Coping, and the Yo-Yo Effect

I understand too well. I had a very nice remission this summer, took long walks, lost weight, bought some really cute heels. Now I'm back to sick and furious about it. I'm starting Enbrel and seeing some signs of improvement, but deciding how much to dare hope for is difficult.

hi Star,

i can relate.  i'm on plaquenil too along with prednisone.  i feel great! earlier on, i couldn't do much of anything because it was pretty painful, although i didn't have the fatigue. i, too, was like you, i'd do something (simple as cleaning my jacuzzi) and then pay a week for it.  since i've been on prednisone, it's like i got a new lease on life.  it's only a low dose (5mg) but it's working.  i don't wear heels (only because they've ALWAYS made my feet hurt) and i dance once in awhile, but i'm doing alot more than i ever could a few months back.  just 3 weeks ago, i trimmed my bushes down to stumps with hand clippers/pruners. (do you know how hard it is to cut a branch??)  not to mention i cleaned my dog-run of 4 chihuahuas worth of poo (i didn't know they pooped that much!!) PLUS i raked all the dead leaves, dog poo and stuff around my trees too). then i hauled 4 FULL/HEAVY trash barrels of the leaves, branches and debris, to my alley dumpster and hoisted the barrels all by myself.  all the while i kept thinking to myself....oh boy, i'm in trouble now. i'll pay for this for the next few days.  But, i was so proud of the fact that i did it without help and got the exercise i so badly needed.  And you know what?  i had NO PAIN at all the next day or the day after...i was so amazed and i was on cloud nine for a few days after that.  i see my bushes (that were taller than me) trimmed down to almost stumps for winter and i remember that i didn't let RA whip my butt on this feat....and that i COULD still do what i used to do!! So don't give up.  Ask the doc for Prednisone, try it out. if that doesn't work, try something else. keep trying and pursuing until you find something that does work.  i never thought i'd ever feel NORMAL ever again.  now i relish it!  yeah, i still have some days where things hurt, but they only hurt til my next pred dose....so don't give up hope!!  good luck and merry christmas!

~Desiree

You sound just like me. I also take plaquenil, have been for 3 months now. I do believe it is starting to help because I actually have good days now. And just like you I take advantage of them by cleaning or shopping or going for walks which I end up hurting terribly from the next day. But I am thankful for those days and maybe there will be more to come if the plaquenil does what I am hoping for. I also take ultram to help out. A year ago I was busy, never slowing down enjoying hobbies and work and kids. Its hard to just sit around now. Its hard to hurt all the time. Its hard to watch my husband take over alot of my chores. Its hard to want to be your old self, Its not like I was a rock star or something, I was a 42 year old mom and new grandma. An admin assistant with alot of energy and stuff to do.

 Well, I really hope the meds work for you, I can relate to everything you've said and even though we can't go back to who we were we just have to become something different, better. We are only dealt what we can handle in life, we are the strong ones, the fighters and the winners.