Fatigue?

[osuche]

Looking for a bit of advice here...

I consider myself a rather energetic person ~ typically work 10-12 hour days, spend a fair bit of time at the gym, run a tight ship at home. Recently I haven't wanted to do any of these things....it's been a struggle for me to get out of bed every morning.

I *do* force myself to do some things, but I've been taking naps 2 times a day, as well as sleeping 8-10 hours at night. And working out at the gym has been an exercise in futility ~ if I get a 45 min workout in I am exhausted (and I typically go for 90 min). The house hasn't been cleaned for 3 weeks, and I can't bring myself to care.....and this from a woman who normally vacuums twice a week. :)

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and these spell aren't unknown to me (I have them about 2-3 times per year). My doctor tells me that spells of fatigue and depression are normal for those in my condition, and typically perscribes a steroid to alleviate some of the pain....which usually removes the fatigue.

Now ~ here's the rub. The steroids cause me to gain weight and are really hard on my body, and I don't want to take them this time. I am *sick* of being dependent on drugs which are bad for my health ~ and I am trying to take myself off of them.

So.... Any suggestions for natural ways to cure fatigue? Herbs, exercise, foods, other cures? I'd love to have some new ideas.


Thanks in advance for your help. :D

[IAKaraokeGirl]

Osuche, after reading that article I posted here a few weeks ago about limonene (found in the peel of oranges and lemons) and the effect it has on preventing/easing asthma, I purchased some aromatherapy items to see if they would help at all with my daughter. Just for kicks (and because I have narcolepsy), I also bought a diffuser for here at work and often use the orange in it. Maybe it's just a mental thing with me, but it *does* seem to perk me up a bit, like those big into aromatherapy claim.

It's also possible that the sleep you *do* get at night is not "quality." I, too, sleep a good number of hours. However, a few years ago, when I was making a 80-mile drive frequently, I had to start stopping in the middle of the trip to take a 10-15 minute nap. After a sleep study, I found that I have "spontaneous awakenings" as often as twice a minute while sleeping--although I may not be consciously waking up, it's an interruption of my sleep. It's something to consider if you keep having problems.

[osuche]

/me wanders off to the fridge to eat one of the oranges I bought a couple of weeks ago....

TY for the ideas. I doubt it's sleep deprivation ~ I don't feel sleepy....But I just vacuumed the upstairs (thanks to a home showing tomorrow I must) and I'm broken out in a cold sweat.....I go up stairs and I am out of breath..... Things like that. :)

And this from the woman who can usually do a fast-paced 45 min stairmaster workout! :confused:

[Lilith]

Have you had your blood sugars checked. I have that sort of fatigue/sweat when mine is out of balance.


I have tried for about 2 months to go off my medications. I finally realized today that I am failing and I just can't make it right (could not get my sugar to drop below 200 ever). I took the meds about 3 hours ago and can feel them working. I have diabetes and I have to treat it.

(((osuche))) I hope you know I'm pulling for you! Peppermint....oil, soap, candy, candles...peppermint is a definite perk me upper.

[Cheyanne]

Since this isn't "normal" for you - other than when you have the arthuritis flareups - and I noticed that you didn't mention that you were having pain, my advice would be that you call your doc and make an appointment. Acutally, I would call my OBGYN and make an appointment to have my hormones checked along with blood sugar levels, etc. And discuss with her/him what you are experiencing with the tiredness. I know before my surgery and subsequent hormone problems, what you described was exactly what I felt. It was sooo bad that the doc put me on anti-depressants. What I found out later, after insisting that I WASN'T depressed, was that I was estrogen dominant and my body was trying to adjust chemically to the assault. I was prescribed natural progestrone trouches compounded by the pharmasist specifically for me, and that did the trick! The only bad part of it was that insurance didn't cover it - they would the synthetic progesterone, so I had to stop taking it because it was way too expensive and I wouldn't take the synthetic stuff.

Hope you discover what is going on with you hun.... (((HUGS)))

[Lilith]

Side note: I just had my first reading under 150 in a really long time. I hate being drug dependant but damn it feels good to feel good.

[BIBI]

I have Pernious anemia which is the body's inability to absorb vitiman B-12. In my case it runs in my family and it began to affect me at the age of 28. I have taken injectable B-12 shots since. They don't do anything accept replace what your body is lacking. I have a shot every week due to my age and the severity of the anemia. My daughter aged 29 just had to start too due to the same condition. I would suggest that you have your blood checked for this very common yet overlooked medical condition....You getting so out of breath is what clicked with me. It is very common to feel labored breathing if your B-12 count is down and is the same too with iron deficencey(SP)

Good luck hun! Nothing worse than feeling a long lasting fatigue, that nothing seems to cure. Seems like you know what would cure it though! ;)

PS...maybe you should take your medication and see how you feel too. It probably is your body needing the treatment for your arthritis and although no one wants to be dependent on medication, if it improves the quality of life then that is what it is there for...... so take it :hair: (I know just like the rant of a Mom)

[Aqua]

[typical male response] You need more sex! [/typical male]

Don't know much about why you are fatigued, but I will say a prayer or two for you.

(((osuche)))

[BIBI]

Side note: I just had my first reading under 150 in a really long time. I hate being drug dependant but damn it feels good to feel good.

You keep taking your meds too young lady!!! :spank:

[BIBI]

oh my.... KIDS geesh!!! :faint:





;)

[cowgirltease]

Osuche I went thru that stage for 3 long years. You could be premenopausal. The harder you work the earlier your menopause starts.

Either blood sugar, hormones, pregnant, or sleep apnea.
Btw I hated steroids too. They really screwed up my periods.
When is the last time you checked your blood pressure?

[wyndhy]

get some rest when you can...your body must be needing it for something and take in high energy foods: grain, nuts, yellow veggies, etc. and most importantly SEE YOUR DOCTOR...try to figure it out more. just because it's normal doesn't mean the doctor can just brush it off as inconsequential.

[WildIrish]

I always blame my fatigue on stress, but there's so many things that can cause it. Best that you put your doctor to work on it. And don't accept that it's ok to feel tired and blah.

[scotzoidman]

Damn, this thread seems like a laundry list of afflictions I have had over the years...sleep apnea, diabetes, arthritis...I'm pleased to report i'm off all the drugs I was having to take, I could prob use an anti-depressant but those have side effects I'm not willing to put up with...if I could just get to sleep at night & stay up a little thru the day I might just have it kicked...

Side note: I just had my first reading under 150 in a really long time. I hate being drug dependant but damn it feels good to feel good.
Lil, I know what ya mean about having to take the blood sugar meds, I was finally able to quit mine after drastic weight loss...haven't had a reading over 150 in a year...

[LixyChick]

I have fibromyalgia and if I don't get enough sleep or uninterrupted sleep, I feel much like you've described osuche. Aches, muscle pain, lethargy, uncaring...etc. Excercise is one of the few drug free ways I can battle it. Consequently, I don't want to excercise when I feel like this. The doctors had me on sleeping pills which I couldn't shake in the morning and were very addictive. Then they had me on anti-depressants which, amoung other things, made me really sun sensitive. Then they tried a narcotic pain pill which kept me in a tired state all the time and although I liked being pain free, they were highly addictive as well. So, I stopped them all! Now, to assure I get plenty of correct sleep, I excercise despite how much I don't want to or feel like it. And, in the early evening when I can judge whether I am going to get to sleep in that night...if I feel I won't be able to...I take 1 Tylenol PM around 5-6pm...and I am assured at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I don't do this every night, but just on occasions when I know I won't be able to get to sleep or sleep well. I think UNINTERRUPTED sleep is the key to the self cure of my problem, and it could be a start to yours. IAKG talked about it and it makes sense to me. Maybe you could sign up for a sleep study and find out how well you are or aren't sleeping at night.

I hope you feel better soon and find the advice you seek!

(((((osuche)))))

[luke_dm5]

I suggest the following

-Avoid ALL caffeine
-Avoid refined sugar
-Avoid nicotine
-Avoid alcohol
-Take a B complex supplement
-Drink lot's of filtered water
-Practice good sleep hygiene
-It may be worth trying Ginkgo Biloba and especially Ginseng. Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is recommended for females and Korean Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) is recommended for males.
-Take a two week break from your exercise.
-Let your body have a little sun in the middle of the day. This helps the body clock
-Eat smaller meal portions

Hope this helps

[wyndhy]

-Let your body have a little sun in the middle of the day. This helps the body clock

i just heard about that ^^ recently. getting some direct sunlight between one and four will help you to get better sleep... huh. neat.

[denny]

I'm another who thinks your body is talking to you. Listen! As hard as it is for you, try to take some pleasure in being a lazy shit till you feel up to your normal schedule again.

Good luck, snookums.

[Loulabelle]

Osuche - Does your gym have a Sanarium (a much cooler version of a Sauna which uses full spectrum light to help combat the effects of seasonal affective disorder)? If so, how about spending some time in there? Full spectrum light (like the kind you get from the sun) helps your skin to produce vitamin D which helps to combat depression and fatigue.

Also, try altering your diet to low fat foods, since the body has to work pretty hard to release the calories it needs from high fat foods. Better to eat low fat, low stress type foods which make it easier for you to release and burn the calories you need. Just making a general assessment of your diet will probably help, since a surprising number of us suffer from malnutrition in some form or other and this inevitably affects our energy levels.

[osuche]

An update...and thank you all for your suggestions.

I've been doing a bit better the past 2 days. I've taken to stretching in the morning and at night...for about 40-60 min total....trying to work on increasing flexibility. This is easing some of my joint pain. I also took a couple of 10 min tanning sessions at my gym ~ wanted to see if some additional Vitamin D might help.

Worked out only 3 times this week,and I cut my body some slack. Been careful to eat lots of salads and fish, and I've been trying some citrus like IAKG suggested. I've let myself take naps, although my lethargy still pisses me off. I'm not taking the steroids, but I've doubled up on the other meds...and living on Tylenol. ;)

I'd say I am about 40% better, which is something I guess. Every day I work on it a bit more. :) Plus that damn rain has stopped, which likely helps too. :D

Thank you all for your advice. I'll continue to let you know what works.

[LixyChick]

Thanks for the update osuche! A little better is better than no better (<---say that five times fast...lol)! I hope you're feeling tip-top soon hun!

[campingboy]

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder.

http://www.sada.org.uk/

[Belial]

*big hugs* :hugs:

Glad you're feeling a bit better, hope the improvement continues :)

[ocean lvr]

dont really have any suggestions but do hope ur ok !!!

[osuche]

Doing much better, thank you. I'd say I am 80% improved.....the gym workouts (at least) have gone back to normal, and I think I am on track.

Thank you for asking!!

[Daft]

Plus that damn rain has stopped, which likely helps too.
Sounds like you have what I have real bad, SAD. I was thinking that from the start because it is very common (even if mild in most cases) and causes the apathy and sleepyness and all the other stuff as a result. Look into a small dose of melatonin (1-3mg is what I use usually and it helps, especially at first). Also you should get up early and go to bed early and no naps (even though they are ohh soo good)!