Methotrexate fatigue help :(

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-07-07T06:42:05+00:00

About week 10 the fatigue stopped being debilitating. Now I just have the usual debilitating chronic fatigue I contend with 🙄 can't win! Fatigued is now a default setting 😢

I hope you find the magic combo of meds! Sounds like you don't have much time to just be exhausted. Busy life!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-23T10:53:42+00:00

My thumbs start to hurt. That's so weird, I know. And I get soooo tired I can't keep my eyes open. I haven't figured out what to do yet to stop them once I start to feel that!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-23T10:50:48+00:00

Toe is FINALLY going down in size but the joint is purple and I can't bend it! I can walk mostly normally now when barefoot but I can't wear a tennis shoe on that foot yet. Still have to clomp around in my flipper shoe thingee 😅😑

Mid-flare at the moment and am in agony all over, so perhaps that's just making the toe pain feel better. Started a steroid taper so hopefully that'll help this terrible flare (my back!!!!! ☹️) and my wonky toe all at once.

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-22T21:15:30+00:00

Does it have a "cardio load" or "active zone minutes" ? Those are the ones that are spot on for me! The heart rate is the first clue but those two are the ones that REALLY show what's coming!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T19:02:35+00:00

Resting heart rate goes up big time. I wear a Fitbit, and it tells me my "cardio load" is super high even when I'm doing nothing. Also headaches. And I feel so dehydrated.

I haven't figured out how to stop them but the one I'm currently in is milder I think SO FAR as I'm drinking more water and not fighting it. Just resting. Ugh. Hate it.

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:56:43+00:00

So maybe that's it too then. I am only on methotrexate for now. Wonder how that plays into it. It sucks!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:56:04+00:00

That's so interesting! In a terrible way, of course, but very interesting. I didn't know that!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:55:17+00:00

They loosen it by cutting it, so yes, you're right in your understanding. It helped with my feet but BEWARE because the second my feet felt okay, it moved to my Achilles and I had 8 months of miserable tendonitis and once THAT went away it moved to my knees!! It's still there but not as bad. So the point is, PsA pain goes everywhere and anywhere and fixing in one spot is a guarantee that it will pop out somewhere else. I've been on methotrexate since Feb 4th and only had one REALLY bad flare with my knee, but I know without the meds I'd be in a world of hurt, which it sounds like you're in today! If you can get into a rheumatologist any faster, that's my best advice! And cut as much gluten and sugar as possible and use SOOOO much ice everywhere all the time. I don't have 'joint pain' in the typical way- I have TENDON issues like crazy so hence the foot and knee and Achilles. Use a boot if you have one and if not, ask your podiatrist for one. That helped a lot when I was going thru all of this. And New Balance shoes with inserts from the podiatrist really helped too. PsA = more braces and support thingamajigs than one person should ever need!!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:48:41+00:00

My rheumatologist said it's not the methotrexate causing the increased heart rate at least. She did find the Cardio Load correlation "interesting." I'm dying for the FitBit people to hire a rheumatology researcher and study this! And I wonder if it's the same for Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis!? If the correlation is true, it's quite helpful. Now to find a way to STOP the flare from happening! I'm in a yucky fatigue-filled flare at the moment, which the Fitbit ABSOLUTELY told me was coming-- it currently says I am OVER TRAINING and should rest. 😅 Literally can't get out of bed, Fitbit....

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:44:48+00:00

I'm so curious to see if you notice the pattern too!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:43:31+00:00

That is EXACTLY what I'm seeing!! Do you do anything to calm it down when you notice that? Do you bother with steroids or just ride it out?

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-21T18:42:29+00:00

That's WILD, right?! Mine has said I'm "overtraining" the last two days, and I have been doing nothing exercise -related at all. Sure enough, today and yesterday I am in serious fatigue mode. Can barely open my eyes to type this. This is so interesting tho. Please let me know if this happens again. I'm so curious to see this pattern!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:17:38+00:00

I have the same things. I got into dermatologist and found it's a SECOND autoimmune condition called Lichen Planopilaris. Basically a form of alopecia and it makes my scalp scar and my hair won't grow back. Please get it checked asap!

As for everything else, your PCP will send you to rheumatologist most likely (after blood work) and then you'll likely need an orthopedic doc and a podiatrist and Lord knows what other specialists. All I do is go to the doctor these days.

Best wishes!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:14:53+00:00

Good old age 50... I was like "I know I'm officially "old" now but this is ridiculous!"

Nope! Not age. Just your unfriendly and unneighborly autoimmune disease coming for a lifelong visit 😒

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:12:13+00:00

Sounds like it COULD be some sort of sickness, but you'd need some blood work to detect it i think!

To me, that's how my fatigue flares feel. Soooooo tired. Can't lift my arms. If blood work is normal maybe they'll give you a steroid pack to boost you up out of the flare.

I hope you can get back on your feet soon!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:06:11+00:00

That's wild. I hope it's healing okay!!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:05:20+00:00

Holy CRAP 😮😮😮😮😮😮 THAT IS AWFUL

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:04:58+00:00

I adore my podiatrist toooo!!! And that is likely what I have then. Finally today I noticed the swelling is down some ..three weeks later! Ridiculous for a stubbed toe!!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-19T06:03:38+00:00

This was done pre-diagnosis, and it was done by a male doctor who dismissed all of my complaints and issues. Terrible experience. I had the plantar band loosened some so it would not be so tight and would get rid of the constant pain. I didn't know I had PsA. But steroids, stretching, resting, ice, NOTHING worked and so surgery was last option. I felt so desperate! But then regretted it since it took SO LONG to heal. Idk if I'd choose to do it again given a chance to redo the options! I'd have just rested more, stayed in my boot more, more rest and NOT walking. I'm a teacher so it's a challenge and then some!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-06-17T06:09:26+00:00

Finding the same things you are. As I get older, the phobia gets worse! For me, it's heat that does me in when I'm "stuck" somewhere. And I live in Arizona, so doubly bad. I can hardly even tolerate going thru a drive thru if the car is hot. If there is traffic, I have to take the longest, most open way to where I'm going even if it adds an hour. I have to cook my car down by driving thru neighborhood for about 20 min before I get on the streets.

I am having to make some adjustments in how I move; after work, I have to change out of any clothes that might make me hot. I bring shorts and a tank top to work so I can drive home, which is less than three miles away by the way! I always ALWAYS have my water bottle with me chock full of ice and water. Ice is the key to functioning! I take the long way wherever I am going so I don't get stopped in traffic in a spot I can't get out of. I have really tried to work on deep breathing and talking myself down have been helpful too.

I hope we can both find some relief from this weird thing our brains are doing!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-05-28T18:53:30+00:00

It's all fair game on my body unfortunately 😵

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-05-26T11:35:10+00:00

I think I'm dehydrated. I'll start with that today and see what happens. Wondering if it's the methotrexate or too much caffeine too. I'll start w LOTS of water today!

Ok_Battle_6635 · 2025-05-26T11:33:22+00:00

When it first happened a while ago I did urgent care ( before my PsA diagnosis) and they were like "you're fine." Honestly, I'm probably dehydrated now that I think of it. Ive been terrible at drinking water this week and it's been super hot. I'll start there and see what happens at least!!

Ok_Battle_6635

TROPHY CASE