Fatigue

[Guitar_grrrl]

Just a quick question - I posted this on the "Weekly Sched" post, but I'll put this out to all of you.  I'm wiped! Whipped!  Dog tired!  Is this left overs of the measly 5 mg of Valium I take at bedtime for spasms, or is this truly MS fatigue?

Inquiring minds...
Guitar_grrrl

[wadeheather]

I've been to my doctor many times for the same kind of fatigue and insomnia (which is definately a silent killer!), Is insomnia also a common denominator for many of us? I haven't seen it as a "symptom" anywhere.

[AmishErin]

Fatigue is the sneaky silent symptom that no one who hasn't experienced it can even fathom.  Heat makes it worse.  Stress makes mine worse... add fatigue to insomnia and you surely feel crazy very soon.

I have been taking provigil for years now to help with the fatigue naps and drugs!

Good luck and welcome

[Lulu54]

GG,
Since you love the riding, you may benefit from a cooling vest as well.  You might check into that.

stay cool,

Lu

[Guitar_grrrl]

Hi, thanks for the response!  

Wow!  10 mg (which I tried the first week I got the prescription) absolutely wiped me out, and no amount of coffee could wake me up, and I was working!  So I cut it down to 5.  I'm going to guess maybe its the Valium, or, perhaps a combo of the two.  

This morning I had my usual cup of Earl Grey at 7 am, and I was completely worthless at work.  At 10:30 I had 16 ozs of Starbucks and that finally woke me up and I was able to function and do my work.  Luckily, I work in an air conditioned environment.

I got myself a "cooling bandanna" at REI this evening after work, and my husband and neighbor will ride this Wednesday, though it promises to be foggy.  We'll see how I do.  Last week when I rode, it was from Noon - 2, about 80 degrees, and I just crashed.  I made it home, but in first gear, and had a difficult time standing and walking for a couple hours afterwards.  I'm hoping between the earlier time, the cooling bandanna, and the fog I'll do better.

Thanks, everyone!
Guitar_grrrl

[shermay]

Hi there!

I take 10mg of Valium at night or /and on as needed basis during the day - 10mg is too much in the daytime so I take half.  The Doc gave me these for my stress levels, which are through the roof at the moment.  I tried sleeping tablets before, now they DO make you groggy during the day, but not bone crushing fatigue.  I stick with the Valium now, and I wake up just fine after maybe just 6 hours sleep.
Roll on Winter, this heat is really draining :)
Debs

[jensequitur]

The best way I've found of describing MS fatigue is the sort of tiredness you get when you've got the flu.  Even if you've woken up from a nap, you still feel exhausted, but in a weird sort of way.  The only thing I can do is to go to bed and sleep.  

This happened to me Sunday - I don't think I got too hot, so it must have been the visit with my parents this weekend.  My eyes kept closing, and when I opened them, it was hard to focus - so finally I just went to bed.  Woke up three hours later, still feeling woozy, but much improved.

[Ufrustrated2]

hi,

the bone crushing fatigue where i actually feel as if i'm fighting not to pass out is what i get...and then i can't sleep if i try to sleep it off.

that is my take. i use Doc Q's description "bone-crushing" here - usually say "bizarro or bizarre" but her description is more descriptive.

i would certainly say this has to do with my demyelinating disease for lack of a better diagnosis, and not a medicine. i know the difference.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, there!  I find that the fatigue from valium is a groggy, doped sort of hangover-type tiredness.  What you are describing - the bone-crushing fatigue - is what I live with from the MS.  When it is bad, I find it insurmountable.  If it is the valium, I would think that it would gradually get better and you accomodate to it.

Quix