so alone

noodles

hello i am new to here i am constantly in pain and tired my gp thinks i may have a form of arthritis but still waitng for a defenite diganoses
i just feel so alone and usless my work is community support worker i have reduced my hours but still suffering just feel that people think it is all in my head because i look ok help

skezier

Hi and welcome to the site, I am glad that you found it.

I think at some point we all find it gets to us, and the early stages you have the additional worries of what will be as well. Pain is so good at pulling us down and has your gp given you anything for it in the mean time?

You will probably find you are not as useless as you think and once your diagnosed and sorted out on some meds it should get better for you. I am feeling a bit like you at the moment but I don't normally so you also will find your way through it. Take care and try not to worry about what may never happen. Cris x

elnafinn

Hi noodles

Love the name! Please do not feel alone - you are definitely not alone on here. We all have some form of arthritis ("arthur" as we call "it") and know where you are coming from. We understand how you are feeling, when "others" just don't get it, because, as you say, we look ok ie have not got an arm in a sling or a leg in plaster. :roll: :roll: :roll:

I hope to see you joining in, there are quite a few different forums to choose from.

Chin up and here is a cyber hug from me, ((H)) pass it on

Luv
Elna x

noodles

thanks to all xxx

lindah

Hello and welcome to the site.
One of the things my doctor told me was that as I was not sleeping with the pain it made things feel worse.It spiralled until she diagnosed me with mild depression,I was adamant that I couldn't be depressed but since my meds have improved things enough for me to take up exercise again I feel so much better.Mentally as well as physically.
Hope it's not too long until you get a proper diagnosis and treatment but in the meanwhile you can count on some great support on here.
linda H 8)

debatat

Hi, welcome to the site. You are never alone on here it is very friendly and supportive. Before diagnosis is a very trying time, once you are on suitable meds things improve. In the meantime keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

Take care

Deb

woodbon

Hello and welcome to the site. Don't worry, a lot of people feel like you do because as someone said earlier we don't have anything to look at. Mind you when I'm out with my stick, its amazing the people who open doors, get out the way and smile at you!

One of the reasons you feel so bad is that you havent had any proper medication yet, once that gets sorted, I'm sure you'll be feeling a lot better. I have OA in my spine and hips and quite a lot of joints, soon you'll know what type of arther you have, so you'll know what you're fighting. Its always hard at first, though so don't worry about feeling a bit lost at times, you have a lot to learn and this is a good site for picking up tips.

I hope to hear how you get on, do let us know and ask anything you want to know! Love Sue

c4thyg

Welcome Noodles,

I joined the forum recently as i was feeling just as you described. I'm not new to PsA but I've been taken off my meds due to another condition so I feel like I'm having to start all over again with trying out new drugs until I find one that works.

It does take a little time but there are lots of options available nowadays and there will be one (or more) that suit you and your lifestyle. In the meantime, try to take it easy on yourself and if you are really struggling speak to your GP. There are painkillers that can be given to you while your diagnosis and treatment plan are being worked through.
I wish you all the best. Cathy xx

frogmorton

Hello Noodles
You are SO not alone!! here we all are!
Welcome to the site from me
It is hard when you're in pain and you feel that no-one can see it :roll: WE undertsand and CCW is very hard work so I'm not suprised it's too much for you. Are you getting any pain releif in the mean time?
Take care
Toni x

lovehearts

Hello everyone

Just wanted to say hi to you all as I joined today. I have had RA for ten years now and 2 years ago had my right wrist fused. I have been taking methotrexate all the time but a few weeks ago after my routine blood test my GP rang me to say that my liver results were very high, I had been getting really bad pains in between my shoulder blades and down my right side, one evening I couldn't do anything to shift the pain, couldn't sit or stand, went to see my GP who signed me off work for 3 weeks. I am now in my last week and the thought of going back to work is making me very panicky. I work full time in a building society, it's a long day, leave at 7.30 get home at 7, am divorced with two children and the fatigue overwhelms me at times. I am beginning to think that I can't face such long hours and all the travelling and then come home and start all over again but being a single mum, I need to keep working. Does anybody else ever feel so tired that all you want to do is sleep, I get so frustrated with myself as sometimes the most simplest of jobs I find so hard to do, like mowing the grass or digging. Just feeling really down at the mo and needed someone to talk to.

xxxxx

skezier

Hi Lovehearts and welcome, this is a good site and the people here are very helpful.

I hope you are free of all that pain in your shoulders now? if not see your gp before you return to work. Can you reduce your hours at all? Take care, Cris

debatat

Hi Lovehearts, welcome to the forum. I am not suprised you are so tired. I would see if the gp could sign you off for a bit longer. Then I would see about getting some reasonable adjustments made for you at work. RA is considered a disability and they have to accomodate you. Maybe they could adjust your hours or let you work from home some days. It must be worth looking into. You could try contacting Nras, as they may well be able to help you.

I hope you feel better soon, take it easy.

Deb

elnafinn

Hi lovehearts

Welcome to the forum. You will meet others on here in a similar position with a full time job, kiddies and not feeling at all great and really struggling at times. I am sorry to read your posting and send you cyber hugs and sympathy and hope that you feel better soon.
If you still feel unwell, why not get another sick note from your gp? I know you probably do not wish to be away from work but better at home getting better than getting worse by trekking in every day.

Yes, most of us get these "tired" episodes where all we wish to do is sleep. If it is not to do with because you feel low, then it is a case of having to try and pace oneself, but this is not easy is it especially in your position.

At least you have found us lot here and we do all understand, some more than others, and you will always have someone to chat to on here.

Look after yourself,

Luv
Elna x (())

sharmaine

Hi
I'm sorry that you are feeling so tired. I had to make a big decision last year to give up work. I was finding it hard getting out of bed; always in pain and stiff. I even found the drive to work a strain. In the end I handed it my notice - it was a job that required someone to be there full time. I was on my feet a lot and had to climb 2 flights of stairs to get to my place of work. It was the best decision I ever made. By then I was so fatigued it took me a few weeks to get myself together again. There's no way on earth I could return to work until my knees are replaced.

Please go back to your doctor and explain how you are feeling. You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit or something if work starts to become too much. There's a lot of information on the internet.

Arthritis can be very draining. Now I just about cope with keeping the house clean and making meals. I was lucky to have a supportive husband and we've just made adjustments to make it work financially. When you have to you learn to be thrifty and learn how to make savings on things such as mortgages; insurances; tv packages; food etc. Speaking of food I shop online now because walking around the supermarket kills me!

You'll get heaps of advice on this site so don't despair. People who don't have arthritis will never really understand how painful and exhausting it can make you feel. However, I think you could ask to see an Occupational Therapist for advice. You probably need more medication for your condition and that means talking this through with your GP when you get your results.

Keep posting and let us know how things work out for you.

With regards
Sharmaine

noodles wrote:

hello i am new to here i am constantly in pain and tired my gp thinks i may have a form of arthritis but still waitng for a defenite diganoses
i just feel so alone and usless my work is community support worker i have reduced my hours but still suffering just feel that people think it is all in my head because i look ok help

valval

well come i look ok as well (apart from bruises keep falling tut tut) so when having bad day no one but me knows dont mention it at work as who wants to here some one moaning all the time. have trouble writting as pain full holding pen. took while before found out what was wrong even had my self it was in my head was relieved when doc said what it was then depressed as found more about it when u get right meds things r so much better good luck u get sorted lotts of good advice here

kaz34ni

hi noodles, im in exactley the same place as you are, im a community supposrt worker, my gp has said im riddled with aurthur, i was so low with fatigue, everything is such an effort at times, im off work at the min and have been referred to rheumatologist, so still no definate diagnoses yet, the only way i can describe how i feel to my family was apart from pains i dont feel like im myself anymore, my memory used to be sharp, and for a while i thought i had early alzhiemers, if i didnt write it down id forget. Do you work for a private company or the health service trust, i work for the health service and find them very good and understanding of what im going through (although not at the start) as im unable to do the job I was doing they are now talking about relocating me to different job which would be more suitable and hours to suit as well I hope in some way this has been helpful to you,

suncatcher

you'll never be alone when you go on this site nice to see you posting and welcome on line you will learn loads on here and it is addictive all the best joanne

tkachev

Hi Noodles,

i have been off the forum sorting out ready for my hip op next week(panic!) and helping my son with his history project!

Welcome,lovely to see lots of new people joining the forum although the reason we are here is not so nice.

I am glad you are seeing GP as I waited a year before going to see mine.He was marvellous.I didnt know what Rheumatoid arthritis was so i wasnt worried when he mentioned it and i was relieved to have a name for all the pain i was suffering.

Take care, Tkachev