Does anyone have weight loss and muscle wastage problems, anemia?

[jayne17]

I am 59 have had RA for 13 years and have been on many different medications but now have this weight loss problem which is due to my RA not being well controlled at present. I am on MTX and awaiting Abatacept shortly, having recently had ankle surgery.

[Tillytop]

So sorry things are not good for you at the moment. Not sure about the weight loss and muscle wastage but I think that anaemia can sometimes occur alongside poorly controlled RA. I was told at one point that I had "anaemia of chronic disease" and that it would sort itself once the RA was better controlled - which it did and I haven't had the problem since. I really do hope that the Abatacept works for you Jayne and that you start to feel much better. Hope too that your ankle surgery has been a success.

Tillyx

[jayne17 in reply to Tillytop]

Thanks Tillyx

[Hidden]

I've had anaemia pretty much constantly since diagnosis. My Hb is usually over 11 which isn't particularly low, I know, but I think it most definitely contributes to a general feeling of malaise - that's what it's called I think, i.e. a general yuk feeling. When the malaise / yuk is at its worst my appetite goes for a burton. Is that what is happening with you or are you losing weight despite eating properly?

I too have had some muscle wastage (which of course does result in weight loss even though I don't necessarily look thinner) and I don't fully understand it as I've always tried to maintain a certain level of physical activity. Most of the time I'm able to swim regularly and to walk in the hills, hard as that is. I guess your muscle wastage is due to having had surgery recently? I too have wondered whether muscle wastage occurs with poorly controlled RA regardless of how much exercise a person does. I think that's what my rheumy implies but he's not clear about it.

Sounds as if you must be feeling quite fed up at the moment. It's horrible when RA just generally undermines you in addition to pain etc. I do hope that the Abatacept turns things around for you - hopefully plenty of light at the end of the tunnel.

Luce x

[jayne17 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Luce

[earthwitch]

Are you having physio? I think that sometimes passive exercise (where someone else moves your limbs for you) can help keep muscles toned up too. Would be good to ask your physio if there is anything more that you can do at home, or that your partner/friend etc could help you with. Hope your ankle is healing well, and that you get on the new meds soon.

[gilox]

Sorry you are having such a horrible time,my only suggestion is to ask questions to any doc/nurse/ physio you can grab!Like the posts from earthwitch & Luce, I find exercise (in my case walking) really does help,realise that may be hard for you soon after surgery,but something to think about once you are over the surgery,good luck with the new meds,Gillian