What is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. It is a disabling and painful ...
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How to cope with fatigue and illness?
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About six months ago I was diagnosed with RA after two years of going to various specialists to find out what was wrong. The DR started me on Methatrexate and Plaquenil. Since I've started, my inflammation levels have continued to rise and he has increased my Methx. Right now it seems that I keep coming down with respiratory infections that knock me flat on my back. Any suggestions on how to keep from catching every cold or flu virus and also on how to combat the fatigue? My job is high pressure and long hours and right now I am struggling.
Posted on 11/09/09, 03:11 pm |
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I too am newly diagnosed in the past year and still working. It is very difficult, and a huge challenge. I am very lucky that my workplace is supportive. I take frequest breaks, I stretch in my office, listen to music. I use a cart to carry my charts around. I meditate - and took advice from a co-worker. Put a landscape picture you love in front of your desk and use it throughout the day, imagine being in that scene, relaxing, walking, enjoying. It works! I just do not focus on the tiredness, until I get home and collapse =)
Heather 
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Learn to budget your time according to your pain. I have learned that I need to learn when to back off and take a rest (even when that seems nearly impossible with school, work, life...). If you don't it can get on top of your very quickly. In addition, a good support group helps, I get a lot of help from my husband and good friends.
Kate
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Try to be careful Hope because when your resistance is down and you are tired and working long hours that is when those germs hit you Wham and then you are sick. You may have to take a mental health day just to rest every so often. Good hanwashing technique. Wipe the desk and phones down at work with a clorox cleanup wipe. Good luck.
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