Hey All,
I'm stuck in the chicken and egg thing ... is it the MTX that is making me tired, or is it the RA? Which came first? If the exhaustion had started the day after I'd taken the MTX, I'd assume it was the MTX making me tired. BUT, I started to get really, really tired the day that I take the MTX in the evening. So, it was an entire week since my last MTX injection when I started feeling so tired. (I had my 3rd dose of 20 mg Thursday night.)
One thought is that the MTX was wearing off by the end of the 7 day period so the RA had a chance to kick it up a bit. However, here I am 3 days after the MTX injection (I take it Thurs pm) and I wasted my precious Sunday afternoon sleeping.
To add to the story, on Wed and Thurs I was thinking that this MTX stuff was starting to work and I was finally winning against RA, but starting Friday, I've had aches and pains in some familiar joints, and in some new ones. Damn this disease and how it sucks you into thinking you've finally got the upper hand!
Well I'm not on any meds, and I quite randomly, yet regularly, feel as though I've just run a marathon and need rest. Soooo I'm voting for the RA. :) And we think about you too!!!!! Don't worry about posting too much, just make sure you pop in often enough to let us know you're still around and about! :)
arriscolwell,
You don't take meds? Are you tell me that some day we can stop taking meds while we have RA? I'm a little confussed now help me to understand.
By the way I didn't mean to get Liz started sorry. LOL
Hahaha It's okay, I'm used to it. I just tell her to bite me. LOL I HEART YOU LIZ!!!Alan
Hmm, as I figured, I don't think there is an easier answer to the tired question.MTX makes me feel really tired the day after I take it. It's as regular as clockwork. I take it on Saturday evenings and usually I'm good for nothing because it has worn off.
I still get flares even on all my meds, like one good long one. But I do believe MTX is known for making patients more tired.
However, RA can wipe me out entirely. My answer would be both.
No Joy, those commercials are exactly what they seem. The problem lies in getting a doctor to see you without insurance. Because they know what they charge is outrageous, and I could NEVER pay it. Meh. Let's not go there. LoLSorry Katie, I forgot that in the US you need insurance to see a doctor, not just to buy meds. LoL S'ok. I just hate it all so much. Makes me wanna go to DC and punch a butt load of important people until one of them pays for my medical bills. Okay ... but don't hurt your hands when you sock it to 'em!!Joy,
My last set of x-rays showed some signs of bone erosion, but nothing severe. My doctor felt like it was time to try something new. The biggest change I noticed was that after 3 yrs on MTX it seemed to make me sicker (nausea, etc.) and the RA was causing more frequent joint pain.
Alan
Thanks, Alan. I appreciate hearing your story, and those of others, as every bit of knowledge helps me to better understand RA. (Hmmm, or learn that there is so much more to learn!) It's good to hear that the erosion wasn't severe. Hopefully the new meds will work better for you.I feel that it is a combo of both. RA just makes you tired sometimes. MTX makes me tired the day after my injection and I sleep off and on all day. RA makes me tired if I do too much in one day. So as I see it, it is one of those six and one half dozen of the other situations.
Oh yeah...Katie should rest more since she doesn't have insurance. She will in March and you can bet I will be on her constantly to get in the doc.
I was wondering this as well. It seems I am always tired. I do my shots of humira Thursday night and the mtx Friday night night. Saturday I can usually do about an hour of house work if I take lots of breaks but Sundays all I do is sleep.
I work in a small office m-f 10-6 and by the time I get home, all I can do is sit in my recliner with my heating pads. I feel like I am waisting my life away waiting to feel better!
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