Yes, it is a very good article, and I'm thankful that the sick feelings are explained. While I have some problems with the rheumy who diagnosed me, he did explain this to me, which put my mind at ease about it.

That's what it did Lizzy....put my mind to ease. Because it's too easy to start thinking, "Is this all in my head?"

Good information - Thank you

Be well
Bluedogs2

Very informative article. Thanks for posting. Sure does explain a lot. My rheumy also explained a lot of what would happen in time and I greatly appreciated it.

Feeling like this today....ugh! I guess it's a flare caused by the weather change....rain coming in followed by cold snap. It sure does put my life on hold when it happens.

Thanks for posting this article.

Like you say - for some reason when I visit either my PCP or Rheumatologist I usually feel pretty good. I chalk that up to being a pretty long trip that needs to be planned and might very well be working on Adrenalin on those days. We only leave the homestead 2-3 times a month for either grocery runs or doc visits so each time out I think I get myself hyped up so I can get it done.

The article was great for me as it explains exactly how I feel 95% of the time. The Humira/MTX has been doing it's job somewhat as I don't get those nasty single joint flares too much anymore - just a lot of leg/arm aching which also puts me down. At this point the worst part is the constant fatigue and loss of ambition to do anything. At least this was explained in the article. I always have this NEED to understand what is going on to help me deal with this disease - at least I now know that these things I am felling are kind of par for the course with RA.

Whenever I go to either doc I bring along a very brief journal of sorts. During the time between doc visits I will take notes on how I feel during that period. This really helps since when I am in front of the doc I am usually feeling pretty good and in a good mood - for some reason.....

So this begs the next question - what if anything has anyone done to help combat this constant fatigue, feeling of malaise, and total lack of ambition?

Good question, coaltrain. I had hoped that with adding another med to my MTX, that would help with those feelings. It did say in the article that if a biologic is working, that should help with the feelings of low energy. I'm like you in that I want to know the reason for everything.

You're all very welcome! It's nice to know it's not all in your head, huh?

Coaltrain...don't you hate that! I am always so chipper and up when I see my Doctor. I told my husband I need to take him with me so he can tell the doctor how I feel a lot of the time.

I'm like you. I am always researching online. The best places I learn from are groups like this. It's nice to share what we're going through because it validates it all. We're not crazy! lol

As far as dealing with the fatigue....I just "do it" get out there and get things done. The hardest part is dealing with family and the fact that I start slow nowadays and they need to respect that or help. This morning husband asked when I'm going to make breakfast. Now breakfast is not common around our home. We usually eat on our own but sometimes I plan one like I did today. BUT...I can't just jump in there and start. I have to get my body supple and shower, hot one. Feel good first.

I'm also newbie.....been on meds for 2 months now and I just get worse or rather have good and bad days. I want to stay active. I need to. Last night my husband told me I was not aging well. It hurt my feelings. But he also said he wasn't either. I've always been "up" and a go-getter. I think what he meant was I looked like I was not well all the time. Time to start doing my hair and make-up.

Melly, I would not have taken that comment very well. I'm glad you could turn it around and see what he probably meant. I have days that I mentally and emotionally beat myself up because of the things I can't or don't do.

When you said you push through the fatigue and just do it, I know what you mean. We do have to push through. So many times, though, I don't push through, and I give in to it. That's when I feel the guilt and self condemnation. I know that's horrible and counter productive, but I do it anyway.

This is such an emotional and difficult journey. Weekends are always the hardest for me, for some reason.

Lizzy.....yeah, I didn't really take it ell but I just keep it ll in,

Weekends were always my fun time. Busy busy and on the go. I tend to get depressed more if I stay home because then all I have to do is think about it all (before RA) otherwise staying home use to feel like a mini vacation.

We had a planned ride today and someone was going to lend me their horse but it was cancelled due to rain. I'm glad in a way. I had a root canal started yesterday that didn't go as planned and now they need to yank the tooth. I think I have an abscess coming on too. So here I sit wallowing in self pity with my little Chihuahua next to me. I just can't get caught up in feeling like this. Then I'll get down. This disease really changes you.

FL, you are so right. Can indeed be a emotional journey.
Thank you Melly for sharing. I can completely identify with your comments from being a go getter to not looking my best.
As usual I can identify with a lot of what's shared in this discussion.
Reminding me I'm not loosing it.

At the moment the article sums my life up in a nutshell.
It's not the usual for me. Can't fight it all but usually manage to fight that black hole of despair &/or depression. At the present Im struggling there.
Goes against who I am, all of it. I'm constantly looking for positive & always stayed productive burning off the ADHD energy to some degree. Yet this is different, for lack of better words kind of like fighting the invisible. Normally you find the problems & causes & deal with it. Now the smallest of problems appear to be overwhelming. So gets tucked away undealt with. Which we all know is not healthy. Yet it's just to much, the slightest thing can be overwhelming, for now anyway.
Lately I've said more then once "I don't know what's wrong with me".
So this article could explain a lot.

Same here usually feel betrayed by my body the day of appointments.
It's like it knows it's appointment day so it's going to behave. Day before & day after I can be swollen & miserable but come appointment day it's usually hide & seek time. Strange huh?

I saved the article. Thanks again for sharing, everyone, helps me to maintain my sanity.
Sammy

Good article! I was feeling better and better, and assumed Orencia was starting to work. Then on Saturday night, I started getting cold. A cold that no amount of external warmth could help. After about an hour, I started getting flares all over the place. My left ankle is swollen like a balloon and I can hardly walk on it.

My daughter thinks the cold was a fever or flu or some kind. So then, according to the article, the flares and exhaustion were a response to that cold or flu. But here it is Monday, and I feel like I have lost weeks on my recovery, which has taken a year anyway.

I was so frustrated yesterday! I woke up feeling so bad that I could not use my hands or walk. So I had to cancel church, and it was my week to play flute and sing in the worship band.

One step forward and 10 steps back! Sigh!

I seen a cute necklace with the Blue RA support ribbon on it on Etsy. It was a medallion on a chain that said, "God gives us only what we can handle, then he must think I'm a bad ass" Love it.

It's amazing at how many symptoms there are that can pop up on any given day one minute to the next. You have to ask yourself is this all part of it. Then you come on this support group and so many of us feel the same way, we are validated by each other. Hey, we're not crazy.

Today is my bad ass day! I start one extra MTX today, at 2:30 I get my failed root canal tooth pulled and at 6:30 I have my horse group monthly meeting with a pot luck. More Vicodin please! The only time I ever see that med.....root canals and teeth pulling.