Having a complete melt down

Sharrym

Hi all

Just looking for some cyber support I don't really post here often but read a lot. I'm 35 and have rheumatoid arthritis. I am currently on enbrel and mtx but I am still struggling a lot with fatigue and pain not just off the joints but general muscle pain. Do others get this.

I recently contacted the dla as I felt my mobility had improved and I was able to walk better as I constantly feel guilty about receiving this benefit. I work part time also. Not heard back from them however since this low and behold a flare up.

However my main question is I think I may be depressed am so down just now and feel so fed up with RA and constantly feeling ill. I am bored listening to myself moaning and I just want to cry most of the time do others feel this way


Thanks for reading

S

barbara12

Hello Sharrym
I am sorry you are feeling so down, but dont feel like you are on your own..there are quite a few on here that have taken ADs...mostly just to get them through a bad patch, so you go and see your GP..it may even help you control the RA.
Ask your rheumy about fibromyalgia, there are test they can do, I know that this can cause muscle pain has well as in the joints.
I do hope you get some help soon, and dont forget we are always here if you want to talk x

dreamdaisy

My feeling is that depression is par for the course when one is 'Living with Arthritis'. I am aware from my time on here that this is a topic that crops up repeatedly but when it happens to you it kinda feels 'all wrong'. It isn't. I reckon that not many can live with constant frustration and pain and stay all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

I went to my GP in April 2011 after finding out that OA had infiltrated my PsA-affected joints. I was expecting a talk about mental frailty and feebleness but all I heard was 'At long last! ' which told me something useful about the value of these meds. My ill-informed and stupid plan was to take them for three months, just to help me through what was a rough patch for me, but my rheumatologist thought otherwise (and on reflection she was right). If I feel better mentally then I can cope better physically and for me that works.

DebbieT

Hi Sharrym,

I've been on antidepressants at varying amounts since 2004. I have battled depression since my early teens but in 2002 my hubby became very ill, it caused disability & we had to go on benefits with 4 children ... I struggled for over a year but '04 he was hospitalized so often for many different health scares & I just couldn't cope without help anymore.

There is NO shame in admitting you need a bit of help, many people without our health issues struggle with depression after all huni. I'd advise going to see your GP & discuss how ure feeling. Also it can be well worth asking for a viral panel as well as vit & mineral blood tests. Ud be surprised how many people have low B12 & D!! I've suggested asking for a viral panel too as your symptoms could easily be caused by a few different infections.

Barbara & I are also on the same page regarding Fibromyalgia. I have it so know it well. The blood tests should be run to rule those things out as Fibro (FM) can often be missed or jumped to. I think its best to start ruling things out straight away!!

I really hope you see ure GP. Take care.

Debbie.x

Numptydumpty

Could it be the Enbrel isn't working for you? Anti-TNF doesn't work for everyone. It didn't work for me. I have RA, and I tried Enbrel and Humira, and my bloods, inflammation etc actually got worse!
I do get muscle pain, my Rheumy says it's due to using muscles differently, due to joint damage. It would be a good idea to get it checked out though, as we're all different, as are our Rheumys and their advice.
Wishing you well,
Numpty

frogmorton

Hi Sharry

I am so sorry you are feeling so rough. It does sound pretty awful and who wouldn't feel low with all taht to put up with??

In your shoes l would do two things; one is to see my GP because he may be able to help....have you seen Hileena's thread about the pain clinic's clinical psych?? and the second would be to see rheumatologist as soon as poss or nurses and see how the RA actually is doing.

I am so glad you used us for some cyber support

Love and ((()))

Toni xxx

dillydream

Hi Sharrym,
I would suggest you make an appointment with your GP sooner rather than later and tell her what has been happening. If the depression is linked to the RA why not ask if you could have something to help with that?
Just an observation though! i have been through a very rough time over the last few months. Feeling ill,( i had an ear infection to begin with ) weak,unable to get out of bed for six days,terrible bouts of crying and the worst depression i have ever had in my life. I rang my Rheumatolgy Nurse on the Emergency number and my Enbrel has been stopped. In the days since then, i have started to feel well again. I know that once again i am without medication and that my symptons are going to return big time, but i can function now,which i was unable to do for weeks.
It may be that the Embrel isn`t suiting you and it`s worth mentioning it to the Doctor. Don`t go on suffering.
Best wishes
Dilly

trepolpen

Hi Sharrym

had RA since mid 90s , most of us suffer because of long term illness & either end up taking something like Amitriptyline or do meditation/mindfulness , got to agree talk to your GP & maybe try Amitriptyline , it helps with sleep as well , the musle pains go with RA so I would ask to try another bio drug , had problems with Enbrel myself & starting golimumab

one thing dont buy any over the counter anti depressants , some dont mix well with Methotrexate , check first but better to talk to your GP & get something from him

dreamdaisy

Hi, how are you feeling today? DD

kentishlady

Hi Sharrym. Do hope you will be feeling a little better soon. As DD said it is hardly surprising that we all get a bit down at times. The constant pain eventually gets to everyone at times - it does me too. All of us understand how you are feeling. Take care. Beryl.

Sharrym

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. I am feeling a little better still up and Down got Rheumy appointment at end of the month and going to see my gp tomorrow. My bloods are all good so that says enbrel is working so not sure why I still have so much pain. Perhaps I over do it trying to be normal. Will keep you all posted and thanks again helps to hear others stories xxx

lynnhb

Hi Sharrym, I am sorry to hear you feel so low. As other's have said; you are not alone. I have taken anti-depressants in the past, in particular when my husband had a triple heart bypass a few years ago (he is fully recovered & was back working full time after 3 months thankfully) & I needed to keep going. They certainly help. You need support from family & friends too so don't be afraid of sharing your feelings with them. I have a few work colleagues who have taken AD's for various reasons & we have found that sharing our feelings helps. Our organisation supports us by offering & paying for 6 counselling sessions with a wonderful external counsellor. I note you work part-time, & wonder if it may be worth approaching your employers or GP re: this. It is amazing how many people think they have nothing to say at a counselling session then find they say lots. I understand this is not everyone's choice though.
If you do take AD's you may find it takes a while to adjust to them, or they need to be changed, so don't worry if that happens, just keep in touch with your GP.
Love & hugs, Lynn