Guest guest Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on the Methotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired? Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me on Lexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain but couldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am getting where I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice? Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Kathy, Has your Doctor talked about any other medications? I take methotrexate along with remicade( an iv infusion ) I have it every 6 weeks but most people have it every 8 weeks. It works along with methotrexate. If he or she hasnt mentioned it maybe you should mention to him or her. Do you go to a general doctor or a rheumatologist? I hope you are seeing a rheumatologists. They know better how to treat your disease. Good Luck and Keep us posted. There are many people in here with great advice. And you dont feel so alone when you hear other people are feeling as bad as you and some worse unfortunatly. your friend in MichiganKathy <lart12798@...> wrote: Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on the Methotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired? Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me on Lexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain but couldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am getting where I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice?Kathy goes everywhere you do. Get it on your phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 RA is not a pleasant disease because people differ so much in symptoms and response to treatment. Also at present there is no cure for the disease but only a way to slow or stop the permanent joint damage that can happen in untreated RA. Methotrexate works for a lot of people but not all, and it can take several months from the last increase before it really starts to work. In my case I need Methotrexate and also Remicade. Before we found the right combination of drugs and right doses I was on Prednisone to allow me to function. It usually acts pretty quickly to help the symptoms of RA but does little to slow down joint damage, and it has some troublesome side effects. You may need more time with the Methotrexate, a higher dose of Methotrexate, or an additional medicine. I hope your doctor will help you. God bless. From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Kathy Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 12:01 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: New and some questions.. Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on the Methotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired? Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me on Lexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain but couldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am getting where I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice? Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Hi Kathy , Try and hang in there , the best thing I can say is try to get your mind on something else when the pain is so bad and sleep as much as you can to rest so you can work as long as you can allso ,, the work will help keep your mind off it to even though it seems like it don't and it is a hard battle to get SSD if you dont have a disability insurance policy at work now you might concider getting one soon and i would think of accident and sickness with 2 years bennifits keeping in mind you will have to have most policys in effect for a year before you can use them . In my case I still have the fatige & pain two years after the Dxing and 8 years after the pain started but it will get better for you just try to keep your mind busy conscentrating on other things as much as you can Kathy <lart12798@...> wrote: Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on the Methotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired? Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me on Lexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain but couldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am getting where I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice? Kathy Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Dear Kathy- A biologic is indicated most likely. MTX will wipe out anyone. Make sure you take loads of folic acid and a super duper multi vitamin. Any anti depressant can cause weight gain. If you arent on prednsione yet, or plaquenil, you probably should be. Starting a therapy when you are in so much pain is like trying to transport an Iron Civil War Cannon up Mount Everest. It seems nothing will work. RA is parasitic in its very nature so you have to be in charge of your own " pest " control. You are infested and need relief. Remicaid or Enbrel or Humira will help with fatigue and eventually pain. Do research and be your own advocate. Its so important. Dont just take what the doctors give you. Read up and inform yourself as well. Keep your chin up. Hugs, Deborah On 4/25/06, Kathy <lart12798@...> wrote: Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on theMethotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired?Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me onLexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain butcouldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am gettingwhere I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice?Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Kathy, MTX can take up to three months before you feel the maximum effects of the drug. Six doses mean you have only been on it six weeks. The pain and fatigue are a part of RA. Has your doc given you any prednisone to help you over the hump? The side effects of the pain meds are normal. I guess there are basically two choices...take the meds for pain and deal with the side effects or suffer in pain The feeling so tired and not being able to work is normal. I would talk with your doc about taking a medical leave of absence from your job until you can get some relief from meds. Most people are able to take 30 days of short term disability with full pay. If that is not an option then talk about going to possible a reduced workload at work...maybe only working half days or only 2-3 days a week. Or maybe working from home is an option. Good luck In a message dated 4/26/2006 10:20:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 19:01:04 -0000 From: "Kathy" <lart12798@...>Subject: New and some questions..Hi I have been diaganoised with RA in Feb.....The Dr. put me on the Methotrexate I took 6 doses and saw the Dr. again and he increased it. Saturday I took the 7th dose...Why am I still in pain and so tired? Has anyone else had a problem with weight gain? The Dr. also put me on Lexapro for the depression...I tried to take Percocet for pain but couldn't handle that, now I am on Vicoden...My body feels like it is in a vice and it keeps getting tighter and tighter....I am getting where I can't work any more and just want to sleep....any advice?Kathy ToniIndependent Decorating ConsultantHome InteriorsBecome a consultant today for $99 and get $500 in free merchandise!www.homeinteriors.com/alavern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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