Although I till "suffer" from fatigue - I have a reason. I did not realize that I should not be taking Motrin and Naprosyn because I also take Plavix, a blood thinner. My doctor did some blood work and I was very anemic. Now I take Tylenol for pain (I also take gabapentin for neuropathy pain) and if I am in a lot of pain I also have a script for Tramadol. If you are having a lot of fatigue, you could be anemic, which I believe is common with taking RA meds (of that I am not positive) It has been a while since I have had that "hit the brick wall" fatigue I used to have. Now when I am tired it is because I have done too much around the house the day before.

I think that RA treatment is so varied. I just love the TV commercials that promote the various medications for not only RA but other illnesses as well. They show a person with RA doing all the things we would like to do. Then they tell you about a medication.....followed very quickly by all the things that COULD happen if you take the med.....including death. That is cheerful. And by advertising these meds do they think we RA patients are going to ask the doctor to prescribe them? We are stuck between a rock and a hard place -- we NEED a good medication to relieve the pain and inflammation, so we cannot give up...yet finding the right med is so often a difficult task. But we are warriors and cannot give up!

Talk to your Rhuemy about giving you folic acid to take everyday along with your injections. It will really help prevent any mouth sores, hair loss,and some of the other crummy side effects. I have increased from 1 to 2 pills a day, except injection day. Hope it helps! Sorry we’re all in this together:(((

It sounds like your rheumy needs to get more aggressive with your treatment. Not sure how long you've had RA but your rheumy should be able to come up with a "cocktail" of RA meds that will get you out of pain and functional.

Wilmanurse - I am so sorry you are having problems with methotrexate. I have been on it for about 3 months after being off it for 18 months. I took myself off it because I seemed to be having hair loss. The "rheumy" put me on2 mg. folic acid.....so far so good. Sometimes I think it is hit or miss with what helps. I was on Rituxen, but it took hours for the infusion. And there was no noticeable difference. I had a dose of Humira, but the doctor stopped it because I had a melanoma on my back. I was on Orencia last, but no real improvement. Keep trying - there has to be some medication that will help you. Marli