are both itchy and painful at the same time. I'm trying to work and actually wwent to a job interview today looking very scary with one eye puffed up and a huge welt on my forehead. All the time I was trying to convince my new principal and myself that I could do the job. Truth is I don't know anymore.
This board is a great place to gripe, vent, and share information. I've learned a lot here.
How wierd. I thought I replied to this. Hey Tara. If you ever need a break from that big city, come up and see me. One day at a time. Love, RoxTara, I'm so sorry that you are feeling so horrible. This RA stinks! After reading the posts, I can see that you have been given some very good advice. I love my RD, but I get so much out of this board. These gals know their stuff.
You hang in there honey. Like the girls all said, get in touch with your RD. You will be feeling beter soon.
Pat
I feel like you tonight, ready to scream because of the pain. But it's partly my fault. I've been going into work in spite of doctor's orders because my boss is pressuring and being nice at the same time.
Is it possible that you have Restless Leg Syndrome. I have that. Lots of spasms and having to move the feet. When I'm flared, it is also painful.
You might have them look at the zoloft and wellbutrin. Are they prescribed by your RA or another doctor? My daughter didn't do well at all on the wellbutrin or zoloft. They switched her to Celexa which seems to have fewer side effects and longer life in you system so that you don't get ups and downs so bad. The reason that I'm drawing a connection here is that if you have Restless Legs they put you on something like Nortiplyne and Klonapin. Plus, if those meds are not right (and I have no idea how they are for you) they might through off your RA meds.
It's just a thought. Something to think about if you haven't already considered it.
And, you should come here to complain. Whose else are you going to tell that's going to know exactly how your feeling.
When someone here says, "I'm in pain." I have a really good idea what they are talking about. No one else gets it.
Feel better.
Hey Deanna-great advice and insight. I do think IWell, I believe that your GP doc can do it as well as your RD. You just described the symptoms perfectly, especially the restlessness at night. They suspected I had it because I wasn't doing well on my meds. I think they sent me for my first sleep study then. That's when they also found out I had sleep apnea. I forget the sequence of events.
But the Restless Legs can keep you from getting a full night's rest, and that makes it hard for your body to heal like it should.
I think you should talk to your RA doc about the whole mix. Sometimes they put you on something for depression and anxiety anyway. That's what the medicines I mentioned are for.
I believe the Lexapro that Cruncy mentioned is newer. Several people on here have it in additon to RA and they are on different meds. But the cool thing is that it can definitely be treated and you will feel better. Might be part of the reason you are not responding as well to your treatment at this point.
Glad to hear that you are going to the RA doc on Wednesday. I have to miss a lot of work because of appointments. I just am straight with my boss about it. It's really tough sometimes, but you have to maintain your health first.
Listen to me. I'm working when I shouldn't be. Oh well, I give advice, but can I take it. I'm hopeless.
Here's to you feeling better.
I'm on Lexapro and it's worked great for me. When I was on Paxil my legs really drove me crazy.
Good luck at your Dr.'s appointment! Relief is hopefully on it's way!
Sounds a lot like Restless Leg to me too. Or at least that could be a part of the problem. It is my experience that MOST antidepressants make my restless leg WAY worse. I see Deanna mentioned nortryptline which would never work for me! But there are a lot of good meds out there for RLS now. If you can take Klonopin, that works very well. I am on Sinemet which is an antiparkinsons drug and it keeps it at bay (worked really well for a couple of years and works slightly less well now). Such great info guys. I never knew that