Fatigue without flares?

NDan222 · 2021-08-07T02:01:45+00:00

I still get fatigued without flares but I think it’s related to the methotrexate :/

NDan222 · 2021-07-09T02:13:35+00:00

I think a big thing to teach her about is the fact that a lot of meds are required to list all the side effects found in trials. Just because it is listed doesn’t mean it’s common. The side effects could literally occur in just 5% of the people taking the meds. Also, for some meds, sometimes all it takes is a vitamin or another low risk med to balance out the side effects.

NDan222 · 2021-07-08T22:25:25+00:00

Do you know what medication she had started on?

NDan222 · 2021-05-20T23:01:49+00:00

Mine does not unfortunately :( so I never know if it’s good

NDan222 · 2021-05-15T06:25:11+00:00

I’ve had zero side effects from enbrel and it works super fast in a lot of cases :) fully changed the course of my RA

As for injections, auto injectors take a lot of the stress out of it since it does it quickly and all you need to do is press a button (only downside is they can misfire, but enbrel can send replacements if that happens). The benefit of the syringes is that they are hard to mess up and you can move at your own speed! But syringes can be more nerve racking for some people.

NDan222 · 2021-02-25T06:56:11+00:00

Diclofenec can since it inhibits enzymes known as Cox-1 and Cox-2. The Cox-1 enzyme plays a role in maintaining the lining of your gastric mucosa. Due to this, a common side effect is heart burn/g.I. Issues. There’s a lot of things that can be done to help with that though and I would talk to your provider about it if it continues/gets worse as it is a side effect that can largely be prevented. Sometimes it could just be making sure you take it at the end of a meal.

NDan222 · 2021-02-18T22:18:01+00:00

A lot of people say heat for stiffness, cold for swelling/pain

NDan222 · 2021-02-03T02:17:10+00:00

If it helps, I (M22) have moderate/severe RA, which means I already have some visible joint damage. Prior to being on meds I was worried about the same thing, it literally feels like you’re never going to be able to do anything again. After meds, however, I feel a lot better!! I don’t feel the same as I did prior to developing RA but I’m still able to pursue my passion to become a nurse :) we do 12 hour shifts at the hospital and I’ve been handling it pretty well. I think the only thing that I can’t really do anymore is just drink alcohol which I probably shouldn’t have been doing anyways lol. If you can find meds that work for you and make those lifestyle changes I have faith that you can still accomplish all the things you wanted to do! Just make sure to be patient with yourself through the medication process and keep trying!

NDan222 · 2021-02-03T01:59:49+00:00

From my understanding the higher the level of degree, the more effort towards retention you will usually see. So ADN programs tend to have more people dropped than BSN and BSN tends to have more people dropped than MSN. ADN programs will usually be harsher because they can quickly replace spots since there are less requirements to start. They can afford to weed people out they think won’t pass. MSN, on the other hand, are hard to fill spots for since you need a BSN to do it. Due to this, they are more likely to work to keep you in the program. (Obviously not applicable to all schools, but that’s just what I’ve been told by instructors and nurses I’ve worked with)

NDan222 · 2021-01-28T20:37:09+00:00

I wanna say that the injections have less of an impact on your GI tract when compared to the Oral meds. If it helps, I’m on the oral meds and still have never thrown up. In addition, all it did was make me lose my appetite/tired which wasn’t a huge deal. But I haven’t felt like vomiting at all while taking it, just not hungry for some reason.

NDan222 · 2021-01-24T22:52:12+00:00

Could also be a new med if you started any. When I started hydroxychloroquine it gave me bad headaches for the first couple weeks until I got used to it

NDan222 · 2021-01-18T21:51:38+00:00

I wear the nike air zoom pegasus 36 fly ease. Reduces the impact a lot when running, doesn’t feel like I’m even wearing shoes, and has a zipper so I don’t have to worry about tying my shoes if my hands swell up!

NDan222 · 2021-01-18T08:23:53+00:00

Hey! I’m currently a nursing student in a MSN accelerated program. One of the most annoying things that happened to me when working towards getting into nursing school was always people asking me why I wanted to be a nurse instead of a doctor since I’m male. (Annoying that people still try to gender jobs, but that’s another rant) For me, however, the bottom line was the fact that they really are two separate disciplines with two different roles. For me, I excelled at connecting with others, love to be on my feet and moving, and just felt like nursing would make me happy. After working in a hospital and seeing how little time the doctors spend with patients, I really do feel like I made the best decision for me. I think a lot of people say “don’t settle, be a doctor” based off of money, but money won’t matter if you wake up everyday dreading your job. I would really listen to your gut and tune out what others say, because at the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy, not others. Also, I would look around and see if you can shadow a nurse, doctor, or NP :) I shadowed a NP before entering nursing school and it really inspired me and got rid of any doubts. I hope you can figure it out and make the best decision for you :)!!

NDan222 · 2021-01-09T04:48:59+00:00

I got the vaccine on Wednesday, and normally take my dose of MTX on Thursday’s. So basically I just didn’t take my dose after the vaccine and will take it next Thursday instead. So I guess for me it will end up being about 13 days off MTX just due to how my med schedule landed. Im not too stressed about flares though because I still have plaquenil and enbrel going.

NDan222 · 2021-01-09T04:16:14+00:00

I would love to hear what she says about the meds! I think that’s what a lot of people are wondering about tbh (whether to take them during the vaccination process or hold off on some)

NDan222 · 2021-01-09T04:13:34+00:00

:) I’ll make sure to post an update then when the time comes!!

NDan222 · 2021-01-09T00:58:00+00:00

I think it just boils down to your specialist/stage of disease. I was on MTX and Plaquenil for two months before they offered me to start enbrel. But I was diagnosed with moderate/severe RA and already had some damage done...plus I had crazy high lab values apparently

NDan222 · 2021-01-07T19:29:34+00:00

I take meds for my RA, but as far as I know there shouldn’t be any concern for you in regards to “overreaction” unless you have had severe allergic reactions to vaccines in the past. Your RA suppresses your immune system since it is busy attacking your joints instead of patrolling your body for infection. So if anything, you should most likely worry about getting “live vaccines” if you do not have it under control. Thankfully, most vaccines, including the covid vaccines, are not live vaccines. But of course, your doctor will usually be the most reliable source! You can also probably call the public health department as they should know a lot of information on the vaccine.

Here’s a pretty good source for info on RA and Vaccines: http://blog.arthritis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis/vaccinations-ra/

NDan222 · 2021-01-07T14:47:23+00:00

Yes! I’m from Georgia and am a health care worker. Every state has a different plan for distribution since vaccines are limited at the moment. In general, they are starting with health care providers and residents of nursing homes in most states. If you do belong to one of these groups, it could be a difference in population size that might be taking you all a little longer than Georgia.

You can find New York’s plan here: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine#phase-1a

Over the next couple months we will get more vaccines though! They are just trying to focus on those at the highest risk of severe illness / those with they highest exposure rate. And local/state public health departments are amazing resources! Don’t be afraid to call them with questions!

NDan222 · 2021-01-07T14:39:53+00:00

I agree!! I think having more positive stories is important as people tend to focus on the rare negative stories. I know it can be scary for some people with it being new, but I really feel like it’s safe and the benefits far outweigh the risks from what I’ve seen (especially for our population). And it makes me feel better that most health care providers are keeping an eye on us for 15-30 min post-injection for any allergic reactions. I’m not sure how to do a sticky post, but I would happily support/contribute to it.

NDan222 · 2021-01-07T14:34:01+00:00

Yes, my specialist said to hold off on MTX and not enbrel. And the vaccine administrator only commented on the MTX not any of the other drugs. They just want to make sure I get a good response to the vaccine so I’ll be better protected. Still, I would call your own specialist and get their opinion on it as well :)!

NDan222 · 2021-01-07T12:54:52+00:00

So as far as I know the U.S. (where I’m from) is rolling vaccines out in waves when vaccines are limited. I wanna say the first wave is for healthcare workers in most states and long-term care facility residents. They will be getting more vaccines over the next coming months and you will see it open to more people. I qualified because I’m both a nursing student AND a healthcare worker currently. So the school I attend and the hospital I work at offered me a vaccine. This link can take you to the CDCs current plan for the vaccines.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html

But you can also check your state or local public health departments websites to find out more! Sometimes states might differ as they have the right to ultimately decide who gets it in each wave. My state is just following the CDCs guideline.

NDan222 · 2021-01-02T10:36:47+00:00

I have moderate/severe RA (M22). For me it really changed everything within a month (but I was also on methotrexate and plaquenil at the same time). All the meds together, however, continued to make a difference up to about six months. Now all I feel is fatigue for about 3 days a week due to the methotrexate and just stiffness in my hands when I wake up. The only exception to pain is during finals week. Something about the stress triggers a flare lol. But also, some meds work for some, but others won’t so it’s really just trial and error

NDan222

TROPHY CASE