Extreme Fatigue

[Integritas]

Hi,
I was wondering what medications people find helpful to combat the extreme fatigue associated with MS?  Lately, I feel like my joints hurt, my muscles are weak and I can barely do anything for a sustained period of time (a few minutes) without becoming exhausted.  Does the IV steriod infusion treatment help with this, or is there a daily medicaiton that is beneficial (and does not cause weight gain)?
I think I can manage with all the other weird adn painful issues, if I could just walk from point A to point B w/o feeling like I need to take a nap.
Thanks.
IsitMS

[supermum_ms]

Lets start a new thread, we could name it 'Lets talk about FATIGUE baby, lets talk about you and me', slight ring to it! or what about 'What do you experience when fatigue comes a knockin at your door' or 'Getting sucked into that black hole called fatigue' well the name isnt important but the topic is, good thinking 99.

Ahhh just incase you dont know i'm a limbo lander, though if you know anything about Ocam's Razor (the most obvious thing is most likely it) hmm, i think i must of got a one way ticket, its a doozy of a ride, i'll happily get off, no problem there lol! It might be daft but sometimes I actually feel guilty for experiencing what is only understood by MSers, i dont think i could ever adequately describe the feeling when i first started looking up what i experience and MS kept popping up over and over. It sure wasn't fear, no it was relief, someone else knew what it was like to walk like a string puppet, gosh everything had a name, how bizzar!

Anyhoo, i'll look out for a new thread, its midnight here so i'ts really time for this little duck to go to bed.

Cheers..........JJ

[Integritas]

You provided a perfect explanation of MS fatigue and the differences between just being 'tired' but pushing yourself through, and being incapacitated by the inability to move through air.
I too have had quite enough of the comments from everyone regarding my 'diet' and need to eat more, take vitamins, exercise, and 'do less.'  I try to have a positive attitude and so I get up each morning hoping things will be better.  After falling out of bed, waiting the proverbial hour to feel a little better and then take my shower and dress for the day. However, that series of activities seems to tap whatever I had in reserve and the rest of the day is exactly as you describe. I find myself sitting and standing strategically at all times (propped on couches, walls in sight, desks,  banisters, coworkers, etc) whatever  to help me lean.  I actually navigate the mall by way of the number of decorative trees or benches I can lean against or sit on! lol
Of course, coupled with the brain fog and mental fatigue from all of the above, I am lucky if once I get where I am going I remember why I was there, or I have the energy to do what I was supposed to do!

Anyone interested in starting a thread for compiling a list of descriptions that define MS fatigue--perhaps a list that in the form of: "MS fatigue means....being physically, mentally or emotionally tired is different because:...."?  Perhaps we could then take that list to the doctor, nurses, family so that we all are on the same page, before they offer "take a nap" or "eat more" as a quick response!!  btw: my pet peeve response from those without MS:  "I know...I'm so tired, too (after they run through a full day of work, gone to the gym, met friends for drinks), etc!!"
-IsitMS

IsitMs

[supermum_ms]

Quote: My Neuo's nurse told me to just 'cut back on what you are doing and your expectations"...uh huh. OK, well that would mean not bothering to get out of bed- lol

Yes!!

I'm stumped at the fatigue, seriously confused by those types of comments, i've probably heard a few too many so i think i might actually scream if i had another said to my face. I have the unfortunate issue (in my mind lol) of being skinny and bony, and when the fatigue first hit, the only solution on offer was my diet, and after years of stuffing my face, i'm hyperactive when not fatigued, there's no weight gain and still I get layed out flat by the fatigue.

The fatigue when it hits, is a force unto itself, nothing shifts it until its good and ready, I honestly eat less when i'm fatigued because i have trouble swollowing and chewing, i need energy to eat and i'm using it all up just keeping my eyelids open lol. Food has absolutely nothing to do with my fatigue, getting people to understand that has been like climbing Mount Everest whilst carrying the fridge on my back.

I think the term fatigue is too readily used by the general public when they are (just)really really tierd, i too get really really tierd but I can still have a life, get through the day with maybe a 30 min nap, cook, eat at volume, and with some balance i can still be as physically active as i need, i can also fake normal when i'm tierd. When the fatigue hits there is just no faking normal, I'd be lucky to fake being something the cat dragged in. lol

Fatigue to me means upto 6 hour naps, using up my energy getting to the bathroom and having to crawl back to bed or have a little nap on the floor. Making a cuppa and not having enough energy left to lift the cup, falling sideways off my chair because the energy needed to run my brain so i can listen to the family chatter, didn't leave anything for my where i am in space part. Hmmmmm do less they say, well sometimes i've run out of less, exercise well if someone can tell me how then i'll give it a go, and lower the expectations is going to be a tad difficult. lol

I do understand the eat healthyier or in my case more, and to exercise, high energy foods, healthy foods are basically better for you, multiple little healthy meals a day give your system a steady volume of energy, not the ups and downs that happens with 3 meals a day. Same with exercising, activity produces adrenaline and i think stimulates your endorphens, so you feel good, muscles are stronger etc they are now recording possitive results from exercise for the fatigue experienced by cancer patients, so i do get this first line of treatment (lol).

With out the fatigue, i'm very active, exercise and sporty, meditate, do yoga, eat very healthy etc and i would recommend this life style to anyone but when i have fatigue then its just not an option, i wish it really was a simple process of eating better and exercise cause by all acounts i should not EVER experience fatigue.

I've dribbled on and on, sorry i'm tired (lol) i wish i could give you some direction on what to try, i've only ever been on meds once and i was so dopped out it was scary, i've only really tried a healthier life style but it fails dismally with fatigue. If you do find something please let me know!!

Cheers........JJ

[Integritas]

Thank you all for posting.
Debbie--EXACTLY!!!  My Neuo's nurse told me to just 'cut back on what you are doing and your expectations"...uh huh. OK, well that would mean not bothering to get out of bed- lol
I was on Provigil years ago and thought it was  miracle drug for about 3 months, and then I became very very agitated on it.  I went off for a few months, went back and then had the reaction w/in only  a few days. The doctor told me not to take it anymore. Has anyone else had this experience?
I am so sorry that you are all suffering with this to, but it helps so much to come here and discover that I am not crazy or lazy..I try so hard but it seems like everything I do is is like swimming with lead weights.

I'll keep you posted if I find out anything from my doctor when I go in a few weeks.
Thanks.  Spirits up!
-IsitMS

[Wobbly]

I take Amantadine... only one pill in the morning, I find it helps, but I can't take more then one.. it spaces me out if I do.

good luck with finding something to help.. let us know what helps you
wobbly
dx

[cainer]

yeh  theres provigil  or nuvigil   that helps me  alot.  you get some of your life back
   very expensive    without ins.   hope that  helps you!!  tick

[nanadebby04]

I am sooo with you, there are days I can barely drag myself out of bed and then home again at night after work.  The stiff, painful body doesn't help any.  My MS neuro suggested that I exercise 15 minutes a day to improve my fatigue....IS SHE CRAZY I can barely do anything some days.  I don't know what is out there but I am looking for answers also.

Sorry you feel this way,
Debbie