Hello everyone. Just last week I found this site after I was officially diagnosed with Psoritic Arthritis.
Here's my BIO.
I was diagnosed with Psoriasis around 2000. I was at my hair salon and my stylist asked about a ring of "dry skin" on my scalp which he said did not look like dandruff. A visit to the dermatologist and Psoriasis was part of my life. Just a couple weeks prior I had gone to a tanning salon and ended up so burnt I couldn't put clothing on for 4 days. Even the bed sheets felt like razors. I honestly think that was my trigger. I was put on Enbrel and over the next few years I had a sketchy relationship with many insurance companies due to my (now ex-husband) switching jobs so often.
Sometime in late 2005 or maybe 2006, kind of a blur in my life. I ended up with knee pain which got worse over the course of a year. I ended up barely able to walk. Five doctors, 3 specialists and many tests later I ended up in physical therapy without a cause or diagnosis. Having P, I suggested PsA a few times but they blew me off. Skeptical and upset I went, three months later to my surprise I could walk again so I didn't really care. Legs felt shaky but walking was a missed luxury.
In 2007, a move across the US and divorce later I got my own insurance and Enbrel. I noticed shortly after the weakness was gone and at the time knew that more than likely the problem in my past was indeed PsA. But I had a biologic and figured why bother with doctors.
Now 2013. In the last 3 months I have had random pain. Started with my neck/shoulder then down my spine, then across my upper back, then my right hip, all the while my knees would randomly hurt. In the last 2 months my fingers started locking up when I gripped things. And more recently the last month my finger tips started burning. I can only describe the burn as it feels after you hold a ice pack for 30 minutes and let go. When I finally got into see a rheumatologist he asked a few questions, seemed all relaxed, took some x-rays, still playing cool. After he looks at the x-rays he is all serious and concerned about PsA on my lower spine. Some talk on the various treatment ideas and because I refused methotrexate he said the option was switching from Enbrel to Humira.
So here I am.
I have been off Enbrel 3 weeks now and I just got my first Humira injection today, literally an hour ago. But in the last week Ive noticed everyday I have felt more tired than the previous day. Doesn't feel like I am sleeping, even when I go to bed early. I wake up feeling like I never slept and find that I will nod off when I sit down at work.
So my question is.
Is that related to this? Cause it seems crazy that PsA would just make me feel so tired. A co-worker who also has Psoriasis suggested the internal inflammation is why. He said you wouldn't believe how much your body is fighting. I thought, wow, I wonder if anyone else can confirm or deny this experience.
Thanks for taking the time to read my novel.
And thanks for any experience or input you may provide.
You co-worker has it dead on and very well put I might add............... Welcome to the boards. Sounds like you have a good doc. hope your new regime works well and SOON. It appears (to me) you weren't getting much relief. Regular activity stretching exercise etc along with your meds and watching your diet seems to be the ticket.
Thank you times 2 :)
I Hope he is. Only one visit so far, but at least he didn't blow me off like the past ones!
You're switching meds, which means that there is less and less Enbrel in your system. Yes, PsA can cause major fatigue. You should notice that the fatigue becomes less as the Humira starts to wrok.
Thank you Stoney. My husband tells me its weird when I mention just how drained and tired I am at work. So it is comforting to know I am not just going crazy.
I have been without Enbrel 3 weeks now I suspect it's pretty much gone from my system now. I don't know how long it stays in your system but this 3rd week with no medicine has felt pretty rough in comparison. Can't wait for the 4th week on Humira. Ive read good things!!
Dame,
Here is what I suggest. Put on your sexiest nightgown/negligee just before bed and the exact moment you realize you husbands hopes are up to their highest, and he thinks he's going to get lucky hand him a printed copy of this article, roll over and go to sleep:
http://www.papaa.org/articles/why-do-i-feel-so-tired
Spouse training is one of the more difficult aspects of this disease. Fortunately men who have few things on their mind (sports, sex, or food/beer) are more easily trained than multitasking women. Patience and perseverance and trickery are necessary for either.
Awesome! Thankfully I never had to resort to anything like this.
tntlamb said:
Dame,
Here is what I suggest. Put on your sexiest nightgown/negligee just before bed and the exact moment you realize you husbands hopes are up to their highest, and he thinks he's going to get lucky hand him a printed copy of this article, roll over and go to sleep:
http://www.papaa.org/articles/why-do-i-feel-so-tired
Spouse training is one of the more difficult aspects of this disease. Fortunately men who have few things on their mind (sports, sex, or food/beer) are more easily trained than multitasking women. Patience and perseverance and trickery are necessary for either.
Well I don't know what happen to my response from last night, or maybe I was so tired I didn't actually submit it.
Anyway.
Thank you for the link. I have a few people to show this too, especially my manager. My husband is a wonderfully helpful man so while he doesn't exactly make sense of it, he is still very supportive and helpful. And most times when it comes to the things you mentioned, it's me who wants and he who says he doesn't want to make me worse hehe.
Awesome link lamb 
Validation at last. That's why this site is so needed. I've been groggy, sleepy, lazy for a week or two and questioning myself as to why. I stopped Enbrel and am waiting for the Humira to kick in. No wonder I'm sleepy. I work in and out of the home, I have pain flares, and my tnf is probably up right now. So nice to know this is normal. Sigh....
hi :)
"been there, done that, got a shirt" :) yes, the extreme fatigue is one of the many "pleasures" of having PaS. few years ago i was feeling so tired i couldn't do anything. i thought that maybe walking will help. went to the park, started walking and have to sit because i was so tired i cried. i was wondering how i will go back home (the park was few blocks from my house, did not take my car). after doing research and talking to my doctor i was trying to understand the fatigue. it is difficult, because your brain wants you to do things, move, be alive, and your body is refusing to cooperate. i am so glad that today i can be myself (most of the days at least). don't give up. it will take time to learn to listen your body, save energy, make people around you to understand you are not that fast anymore. but on another side of all this is the beauty of life. you slow down, you will notice more around you. you know: green grass, blue sky :) it just take to slow down.
I feel the pain of both Dame and Michelle.
Fatigue is one of the major symptoms of PsA. It is so very normal to have major fatigue with a flare up.