Hi guys, I just wanted to see if any of you feel like this at all. My joints seem to be responding to the 15mg of MTX, I feel much better in myself, I have started to wean the pred from 10mg to 9mg daily since last week, probably too soon but I get so excited when I feel good. My GP is away at present for 3 weeks.
Now because I have a fracture in my foot, I have been resting most of the time. BUT I still feel incredibly fatigued, I have to go to bed, my eyes are closing on their own!!!!!! Seriously, I have no energy to do anything not even to think about doing something. Could the MTX be making me tired or could it be the pain patch, 20mg buprenorphine? I guess it could be a combination but I would appreciate your input.
Also I went to the fracture clinic today for a follow up on my foot, it has been 4 weeks in plaster and still hurts like hell to put any weight on it, but I saw a different specialist again and he said they would take an X-ray and see what was happening.
The Xray showed a lot of callous formation (bone?) and for that reason I should take off the backslab and start walking on it again????? I seriously doubt his judgement but he is the DR, so I did what I was told and told him again that it was still hurting and he said just walk on the heel for a while and slowly return your weight to it.
So tonight I walked on it and have now had to take an Endone due to incredible pain just like when I originally fractured it? HELP!!!!!!! Thanks for any assistance Janie.
Jane, when I first went on Mtx, I felt terribly fatigued, and it took quite a longtime before I began to regain some energy, it can take up to three months to kick in. When mine kicked in, aftr about 8 weeks my rhmy then added Placquenil. and started to reduce my pred. I'm back down to 8 at this stage, but probably going to try another reduction after my next Rh appt. I'd love to be off it -so I keep plugging on.
But remember that fatigue is also a very big part of our condition, so you need to pace yourself at those times that you feel you could jump over the moon. My Rh. says 1/2 hr task, 1/2 hr rest, or an easy task.
I think it's a matter of trial and error what mix of medications suits each individual. I don't know how long you have been taking the MTX so take it slowly on that Pred. taper. I'm sure some of the others will probably know more about this than I do.
It's awful that you are still having problems with your foot, and I hope that gets resolved for you quickly.
Hi Jane,
I am so sorry you're having a bad time... I think that a combination of reducing your steroids, the disease itself and the pain patch are making you so tired - also remember that being in pain itself makes you tired and that your body will probably be throwing lots of energy into healing your foot so that won't help either! The pain meds you're taking will cause drowsiness and you're on a fairly good dose so it may be the main cause of your fatigue. I can't really think of anything that will make it easier - I would definately not reduce your steroids any further until you've seen your Dr as that can only make it worse. The only thing I've found helpful with fatigue is taking short naps and trying to do stuff in between them - while I'm resting (and not trying to sleep) I try to do something that keeps my attention but not too much - putting photo's in albums, reading, easy crosswords etc. Then getting up and doing something I need to do like washing up after breakfast or making lunch, then resting afterwards or taking a nap.
I hope you feel better soon - get to that Dr as soon as s/he gets back !
KT
Hi Jeanne, thankyou so much for the fast reply, I have been on MTX this time around since 1st March, starting on 5mg per week and now 15mg, split dose. I thought it might be that which is causing the fatigue, I hope it wears off, it seems to me if its not one thing its another, we never get a truly good day, do we? tHANKS again Jeanne, hugs Jane.Ok here's the scoop on the walking on your fx'd foot. The doc saw bone callus formation which is normal in a healing fracture. Since there is bone callus, he feels that it is safe for you to starting walking on it again. The way he said to start walking on it by putting gradual weight on it is from what I know and what I researched, is correct. If you feel that it is just too painful to even start with walking on the heel, call the fx clinic back and let them know that. They might have you do some PT to start gradually walking on it again. Maybe don't come right out of the gate full force walking on it. You have a walker right? That would be a great way to start with the heel walking if you are comfortable doing it that way.
The good news is....you are healing!!! And rather well and quickly despite the nasty ole ra. I did read that any immune disease can dramatically slow down the healing of fx's.
I was very fatigued the first several weeks after I started MTX. It eventually went away.
I think it is everything combined Janie. Your body has been traumatized by an injury, mtx is notorious for fatigue, and pain meds make you tired. Be sure to not overdo when you walk. One step at a time and not too many steps
Hey Janie, I don't recognize your pain meds. Can you tell me about them. I am considering changing mine. Thanks.
Hi Roxy, nice to see you posting, I am on Norspan pain patches aka Buprenorphine, and they really do work, similar to Fentanyl - aka duragesic. I am also on Endone, aka oxycodeine, hope this helps, Janie.