Crazy Lassitude

Wow, for the last week, at about 3 pm every day, I hit a wall of fatigue that feels like I've been hit by a big truck.  My thinking is screwy, I don't move well, and I have no choice but to lie down.  I perk up a little around 7pm, with enough energy to eat dinner and hang with DH and the cats before bed.  

I've always had some underlying fatigue, but this feels different.  Very definite, very pronounced.  I couldn't get through one tune in practice this afternoon without running out of energy.  I finally put my guitar away, and promised myself to practice in the mornings.  

I'll talk to my neuro tomorrow morning.  This may be the beginning of a flair.  Not a good way to prep for a performance!!

[jensequitur]

I've had a drop in energy every day around 3:00 for several years now.  I mentioned it to new good neuro, and she talked about several things I could do.  Right now I'm taking acetyl-L-carnitine, which is a drug they give to parkinson's patients.  It seems to help with neuron conduction - in other words, your brain isn't working as hard to send signals, so you end up being less tired.

I've been taking capsules every day and it does seem to help.

[Guitar_grrrl]

I take 1500 mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine 2x/day, starting today.  First thing in the morning, and at about 3:30 pm when I take my 2nd doses of Baclofen and 4-Aminopyridine.  

I had only been taking 1500 mg of the A L-C in the morning, and then I read an article on Mayo's site citing use of the stuff to the tune of 3000 mg/day.  I figured I could easily break it up.  Hopefully this will give me a little umph in the afternoon!

[HVAC]

I usually have little problem with fatigue. I feel so out of it starting last Friday. I have been getting my days and appointments confused all week even with my white board. I had someones dog all day Tuesday to play. The only problem it was the wrong day. The owner came home and could not find their dog. Today I was heading out the door to ride when my husband said it is Wednesday you ride on Thursday. I am glad I am not a brain surgeon!

Alex

[Lulu54]

That is the worst time of the day for most women - it has to do with all sorts of plunges in our system.  A while back I had read that we don't eat enough protein  during the day.  An egg for breakfast or Peanut/almond butter for a lunch will help with the energy levels, sometimes.    It's an easy fix to try to see if it would help.  

[doublevision1]

The lassitude is brutal.  I've experienced the same thing for several weeks now, by 2 or 3pm most days I hit a wall too, physically and mentally.  Vertigo and poor balance.  And this started before I started Sativex, so it's not due to side effects.  Lots of mix ups like Alex mentions, mixing up the days, forgetting appts, sending email to the wrong people at work.  I mention this to others - who don't have MS and are perfectly healthy - and who insist they experience the same fatigue and forgetfulness and say they know exactly what I mean.  I don't bother to argue it but they can't know, and it is not the same as the minor slips that everyone has from time to time.   I know they are trying to be reassuring though in a way it's really kind of dismissive.  I don't ever want pity, but I also don't want feigned empathy.  A simple "well that *****" will do just fine. Only you guys get to say "I know how you feel" because you DO know.  Yeah I'm a little crabby tonight.

Hope you feel better and if it's a flare that it doesn't progress to worse symptoms.

[doublevision1]

s u c k s - I forget they always bleep that word :)

[supermum_ms]

Hitting the wall 3 to 4 hours after being awake is pretty much my norm since 09, with out fatigue I can push through this for a couple more hours, then i'm a total space cadet but if i'm dealing with fatigue then i'm lucky if i start off just being a space cadet and end up being a bumbling idiot at the 3 to 4 hour mark. When my doc thought the fatigue was from hypoglycemia i was eating up big every couple of hours and snacking in between, high protein shakes etc it did nothing at all for the fatique but my blood work was really healthy lol.

I totally agree with doublevision, it s u c k s!

Cheers............JJ  

[shermay]

As for me?  I am tired all the darn time!

I sleep for nearly 10 hours, and still wake up feeling tired and have to take a nap in the day.

I have been on Provigil (sp) and I find that the days I do take it, it's brilliant, but boy to I know it the following day.

Have you come off Tysabri yet??  if so maybe this is the reason??  Just a thought.

Bisous,

Debs xxxxxxxxxxx   @ alex, why do I keep on thinking it's Friday today  :))

[essdipity]

Please see my separate post on this.

Thanks,

ess