Fatigue

[frowngirl]

Hello Friends,

I experience a great deal of fatigue and was wondering if you experience fatigue as well.

10 years ago I never had this much fatigue...I could clean my house, garden, rake leaves, exercise and run with the kids. Today the fatigue I get occurs with the least amount of movement like walking up stairs, taking a shower, sometimes just eating dinner. I dont do any shopping for clothes or food because of the fatigue.

Has the level of your fatigue increased through out the years?

When do you most experience the fatigue?

What does your fatigue feel like?

Do you take Provigil or any other meds for it? I take Provigil 200mg which does seem to help most days.

Thanks and I look forward reading all the different responses.

Dawn

[wiggles94]

Fatigue is a big issue for me.  When I wake up in the morning, no matter how many hours I have slept, (usually 8-9) I don't feel refreshed, but feel like I could crawl right back into bed.
I have left my teaching job of first-grade due to the fatigue. By the aftenoon, I would start getting confused and naseous, dizzy and just didn't function well.  When I was teaching, I would come home and crash.  My weekends would be spent trying to rest up for the next week.

I can get fatigued doing very simple things like drying my hair, walking up stairs, opening a jar, even holding a book when reading!  Yesterday I MADE myself clean out some cupboards in my kitchen and it was painful.  My goal was 4 drawers with tupperware and I kept wanting to walk away and not finish....but I DID!  Part of what made that task hard was having to match the lids with the containers!  Sorting and organizing seems to fry my brain! AND makes me SO tired!

I tired adderall, but felt wired and didn't sleep well.  My insurance company just denied approval for newvigil - I think it's like provigil, but longer lasting???
So I don't take anything right now, but have lots of coffee in AM and often take a nap in the afternoon.

Have a wonderful relaxing day!

[supermum_ms]

Hmmmm, when i've got fatigue, I sleep 18 hour days and still feel like i've not slept at all, bascially on auto pilot, pee, sleep, eat, sleep, drive, sleep etc etc. I just ride out the storm because there's no energy left over to do anything else. A few months ago things changed, and instead of the knock out fatigue, i now cant sleep when i'm suppose too. Oh i sleep but i seem to have more energy laying down than i do being up, i can be yawning my head off at 11pm and so ready for sleep but as soon as my head hits the pillow i'm wide awake and still wondering when sleep will come and its 3am.

So now i cheat, I can still say i get 8 hours a day but thats made up in blocks, 6 or 7 hours at night and 1 or 2 during my afternoon nap. I've tried cutting out the nap but i still dont fall asleep until the wee hours, i'm just riding it out. Though i'm not looking forward to summer which is coming (here), i can't stay awake then, nothing i can do but breath and take all my foods in liquid or little bits i can swollow with out the need to use up energy chewing, things can get a bit pathetic lol.

I think the worst i've been was when the heat got so bad and humid, about 45d for 5 days and the humidity was too much for me. I was a lump laying face down on the couch, i couldn't find the energy to talk or anything much more than breath, that was over the top, sheesh i was even drooling and didnt have the energy to care, let alone close my mouth. lol what a sight!

Cheers.........JJ

[MisterTimC]

10mg Ritalin for the ADD (dx age 59, but I know I've had it a lot longer than that) gives me about a 4 hour kick. Although to be honest, fatigue has not been a huge issue yet. Except when trying to get up the stairs, or when I'm on my feet for more than a few minutes.
:)TimC

[frowngirl]

I have heard Adderall works really well. I have a good friend who has MS tried the Provigil with a poor response however the Adderall is really helping him make it through his work day.
Great tips on cheating with naps as well. I dont even find that I have go to sleep but just laying back in a chair and calming the brain...(no radio, no noise) seems to work for me.

Thanks Bob

[Sumanadevii]

I go through periods were the fatigue is awful!  It may last a few weeks or more.  I am usually fine right after my steroid treatments but about a week before..boom!  Right back to fatigue.  I keep a nice line of muumuu's to slip over my head.  I use sports bras with no snaps.  I have had some of my jewelry rewired with magnetic claps.  (If you have this done be sure they use good claps...or you may lose a piece you love.)  I also have found paint tip nail colors...easy to use.

I would love others to share ideas here.  Any ideas how to get eyeliner on?  I use Smashbox but I can't control the brush anymore.  

[COBOB]

I cheat.  Drugs, naps, modified work schedule.

I have Adderall 15 mg for my ADD.  It kind of gets in the way of sleep if I take my afternoon dose.  I find it really helpful if I have the rare client meeting or have to go into the office (about once every month or so.)  I kind of save it for the rare times I really need it to perform.  It helps both with the ADD (which I guess could be a cognitive issue related to the demyelinating disease - Dx at 35) and helps me to perform in public.  When I do use it, it will slow me down for the next couple of days,   Even at client meetings, I'll typically get out of lunch and grab a cat nap (I've even done that in the rental car.  I also try not to get dragged into evening meeting or after work stuff like dinner and drinks.   When I have the nights I can't sleep, I get up work on reports, etc to book billable hours I can "bank" to sleep during the really rough days.  Those are some of my fatigue cheats.

Bob

[Nickie72]

Everything is a painful chore due to the fatigue. Showering, lifting my arms to wash my hair, and I barely shave anymore. Changing my clothes, making dinner, walking, having a normal life...is gone due to the fatigue.

I'm gonna ask about this Provigil. I'm on heart meds due to atrial fibrillation, so I don't know if it'll be possible. *crosses fingers*

You're never alone. *hugs*

[Quixotic1]

I was a high energy pediatrician working 60 hours a week.  When the MS first hit with severe vertigo, I was almost bedridden with the fatigue which has continued - almost unabated up to now.  I did have a couple years, though, where I could get a little more done than I can now.

I take 100mg to 200mg of Provigil a day.  It really does allow me to do more even though it is more of a mental stimulant than a physical one.  On the days that I don't wake up early enough to take it, I slog through the day like walking through molasses in January.

I have to take it before about 9am or I am awake well into the night.  Usually I take it at about dawn wien I awaken to do stuff and take meds (and feed the cats).

Quix

[essdipity]

Hi Dawn. Bet you'll get a lot of responses to this one.

Fatigue is SO common with MS. I find I sleep much more than I used to, usually about 10 hours each night. Sometimes more, and now and then much less. I don't feel rested when I get up, either. Many days I go about my business for 2 or 3 hours or so, and suddenly feel wiped out.

Unfortunately, Provigil doesn't help me much. It makes me kind of nervous, but I still have no energy. Provigil is really for narcolepsy, so it can keep me awake, but what I need is energy.

ess