Hi. Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last June.

cpj333
cpj333 Member Posts: 4
edited 28. Nov 2023, 14:10 in Living with arthritis

Hi

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last June and I am really struggling with fatigue. I am currently on methotrexate. Any advice would be appreciated on how to help with this. Thank you. Xx

Comments

  • Dannii28
    Dannii28 Member Posts: 65

    Good Evening @cpj333,

    Welcome to the Online Community Forum, glad you have found us. I can see from your post that you have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and are struggling with fatigue. I have added a couple of links below which may help you but please have a look through other discussions as you may find others are feeling the same as you.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/
    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-fatigue/

    Let us know how you get on,

    Dannii (mod)

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on0800 5200 520Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • jamieA
    jamieA Member Posts: 837

    Hi @cpj333

    I was diagnosed with PsA in 2020 and have been on MTX since early 2021. I think you'll find there's a considerable number of people on this forum that get fatigued either from the arthritic effects themselves or the drugs prescribed. Many on MTX here report fatigue after taking their weekly dose. I normally find that the day after, or sometimes two days after, my MTX day I'm really fatigued. Some people have suggested for those still working moving their MTX day to a Friday. Are you also taking folic acid? I take 5mgs on the 6 days of the week I don't take MTX. Are you having your bloods checked regularly? Do you take an NSAID and proton pump inhibitor like omeprazole? I ended up with anaemia and that was put down to taking omeprazole as it puts a lining on your stomach wall to protect from the side effects of NSAIDs. Unfortunately it also stops other vitamins from being absorbed and that can lead to anaemia and anaemia can cause fatigue as well.

  • cpj333
    cpj333 Member Posts: 4
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/708039#Comment_708039

    Thank you for your message. I’m also on methotrexate and take folic acid 3 days a week. I also have gabapentin 300mg, six a day and amitriptyline 50mg at night. I also have steroid induced type 2 diabetes which happened after I had some spinal injections, but I have managed to come off meds for this. I can’t tell if I’m just having a bad time at the moment as I’ve not been out of pain since December 2020. I really appreciate your message, thank you again. Xx

  • jamieA
    jamieA Member Posts: 837

    Hi @cpj333

    Have you contacted your rheumatology clinic to see if they can help with the pain? I was referred to a pain clinic and the consultant prescribed capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches which I felt helped. Also the rheumatology clinic gave me regular steroid injections and that dampened down the pain - they usually worked for about a month at a time. Nine months after diagnosis I was prescribed a biologic - actually an adalimumab biosimilar - and that has helped considerably.

    Hope you get something that works for you soon.

  • cpj333
    cpj333 Member Posts: 4
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/708111#Comment_708111

    Thank you for your message. I will get in touch with them. Xx

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