exhaustion

It is quite common. Tell your Dr. every detail, but don't worry too much. Extreme exhaustion does happen.  Some days are bad, some good.  You may even go through a spell when your temp goes up, you're nauseated, you can't eat, your fatigue is so severe you can hardly get up. My DR. said that is part of a flare.  On the other hand, I got so tired this past summer for 2 weeks I was only awake for 2 hours.  I wondered what was up......then my throat got sore, I got on antibiotics and felt normal after 48 hours.  It was strep.  So rest when you can and don't feel badly......it happens. I wish you the best.

while your waiting for your dr, you could try some vitamin D.  Also you may not be sleeping as well as you think.  For so long I thought I was sleeping well but I could not function during the day, my husband said I was tossing and turning all night long.  I now take muscle relaxers to help get a good nights rest.  You should also get sleep as often as you can, if that means you sleep allday, then you should do it.(if you can)

I finally started doing Tai Chi for Arthritis last spring - it was a lifesaver.  I'm still working fulltime but can be very tired too.  Even on tired days, I find to do this even for a few minutes is helpful.  After a while, it also develops a relaxed, calm frame of mind that is also energy-saving - less stress.

I had heard about Tai Chi in general, but turns out there is a DVD endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation, and made by a Chinese doctor who has arthritis himself (although I don't think it's RA).  There is a short You-Tube demo on his website, www.taichiproductions.com.  Arthritis Foundation charges a little less postage...

When I get that down, my husband makes me call the doctor and we tweak my medication. Last time, just staggering the days between doses differently made a difference. Be sure to go in for help.

First of all what medications are you on? Are you still only on Prednisone and Plaquenil? If so you should be on more meds. for ex: Methotrexate, Folic Acid. Also you need to see if you have an underlying condition. Most times with auto-immune diseases they tend to "create" another problem. If you are tossing and turning at night, waking up feeling unrefreshed, also having muscle pain, pure exhaustion. Then you should talk to your doc about the possibility of Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia consists of trigger points, there are 18 trigger points, if you have 11 of them then its usually considered Fibromyalgia. WebMD is a good site to check on Fibro and RA. The trigger points are in the back of the neck, in between the should blades, low back, the neck and shoulder areas are about 6 of the trigger points, low back is 2, I believe the thigh muscles are included, as well as the forearms. You should check out WebMD for further info, then if it sounds like you, then I would call for an appt with your rheumy. Plus check on the other meds you should be on. Why is the rheumy waiting to start you on Methotrexate? 

the other people who have commented have good suggestions, but I just want to add one piece of a device. That level of exhaustion is not normal and you should definitely get it checked out. It may be that it is "just" because of your RA, but if that is the case, it may be an indication that your current medication isn't working and you need to explore other options.

I have been diagnosed with RA for about 5 years, although I believe that I had it for several years of misdiagnosing. My doctor presribed me Provigil for the extreme fatigue--it does help, it does not make you jittery just more alert, although the medication states that it does not interfere with daytime naps, I find that it does. Which is why I do not take the medication on weekends to allow my self full time bedrest, unless I have something planned. The heating pad and I have relationship that noone could understand--I think I'm more intimate with the heating pad than I am my husband right now. I am in a RA flare at the moment--not feeling so good. Still working, but gosh I'm hurting. I have found out two things that is very difficult to talk to doctors about over the phone: pain and rashes. Mere words cannot express how much pain you are in or what a rash looks like (red and itchy: could be heat, diaper rash, yeast, etc). Co workers do not and could not possibly comprehend the pain because I hide it so well with smiles, laughter and a witty sense of humor. But there are times of the day or even days when I do not and cannot speak because of the intensity of the pain---co workers have learned to recognize that when I am quiet and sullen that the pain is bad.

Exhaustion is a part of RA. I have been with RA for 10years. I work full time but at times the exhaustion is killing. Lately these attacks of tiredness is becoming less. I now take a multivitamin along with the folic acid. Also I try to balance my diet with fruits vegetables proteins  fish and poultry but no red meat. Taking this well balanced diet has decreased the attacks of exhaustion.

You can give it a try even though it is difficult to eat anything due to the pain.

Ratnapriya