Hello! The fatigue factor:  I find the fatigue to be one of the most difficult issues to deal with, and I understand your frustration.  I have had some relief from fatigue since staring Humira. I find that when my inflammation is out of control, so is the fatigue. Prednisone can snap me out of that a bit, but we all know we can't take prednisone every day.  I take MTX, Humira, and Celebrex, and that combination has lowered the inflammation markers in my blood and has reduced my fatigue from overwhelming to manageable....most days.  Still, I think all of us with RA need to realize that we are going to have to get more sleep/rest than we did before we were Dx.  If we don't, we pay for it.   Nosebleeds:  I have only had nosebleeds from the dry environment in winter.  We have forced air heat, and that irritates my sinuses, it seems.  Have you mentioned these nosebleeds to your doctor?   Could you be anemic?   Meds:  I have never considered not taking my meds.  I can barely function with them.  Before the meds I was in terrible pain and I could barely get out of bed.  Now, if I miss a dose, or take a dose late, I feel it.  My RA is barely controlled, so I have to say that considering stopping meds is not an option for me.

Blessings,

V

has your PCP taking a look at other possible reasons for your fatigue? You may want to ask them for some blood tests to check your iron, vitamin B12 and D levels, as well as a thyroid panel. Low thyroid, low iron and low B12 all contribute to bone crushing fatigue. You may also want to talk to them about B12 injections - even if these levels are within normal range, B12 shots can help your energy. I am theoretically "normal" but still get B12 shots every two weeks and it really makes a difference. You may also want to take a look at how you manage your energy to see if you are listening to your body's request for a rest. Most of us (myself included) are really bad at realizing that lower activity levels and occasional napping is necessary. Instead, we keep going as if we are perfectly healthy and that will make you tired, too. Check out my post on the Spoon Theory for more on this issue.

I know people who have chronic nosebleeds, but to my recollection, it may be more related to other issues than RA. For instance, low iron. Talk to your PCP about this issue.

Lastly, yes the medications can be a pain in the butt. For me, though, they vastly outweigh the consequences of not taking them. Without the meds, you risk permanent damage that can seriously limit your mobility, as well as systemic damage that can affect e.g., your heart health. The thing about medications is that although you can expect a certain level of side effects, they should be relatively manageable. If side effects from the meds are affecting your life as much is uncontrolled RA, consider talking to your doctor about treatment options. The goal of the meds is to enable you to live your life, not limit it.

good luck! Please keep us posted on what happens?