To get up in the morning, and fight through the pain and fatigue? or do you wait till the meds start to kick in? i am thinking about setting my alarm to 5am take my pred.and ultram, than by the time i have to get up for work i am not feeling so crummy. My sister tells me"you have to force yourelf up in the morning,and force yourself to get moving." Well thats all fine and dandy until you live with this crap day in and day out. This monster is just relentless!
kel
Sometimes I feel better if I force myself. Other times I don't even get up off the couch until my meds kick in. Just depends how bad the pain and stiffness is. My mother in law says the same thing but doesn't have a clue what ra is about. That's what I hate about ra it is unreliable and you never know how you are going to feel from one minute to the next. I don't force myself to get moving when I finally roll out of bed everyday. I move around a little bit to help the morning stiffness but not to the point where I am forcing myself. I look at it this way....forcing ANYTHING is not good for whatever you are forcing. When you force something it tends to break.
A lot of people get up a little earlier to take meds and let them kick in before their showers and heading out to work. I do not work but take my meds (pain killers included) about 30 minutes before starting any housework. That way I am not miserable after my work or have to stop before I get done what I want.
People looooooooooooove to give advice on how you should handle YOUR disease when they do not have it. And they think their way is the best way. Like...just take 2 Aleve and you will be great! Grumble. LOL. My husband takes 2 Aleve everyday for hip pain (he goes to doc next week we think it is OA) and he knows how much I hate those commercials lol. Take 2 Aleve! Arthritis pain gone for the day! Woot!! >.< Whatever. The bottle is so dang hard to open for me (you have to squeeze the sides with one hand and then turn the cap with the other) how in the HECK can we get any of the pills to make our arthritis pain go away!!! LOL. Stupid commercials.
I always force myself to get moving and to keep moving for a while and to be honest, for me, it makes me feel better. I feel worse when I don't do anything and just sit or lie down. Not saying this approach is for everyone, but it seems to work for me.Easy for your sister to say! I don't think you can force yourself up in the morning and get going. She is basically telling you to "suck it up" Setting your alarm earlier to take your meds sounds like a good idea and at least worth a try. I am fortuate that I am able to sleep in and goof off on the computer while I am waiting for my meds to kick in. I wish you luck!Hi Kel
I dont think its a good idea to force yourself but rather give yourself small goals. I suffer from morning stiffness so when i wake up it can take me at least an hour to get up.I hate it as everyone else goes about their mornings and i am still in bed listening to the kids and hubby. So after i've had my meds i make a deal with my self that by the time hubby has finished in the bathroom i will have my legs over the edge of the bed.By the time the kids are dressed i will be in a sitting position and so on. Some days it doesnt work and no amount of force or goals will get me moving.
I dont think anyone unless they live with this illness realise what the fatigue, pain and stiffness does to us.
I hope you feel better soon
take care
My son forces me to get out of the bed and get moving around, if it was not for him I would lay in the bed all day sleeping and cuddled with the heating pad.
But I do take my pred around bedtime which is about 3am, so that helps me with the morning stiffness and kinda gets me going when son wakes up.
I do not think it makes me feel better either way... laying/sitting around or moving around. I usually feel good when I am not swelled, not having that much pain, and when I have a bright outlook, but lately I have not had that...
I go get stir crazy, when I am feeling well. I have to be going somewhere even if it is to Freak-Mart or the thrift store.
Sis obviously doesn't have a clue.
Some days I push myself more than others, but overall I don't think it's good to force yourself. So I have begun setting my alarm for 4:30 am on weekdays to take my Vicodin ES. Then I reset it for 6:00 am when I get up and get ready for work. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it a little easier. Give it a try and see if it works for you.
And as for weekends...unless I have somewhere important to go, that's when I catch up on my sleep for as long as my back will let me. When it starts hurting, or I can't sleep anymore, then it's time to get up. I know they say you can't replace the lost sleep from your weekdays, but it's better than nothing.
I just feel so thankful that I'm evidently not in near the amount of pain as some of you are on here. I really don't have too much trouble getting up in the morning...my feet are sore, but not any more than when I've sat for a while watching tv. and my hands don't always work like I want them too.....but I guess I "Have" to get up because I"m the one who gets the kids up and ready and to school. Even if my husband is home, he doesn't help.... I get everything ready the night before, so in the morning- I get up at 7:00 and we're out the door by 8. My oldest daughter does help me with the baby most mornings too, so that helps.
So am I nieve to think that since we caught my RA early, it won't progress to be as bad??
It might help to take your meds 30-60 minutes before getting up. Worth a try!
I personally have to have some food in me before meds but the one med I really want in the morning is my nsaid. Never take those on 'empty', food helps greatly in reducing risk of ulcers.
When I'm really at my worst I start the hot water for the bath tub, hobble out to kitchen for a cup of coffe and a breakfast bar and meds, hobble back to the bathtub, get in while it is still filling. I have my coffee and little breakfast in the tub and meds too. The hot water reliefs stiffness a whole bunch! Instead of it lasting 2 or 3 hours I'm so much better in 30 minutes.
Helps make the day a good one. When I start out a day with 2-3 hours of misery, it tends to wreck me emotionally all day. The hot bath helps me overcome 'morning wretchedness' better than anything! Try it!
Besides the rigormortis in the mornings I feel pretty good but deteriorate bySo am I nieve to think that since we caught my RA early, it won't progress to be as bad??
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No, not at all. With early treatment it is said you do not progress as fast. You just have to find the right med combo to help you achieve little to no progression. I am sure you are going to find the right combo, and you will be almost like new.
Melatonin is a natural sleep aid you can find in the Vitamin area of the pharmacy or at WalMart. I would imagine it is cheaper at walMart.
Rigor mortis lol. Yeah...morning stiffness is kind of like that lol.
Amylynn...we caught my daughters JRA very early and they treat JRA very aggressively since the school of thought is that it throws the kids into a long remission...hopefully. I can't imagine it would be any different for an adult that caught the onset of RA early. Just remember like Joonie said, sometime it does take playing with your meds for a bit to find the right combo.
Thanks Joonies and grammaskittles!!!
That makes me feel better. Hopefully the meds will kick in pretty soon and I'll be good as new!
Laker
I know what you mean about meds. I have a bunch I am on for different crud the RA caused. It is a pain in the butt!!!i have to be to work by 7am, and these days it just about does me in just to take a shower.Everyone at work knows i feel like sh*t because most of the time i dont shower put on makeup and my hair isnt fixed. I use to be able to stay up late,pop out of bed in the morning,and get my butt to work looking pretty and have life to me. NOW I am lucky if i can get my ass to work on time. i guess i need to start listening to my body,get to bed earlier,shower before bed, set my alarm earlier to take meds so i can fuction :( its just sooo sad, i hope i can come to terms with this disease, and not give up. I guess i am still looking for the miracle from these meds to kick in and have my old life back. or atleast be able to shower and look half way descent for work:(
kel
I force myself to the kitchen table about 6:30 then hubby gets my coffee and I sit to let the pain med work then get breakfast.It all depends on the reason I am punishing myself by forcing myself. Let's face it, it is easier if there is a fun day ahead and it's that way whether you have RA or not,that is life. I am probably older than most of you and I feel that I have pushed myself enough. However that pot at the end of the rainbow will certainly get me up earlier than usual.Hi, I guess, if possible, you could try different things. If you feel really bad and stay in bed and rest one day, you could see how it goes. Then the next day you could 'make' yourself get up and get moving and see how you feel. We are all always experimenting and everyone's disease symptoms are different. I've found a hot shower eases some stiffness for me and I love it besides, so every morning I'm running the water to get in, first thing. with my meds now, I don't have pain, so it is the stiffness I struggle with, and the swelling (I cna't get my wedding ring on any more!).
I'd be nice to myself if I were you and try to sort this out for your life. lol , Sarah
WOW!!! All I can think is how completely insane I have been thinking I just might be until I read this thread about mornings!
This is so helpful to me because I live alone. So with the exception of my mother who has seen my "morning condition" because of picking me up for Dr appts etc., I haven't discussed any real details of what I have been going through with anyone. Just that I was DX RA. Of course they are aware I am out sick from work and haven't really been up for social events etc. to say the least. No one has asked me for any details anyway.
So if I need to be anywhere, or when I was still going to work 5 or 6 weeks ago, I set the alarm for 3/4 hours ahead of time which is the minimum amount of time I have to allow for in order to leave my house. I can get a blow-dry in, but not usually makeup because my right hand typically does not work until the afternoon.
Even with the prednisone, my morning stiffness and pain has me literally in tears until the bedside painkillers start to kick in which takes about an hour. The stiffness is still there though. I am never able to go back to sleep, so I just spend the first hour trying to get more and more propped up on pillows until I am somewhat sitting up and from there I hobble over to coffee pot (which is a lifesaving auto timer model - YAY!). From there I am able to ease into the hot tub which is when I finally start loosening up. And I become pretty darn happy by comparison right at that exact point.
I would like to think I could force myself into more in the mornings much faster but I can't. It is interesting to me that long before I knew what was wrong with me, I was just naturally coping by getting up earlier and earlier and earlier and earlier.
It seems shocking to me now to remember that less than a year ago, I had never even given a thought to my daily hectic blur of a 45 minute morning routine that landed me in my 12th floor office in the middle of some important seeming meeting by 8 am everyday - complete with suit, stockings, heels, makeup and commute.
Please please please let the methotrexate, which I am starting this weekend, work!
Regards,
Melly
Oh I can so relate. When I was at my worst, and you all know because I wrote and wrote about my pain and stiffness, I would find my best time and 'stay up' during that period. I'm retired and so have no set schedule, but my husband, bless his heart, endured banging aroudn the house at all hours, gettting out of bed (with a flashlight, trying not to wake him) and going down stairs to the Tee vee, or in our spare bedroom with the computer. I jsjt had to do what I had to do! Yes, warm showers (I couldn't get in and out of the tub!), did help ease up on the stiff hands and feet. I didn't want to get out. I'm sorry your pain has increased and yes, I hope the mtx works for you. It seems to be helping me (remicade added of course, hope I'm not repeating myself too much!) It is sad to think back on how we 'use' to be, I'd play 4 hours of tennis, no problem! Oh, well today is today and I'm doing the best I can. Just shopping with my husband today was fun!
love, sarah
OMG, melly, heels? You're a daredevil! (really, I mean it)
45 minutes is nothing, so don't feel like the only one. With my combination of obsessive-compulsive disorder (in remission but never really gone) and my pain/exhaustion/stiffness/swelling, I take a minimum of an hour and a half to get ready in the morning. And I don't even blow dry my hair! I do get my makeup in, but I must sit down to do it.
So I take my pill at 4:30, sleep til 6:00, get ready, and leave the house at 7:30 if I'm lucky.
It would take me forever to get up in the mornings. My Stiffness can last anywhere from 1-3 hours.
I was able to move into my morning easily...but now we are down to one car... my husband has to be to work by 8 am...it is killing me.
I take sleep aids at night and I try to get into bed no later then 10pm. But...my husband has restless leg syndrome, Sleep apnea and insomnia so he is moving all darn night. And when he finally gets to sleep, he is snoring. OH MAN...so by the time morning comes...not only is my rest broken...but my pain is off the chain because my body has not gotten proper rest.
I have an adjusted time to get to work in the mornings which helps...but now that I am taking my husband to work...it doesn't pay to waste the gas going back home to rest up and get the joints feeling okay...I push through the day now because I have too...not because I want too.
Lord knows I need it.
Roblyn
I hope the mtx works for you too! Keep in mind that it does take time for it to be effective. Some people have experienced relief pretty quickly from it tho. Hopefully you are one of them.
Are you doing the mtx orally or injecting?
I ALWAYS regret it if I force myself. Careful...........Roblyn, sounds like you and hubby need twin beds. My hubby and I have them now and I really wonder why we waited so long to do so. Of course hubby did not approve of it, but my sleep was and is more important than his desires. Go for it! It's wonderful.Hi all, its amazing that you can even work.. I heistate posting this ?, but its really impt.. are any of you .. trying to get on disability??
I know all of us, would like to believe we'll get all better and fine, and be like this never existed.. I''m just saying it wouldn't hurt to start the process, it can be really hard to get on it!
I think you have to protect yourself, thats just my 2 cents..
theres no way, I could work or can. Luckily, I've been on it for a long time, now due to being bipolar.. but that still took 2 years!! w/ a lawyer.. so do look out for yourself!!
just a thought~
~~~~~~~~ to the ?, do i push myself.. isn't that a humdinger.. I just never know when too much is going to be too much, so the answer is NO.. i really try not to.. bc its not worth it. I was able to walk around the apt building one day, outside.. next 2 days, i was in such pain, could barely move.. soooooooo frustrating!!
to the person, who is in early stages, um yeah, I'm one who thinks its a bit naive, not to be a bit concerned about the future, and have some sort of plan in place.. You have to attack it agressively, but even then.. its got to be one of the most frustrating illness there is!
Talk to your husband, i mean try not to get overwhelmed, but let him know it might happen and you might need furthur help.. I don't know.. i just wish you and all of us the best!
j
I
Hi All,
I do and I don't force myself to get up and about... I have to get up to go to work or whatever so I force myself to get up, I set my alarm 30 mins early, wake, take meds, stretch gently in bed for half an hour then up and gently into a hot shower. I don't wash my hair in the mornings, just in the evening when it dries naturally (I only get the hairdrier out on special occasions). I have tea to give me a caffeine boost (coffee's too strong for me) then have a really short walk to the train station (less than 100 yards) that actually helps get me going. On days I'm not in the office (doing a degree so have home-study days) I make up for it by resting more. I push myself to do little tasks in the house but call in some help (from parents, sisters, boyfriend or whoever) for biger jobs. If I'm going to have a big weekend (socially) I book a day's leave on Monday (or a study day). I plan like a mad woman - I have a week off htis week and we're going for 2 nights to the seaside tomorrow - boyf is a bit scared by my lists, every meal is planned, activities spread out to leave rest time, nothing planned until after lunch each day to allow for extra rest, outfits planned, schedule for hair-washing planned, journeys planned (including breaks). It's the first time we've been away together so he hasn't experienced this yet - let's hope it doesn't scare him off!
KT
Like grammaskittles, I dont have to work.