hi , this is new for me. I have lived with lupus by ignoring it. in march I was hospitalised for 10 days, injected with plaquinel and heavy doses of prednisone. no kidding I gained 45 lbs in ten days,, i stlill cant get off 20 lbs and now the dct. wants to try me on methotrexate because of my joint pain and the crushing feelings i have in my bones. I am afraid to try anything new. I am just back to work 3 1/2 days aweek and when i get home I HAVE TO SLEEP FOR 3 HRS SOLID AND THEN IT TAKES FOREVER TO SHAKE OFF THE FOG. OH the worst part is that when i am in the fog i eat constantly so weight loss seems impossible. i don't have the strenght to walk far, i have a gym membership but cry at the thought of the energy it takes to even drive down there. has anyone tried methotrexate- will it help me or will it make things even worse. i feel beaten down.I HAVE RA AND FIBRO SO I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT CHRONIC FATIGUE AND PAIN SO MAYBE I CAN HELP YOU THERE. I'VE ALSO MISSED MORE WORK THIS LAST YEAR THAN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE SO WE HAVE TO GET SOME CONTROL OVER THE DISEASE!! MTX HAS HELPED ALOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR RA MESSAGE BOARD. I WAS ON IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS BEFORE CONTRACTING A SKIN INFECTION AND HAD TO COME OFF TO HEAL. I'M ASSUMING YOUR DR IS PRESCRIBING MTX WITH YOUR PLAQUENIL AND AN NSAID FOR INFLAMMATION, RIGHT? I HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN OFF PREDNISONE AND KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, GAINED 30 LBS. I'VE ALREADY LOST 5 LBS IN TWO WEEKS WATCHING MY DIET AND WALKING SO IT CAN BE DONE WHEN YOU GET OFF THE DRUG. GOT GOT BACK TO WORK MYSELF AFTER A NASTY FLARE FOR 5 WEEKS. AFTER THE FLARE, I COULD NOT GET OVER THE CHRONIC FATIGUE. READ ABOUT A DRUG IN SOME OF THE ARTHRITIS JOURNALS, PROVIGIL. HAS BEEN USED FOR PEOPLE WITH SLEEP APNEA BUT FDA EXPANDED IT'S USE FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE. MY RHEUMY LAUGHED IT OFF AS A STIMULANT. I TOLD HER IF I DIDN'T GET SOMETHING, I WAS GONNA BE FIRED. GOT MY REGULAR MD TO PRESCRIBE AND IT WORKS WONDERS AND WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS! I HAVE NORMAL ENERGY LEVELS AND THE FOG HAS LIFTED. I WAS SLEEPING AWAY MY LIFE BEFORE....REALLY!! I AM A FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND I COULDN'T PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE SENTENCE BEFORE. ANYWAY, TRY IT....IT DOES WORK! IT HAS A LIFE OF 15 HRS SO TAKE EARLY AM OR YOU'LL BE AWAKE TILL 3:00AM LOL!! IT HAS TRULY GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK. I TAKE 200 MG EACH A.M. ALSO, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LUPUS AND RA....YOU MIGHT HAVE BOTH!! STAY IN TOUCH. VISIT THE RA MESSAGE BOARDS AS WELL. LOTS OF GREAT HELPFUL PEOPLE THERE. NOT ONLY HAS THE FATIGUE LIFTED, BUT THE DEPRESSION IS BETTER AS WELL!!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
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