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Weird fatigue

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/24/2008 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

To cut a long story short I suffered a really bad flare up of my Crohn's last year but this has successfully been brought into remission and I am on Azathioprine (75mg) to keep it there.

Unfortunately, I got a really bad peri-anal abscess that I had drained (twice after they discovered a fistula) and have been having it packed for nearly 5 months now.  Aaaahhh

My question to you all is about this weird fatigue I have.  I get really physically tired, so much so that I can't stand up straight for longer than a couple of minutes, if that.  Which makes washing up, standing in a bus queue, having a shower really difficult.  Weirdly, I can walk for up to half an hour and be fine but just can't stand still.

Does anybody else have this or know what may cause this?

I know I am anemic (hb 10.6) and take 2 iron tablets a day but this does little to increase my blood count.  THe tiredness happened during my Crohn's and throughout my abscess but now my wound is healed I would have expected it to go now.  My Dr is looking into anemia possibly caused by thyroid problem, b12 or folica acid defieciency causing these symptoms.

Maybe the azathioprine is causing this or a B12 deficiency?  Any ideas or experiences of this anyone?

 

Posted 9/24/2008 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
crohns in general can make u tired,i find b12 doesnt cause much tiredness defintly check out your iron,as for the azzo im on 150mg and i hafnt notice nething maybe ill check out the azzo.
Posted 9/24/2008 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
found this on the azza web site Other side effects encountered less frequently include fatigue, hair loss, joint pains, and diarrhea.
Posted 9/24/2008 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
I had the exact same thing as I was being diagnosed with RA. It is partially the disease. In my case it was partially that when I stood still my BP would drop instead of going up like it is supposed to. So, I too could walk okay-though it was fatiguing- but, could not stand for more than about 30 seconds.
Sj
Posted 9/24/2008 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Standing still in one place is more difficult for me as well. I can't really tell you why this is the case...it may just be a matter of building certain muscles back up.
Posted 9/24/2008 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Whaley -

I just posted a similar question a few weeks ago. I am also on Azathioprine and have been for a few months.

I am soooo tired - I want to sleep all of the time. Question for you....what were your symptoms of the abscess?

I was just treated for a urinary tract infection with Cipro, but the pressure in my rectum / bladder / Vaginal area has not left. I went to the gynecologist and he said he felt a thickening of my rectovaginal septum.

At any rate, I have felt awful for weeks and I am so convinced that I have an abscess...
Posted 9/24/2008 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
I know EXACTLY how you feel - right before I was diagnosed I had to get up an extra hour early because I had to take breaks while getting ready in the morning. the worst morning was when I didnt have the energy to blow dry my hair (it was middle of winter). I sat on the floor leaning against the wall with the blow dryer in my hand.

Are you taking a multi-vitamin? I find that it helps more than iron alone. It gives you MORE of the nutrients you arent absorbing - general vitamins and minerals that make you feel well.
Posted 9/24/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
That's just like me.  At one point things were so bad I had to sit down on the toilet seat to brush my teeth as I couldn't stand up that long at the basin.

Kam 7 -my symptoms were a mass about the size of a small egg that grew in the peri-anal region.  It didn't hurt as such but I couldn't stand up and was very ill, high temp and exhaustion.

It got misdiagnosed as hemmies by my GP so got worse and worse.  Despite 2 previous trips to casualty where they dismissed it, when I told my Gastro about the lump he sent me straight for an MRI and referred me to a Colo-rectal surgeon.  Anti-biotics helped a bit but after drainage -I felt loads better.  Because I was so ill for so long prior to the drainage (and anemic) it took me a long time to recover, still am.  However, the drainage surgery has def helped so much and I feel a million times better.  It's only this weird lethargy I still have.

I am on on multi -vits, iron supplements and have a healthy diet and lifestyle.  Active Crohn's is in remission.  I just don't get it!

Posted 9/24/2008 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I feel exhausted and so weak I can barely get dressed in the morning sometimes. It happens to me during and after a flare up. My whole body feels this weakness. Right now I can barely type.
Posted 9/24/2008 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am so grateful that we have this site. It is so good to know that there are others out there who have the same things to deal with day to day. The extreme fatigue is sooooo frustrating.

Whaley - thanks for your description. I have to tell you, that I am convinced now more than ever that I have an abscess. I am waiting for my gastro to call and I am going to insist on an MRI or a CT
Posted 9/24/2008 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've been having issues with my blood sugar and have had the same problem.

Posted 9/24/2008 5:37 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Whaley,

I too have problems with fatigue and am anemic.  Despite taking a multi-vitamin with 100% RDA of Iron, my count goes down some each month. For some reason they can't determine, I'm not processing it correctly. I usually wind up getting an iron infusion every 8 months so my red count doesn't drop.

Has your doctor checked for iron deficiency?

good luck

Posted 9/24/2008 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Iron absorption is impaired in Crohn's. Iron absorption is improved when it is associated with fiber. It is then absorbed in the gut as bacteria ferment the fiber. If prune juice is out of the question (high in iron and fiber) eat an apple with your iron supplement.
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