Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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trisun 10/21/2016

I know people talk about fatigue from RA and/or Mtx, but what exactly does that mean? For me, I can fall asleep just about anywhere/anytime, but I'm generally able to function. It's just if I have down time (like watching TV, waiting for appointments, etc) that I could fall asleep. I have had a few days though where my eyes just feel really heavy & I do have to take nap, but not sure if that is related to RA or meds that I am taking for a head tremor. FWIW, I sleep really good at night too, no problems falling asleep, staying asleep & if allowed I can sleep for 9-10 hours/night.

CaliforniaDrea 10/21/2016

It's something we all experience, but it's hard to describe.

If I'm stressed with work or family issues and while I'm working I'm thinking I could really use a nap......for me, it's probably that I'm just on common overload.

If I spend the whole day dragging after a decent night's sleep, it might be the disease or the drugs.

Hard to describe.

MarleneJ 10/21/2016

Well, mthx is a hormone and can act as a stimulant. Same with prednisone. But that is a very pushed feel, not a normal sort of energy. Like you are on a roller coaster and out of control.

Fatigue usually goes away first for me. In the summer, I was constantly exhausted and my memory was bad. Of course, I blamed it on the RA meds not working. But my husband was complaining about me snoring, so I had a test, and it turned out my O2 was dangerously low in the night. I got a CPAP and it was night and day! I go to sleep normally, and I am pretty good in the day, despite the fact that I continue to have hand, wrist, ankle and foot flares.

Sometimes it is RA, and sometimes it is not! You have to figure that out for yourself, which can be a challenge, for sure!

poolgirl 10/21/2016

For me it's hard to separate out fatigue from RA or meds and fatigue from poor sleep. I wake up ever 2 hrs due to screaming joints from whichever side I'm sleeping on. I'll change positions but it takes awhile to fall asleep again because of the pain plus in 2 hrs the scenario repeats itself. Therefore I never wake up rested.

Some days the fatigue and morning stiffness is so bad I can't even get out of bed for a few hrs. So bottom line I think it's really hard to tell what causes the fatigue.

doodlebug25 10/22/2016

trisun...my fatigue is similar to what you describe. I am functional but definitely feel more "tired" if I let myself stop and sit and relax. I am often just too busy to stop, so I keep myself going. I have had occasional episodes when I am so tired that I absolutely must sleep - but that doesn't happen very often. I also have noticed that I feel more tired after certain "active" activities - like gardening - that I used to be able to do for hours. I have sleep disruptions some nights for a variety of reasons, so that is part of the problem, along with just aging! I really resist napping as it will make it difficult to fall asleep at night, and then contribute more to tiredness.
My RA symptoms overall are mild, so perhaps my degree of fatigue is mild to go along with the degree of joint pain. I am very thankful that I have not had severe fatigue that has prevented me from doing work or other activities I enjoy.

happychat 10/22/2016

For me it's a constant feeling of tiredness and wanting to go to sleep. I drag all day. The MTX. makes it worse. At first it was the next day after I took it but the longer I took it, it ended up being the 3rd day after I took it, I was totally exhausted and wouldn't plan much for that day bc it would just be a big disappointment. But I have been off meds for a little bit now bc I keep getting sick, so the RA is kicking my butt. I wouldn't worry about it not everyone gets it. Enjoy while you can bc you never know what's around the corner.

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