Arther, Meds or Me

joon51

Hi hope we are all as well as can be expected.

I managed to come off pred about 5 weeks ago, well I was pred free for 1 week had to go back on it, started at 5mg then had to up it to 10mg. As soon as I started the 10mg it was like a miracle ( if only), it was the first time in a year I felt my old self that was a great feeling it only lasted 1 full week. Now on 5mg sure Arther is starting to wake up again, am seeing rheumy doc next month so will explain it to him.

What I would like to know is, it's hard to put into words so I will come straight out with it apologes, sometimes well alot of the time friends and oh will ask if I am ok, the answer always being yes, when I ask why they say I look so pale, I have often noticed this myself. Well is it Arthur or is it our Meds.

Take Care

Junex

julie47

Hi June

Well lovely to hear you had one brilliant week out of the 52 but sorry that you have had to reduce your steroid and feel not too good again. Hope the rhummy peeps han help.

I don't really know why you look so pale other than are you aneamic perhaps. My nephew and Sil are always very pale and they are both healthy.
All I can say is if you feel ok , like me use a moisture cream with a hint of colour and hopefully they will stop asking.

Take care
Juliepf x

elnafinn

Hi June

As soon as I read your posting I also thought that you may be anaemic. You say you yourself have noticed that you look pale so that cannot be your usual colouring and it is often others that do notice and comment when they think you look pale and a bit peaky if you are anaemic. Do you feel extra tired, but you may put this symptom down to "arthur"?

Anaemia can be caused by a shortage of iron, but also vitamins B12 and folic acid are needed to make properly functioning red blood cells. People with chronic diseases like RA may be more prone to suffering with anaemia.

Why not mention it to your gp as it is obviously causing you or others concern.

Elna x

joon51

Thank-you Julie and Elna I do sometimes wonder if I am a bit anemic, at the moment itake folic acid every day except Monday's which is when I take mtx. I will defo ask next time I am at the hospital ( June 13th). Seem to remember being very pale looking before I was even on any meds.


Take Care Junex

chris7

Hi June

Sorry arther only gave you a brief pause there before hitting back hope your next Rheumy appointment can help. Do check the doc to check for anaemia, but I wonder if it is just your natural complexion? I know a few blonde and auburn haired lasses who always look like they are going to pass out but say they feel well. Me being very dark haired and from farming stock with a naturally weathered look! :???: I have the opposite problem. I can feel like death and people say how well I look. Guess we can't win eh!
take care
Chris

dreamdaisy

Good advice from Julie there - a tinted moisturiser will give a hint of colour, or just mix a little foundation with your usual moisturiser. I am usually pale because I spend a lot of time indoors!

I was sorry to read that you had to go back onto the pred. I guess you will be trying to reduce again - perhaps this time, once you get down to a very low dose, say 1 or 2 mgs per day, perhaps it would be best to stick at that, or alternate days, one day 1 mg, the next 2mg, and then after a while of that do one day at 1mg the next day nothing, for a spell of time. That might be the final prompt that your body needs to start doing without! Hopefully your GP can give you some help and information on doing this. I am down to 8.5, I shall reduce to 7.5 either this Wednesday or next Wednesday, dunno which yet - I will see how I feel on the day! The trouble is we are all so different in how we react to - and without - this blasted stuff. I am determined to stop once and for all, no matter how hard life gets - that's the theory anyway! I wish you well. DD