Fatigue

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jacey15134
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Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:44 pm
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by jacey15134 on Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:01 pm

Fatigue

I was diagnosed with seropositive RA 2 years ago. I have struggled with fatigue all of this time. Is it normal to always have fatigue? I am on 15mg mtx (reduced from 20mg due to raised alt). My FBC, glucose, kidney, liver and thyroid bloods were all ok last week.

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Arthritis Care
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Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:27 am
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by Arthritis Care on Tue Oct 25, 2016 12:44 pm

Re: Fatigue

Hi Jacey, I’m sorry to learn that fatigue has been a problem for you over the past two years. Fatigue is often a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. That said, if your fatigue is constant and always at the same level (i.e. it doesn’t seem to be related to a flare-up or any other changes in your condition) there may be something more that your GP or Rheumatologist can do to help.
The following information may be useful reading:
‘Living with rheumatoid arthritis’: https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-i ... -arthritis.
‘Fatigue’: https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-i ... -factsheet.
If it would help to talk over ways of managing fatigue, or anything else to do with arthritis, you are very welcome to call the Arthritis Care Helplines on 0808 808 4050.
Best wishes,
Rachael, Helplines Worker

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wendygreen
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Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:23 pm
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by wendygreen on Sat Oct 29, 2016 6:42 pm

Re: Fatigue

Hi,

Unfortunately chronic fatigue is a key symptom of seropositive RA.

However, I agree with Rachael - if you're constantly suffering from fatigue it may mean that your RA isn't being adequately controlled by the medication you're taking, so this may need to be reviewed by your GP or rheumatologist. There are various disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can help to control symptoms, so if the methotrexate isn't working for you there will be others you could try until you find one that gives you some relief. There are also other drugs called anti-TNFs that can be prescribed if you've tried at least two DMARDs over a minimum period of 6 months and your RA remains highly active.

In the meantime, you can at least manage the fatigue by pacing yourself - this involves avoiding overdoing things by resting and relaxing after short periods of activity and alternating physical tasks with mental ones. It also means learning to recognise when your body has had enough of a particular activity and you need to rest.

I hope this helps.

Wendy
Wendy Green
Health Expert & Author - BSc (Hons) Health Studies
http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... _green.php

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