Just so tired...

[mohikan22]

Think I'm going mad..or getting old. After a 4day on painkillers (Di hydra codeine and tramadol. Paracetamol. .finally I have some relief...yet I'm so tired today..Just no umph..no motivation ....yet I won't sleep until 1am and awake at 6.30 always regular as clock worK.on top of all that I'm irratable and HOT!! Melting hot...With just some Joggers on...sorry people.rant over.

[Knackered-knees]

took me two years to work out what that was all about, see the book on fatigue on the RA website really helpful. the tiredness is a consequence of the chemicals which control the inflammatory process - the cytokines produce the same effects as a really bad bout of flu ie low mood and energy so on days when I flare I feel knackered all day. the hotness is the inflammation again just like flu

[oldtimer]

Part of the tiredness is due to the side effects of the painkillers which make me dopey mentally. Part is due to the body's efforts to combat the attack that it itself is mounting on your joints. So it is just like having a bad infection all the time and that makes you exhausted.

Have a search on Google for "The Spoons Theory" - I found it useful in explaining to others that at the beginning of the day i only had some much energy and I had to parcel it out during the day not to run out. If I used up too much I was too tired to sleep!

[hawker955]

Tramadol being an opiate does cause drowsiness but also if you are anaemic as many are with RA that makes you tired and listless as well. It can also be as simple as RA being bad at night disrupting your sleep. That's three possible causes, or the combination of them all Being hot? RA being a body-wide inflammatory condition, causes fever and sweats. My treatment stopped all of these symptoms as well as fixing the swollen hands and joints. Hope this helps?

[allanah]

All good answers above, so just to say hang on in there, it will pass a bit when your more controlled and on the new drugs xx

[bigcatlover]

I really find hydrotherapy twice a week helps with my symptoms. I try not to take so many painkillers as I think they add to the problem, but everyone is different. I only take them when I feel I need them not when the Doctor tells me to. You know your body better than they do. It's just a combination of trying new things until you find what works for you.

[norfolkjo]

I feel your pain (and heat) bed rest yesterday after cortisone in knees bored and tired but didn't drop off until 3am then awake at 7 .. sometimes you just have to give in and let the world trot on for a few days. The only positive is a tiny energy improvement feels massive

[Hidden]

We suffer from tiredness, this can be caused by the immune system and the RA. Pain medications are the same and they can cause tiredness.

You have been on pain medications only for a short period and over a period of time certain medications that suit will be found and you will also know how to control the contraindications. So it is just part of you getting something that will give you relief.

It looks like you are piggy backing a fair list of medications so this will be causing the symptoms you mention

BOB

[petalnumber2]

Overwhelming fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms of RA to cope with, in my estimation. The messed up sleep patterns upset me too.

I agree with all explanations and advice given above. The only thing I could add is, that it is also tiring when you get over anxious about the life changes imposed by RA and associated conditions. As soon as I accepted my situation and started pacing myself I fared better.

I used to take pain relief medications as advised by my clinical nurse, regularly every day, but discovered that it added to my tiredness. So I only take paracetamol or Co-Codamol when I really need it and that works better for me. June x