What can I do | Arthritis Information

Hi all, I need some help. And I don't know what to do. I am so sick of doctors. This week I talked to my Rhemy 3 days in a row. I called him because I am having so much pain and my heart is just pounding. My heart rate has been any where from 100 to 124 beats a min. My knee is swollen so he uped my predisone from 5 mg. to 10mg until I see him which is tuesday. But he called me back and told me he does not know why my heart rate is so high. I do think it is the predisone.I could not hardly walk this morning even with the increase of predisone. I hate to go to bed tonight because I am afraid I will not get up. I am starting mtx injections tuesday. God is there any relief coming down the road I have been suffering sense august 8 and I am so sick of it all Yep, the pred can increase your heart rate. Any steroid can. I have to do Advair twice a day on top of the pred (I have asthma) and my heart rate goes up and I shake too.

Are you going to be on anything else besides the MTX? I just switched from pill form to injection form and the injections are easy as pie. No stomach upset like with the pills. Just a little tired the next day. Like any med, it may take a little time for it to start working so hang in there.

I have learned to just let the house go sometimes. When I feel like I can do just the smallest thing then I do it. It isn't worth overdoing it and then be down for the count the next day. I have found that no one really cares about what my house looks like. I'm the one that freaks out about it. Hubby and the kids do help me out too. But I still like to do just one tiny thing when I can so I feel a sense of accomplishment and independence.

I am so hoping that you feel better soon!

I do not handle the stress of everyday living. I wished I could. I muddle through my life each day. I cannot keep up with the house and I also live with my mother and when she is not sending me over the edge I cannot keep up with her daily messes. Just tonight she fell once again so I called my sister and she came over to help. Then I had to take all of her laundry down to the basement and while I was there I had to get my daughter up to take her to work ( her car broke down so she got rid of it, that was her 3rd car).

The dog then puked on the floor which was ok cause when my mother fell she dumped an entire glass of diet coke on the beige carpet...I killed 2 birds with one stone. Oh and did I mention that I have been in severe pain all day and my wrist and elbow are killing me and I forgot to get the meds for my ulcers........

Let's see, the dishes are all piled high because the dishwasher broke down and the other day my daughter left her new shoes in a bag right next to the bags I had placed in the car to take to Goodwill.....yep you guessed it, a brand new pair of shoes got donated. I went to goodwill to buy them back and of course, they were gone.........this is my life. I hurt, I get frustrated, angry and sick.

I used to be on pred and yes it can raise your heart rate. And that is scary to have all that pounding going on. Then your bp goes up. I have a Mitral valve prolapse so I have to get checked for that and oh...I almost forgot, I have to go in again for another mamogram for a lump they found. Aint it fun? TO top it off I have cataracs to add to the mix and I often wonder what will be next.

The gray hair on my head and the wrinkles on my face have been EARNED! I try to be brave and stoic when mostly I just want to cry but then I remember that there are people in worse shape than I am and that I need to be thankful because I live in a nice home in a safe neighborhood and my cabinets are filled with food and the bills are paid. I have an absolutely wonderful PCP here and my RD is just a phone call away My dentist , bless his heart, always sqeezes me in (cracked another molar...good ol' RA and osteo)as does my chiripractor ( bad back and neck, long story).

My daughter is healthy and relatively normal as teenagers go and my sis and her hubby are right across the street when the need arises or the sky falls, and believe it or not, my sky does fall on occassion.

You have to learn to manage the fact that life is different when you have RA, so they tell me. I haven't learned that yet. I just muddle through each day.

Dont feel bad...I think alot of us tend to have topsy-turvy lives. On the bright side....it keeps things interesting. There never seems to be a dull moment...even though some of the experiences are not exactly the most desireable. I stay busy to say the least.Good Morning all, Just to let you know I had a terrible night. I don't have to many good ones these past few months. If I slept 2 hours all night I am lucky. The pain is so bad and not much helps I am so tired.
My feet hands wrist knees hurt so bad I just could die I think. I have to go to work at 5:30 and I hate to think of it. As far as doctors I am so sick of them. It seems like they can't get there crap together. Sometimes I think my family doctor knows more than my rhemy does. I am surpose to take 10mg of predisone every morning but today I took 15mg to see if I can get any relief. Not yet Joan are you on any pain killers at all?

We've had this discussion before, but not for a bit. One thing that makes an enormous difference in my ability to sleep is my Select Comfort or "Sleep Number" bed. I can't sleep at all when I stay in a hotel, at my mother's or mother-in-law's because of the mattresses. But at home I do very well.

The thing I like most about it is if I am having a restless night where I just can't get comfy, I change the setting up or down, whatever suits my "mood".

We bought ours in 2000 when my husband had back surgery and it has been a blessing for both of us. The other thing that impresses me is that there is no sag in the mattress after six years the way there would be with a regular mattress.

Geez I sound like an infommercial - didn't mean to do that. Just wanted to share something that helps on those restless pain-filled nights.

Joan, my heart rate goes up with Prednisone. They gave me Xanax, I think, to help with that problem as I was at a much higher rate than you. They also can give you Toprol XL which slows your heart rate.

Since you seem to be getting more response from your doctor, ask him about something like that to counteract the racing heart. I know it is extremely distressing. If it gets worse or you just can't handle the pain, try Urgent Care or the ER. They might help you take care of both problems until your doctors are on board.

Sometimes, the doctors are trying to proceed cautiously, not realizing it just ain't working.

If there is anyway you cannot go to work, then stay home and get some rest or go to the ER to get some relief.

You probably do need a higher dose of Prednisone. It sound like you are in a flare. Do they have you on anything else like Celebrex? What kinds of medicines are they giving you for pain.

Your heart racing, even though probably only the darn Prednisone, needs to be checked out.

Forget house and dealing with everything. This is a day when you do the least you can do. All of that will be there tomorrow. It's ok to ignore. You have our permission since you are having trouble giving it to yourself.

I really had trouble giving myself permission to rest, take it easy, take care of myself. So, I have a particular girlfriend that I call up and she just understand that I need to be told it's ok not to do everything.

Now, I am finally able to give myself the permission I need. Let things go and focus on the important things that absolutely must be done.

Taking care of you heads the list. Remember, you cannot help others if you don't make yourself liveable.

Really hope you feel better and push those doctors.