rheumatoid arthritis
"I am 23 years old, I was diagnosed with RA at age 21.  My pain, swelling & fatigue was so severe, I could barely walk and had to be in a wheelchair during my hospital stay.  My Rheum. started me on MTX immediately along with prednisone.  At one point I was also taking Enbrel (biologic), but the auto injections were so painful, it outweighed the benefit of the drug and I stopped taking it.  I am now only taking prednisone during flare ups and take 25 mgs of MTX every week.  The RA already makes me so tired, the added side effects of MTX are next to unbearable.  The day after I take the drug, I am so fatigued, I can barely pick my head up.  The nausea and vomitting is awful.  It is: Would you rather not be able to walk? Or walk and be sick?"