Causes of Fatigue

  Many of us can relate. The problem is trying to figure out what is causing the fatigue. So far at different times I've been able to atribute it to: Prednisone, Salofalk, and Asacol above 1200 mg/day. The lastest thing causing fatigue blew me away- Sugar! I'm not diabetic I was just tested for it due to my recent findings. But if I eat more than a certain amount of sugar in a day I get fatigue the next day. For example 1/2 of a small box of jello will totally wipe me out the next day I'll sleep for 12 -14 hours and then fight to stay awake for around 6 hours (with no appetite either) then sleep for another 12-14 hours. Lessser amounts of sugar create lesser amounts of fatigue. I can't believe what I've discovered it's a direct relationship between sugar consumed and fatigue level the next day. I've been testing it now for 3 weeks and there's no doubt in my mind. Any other thoughts on this subject?

When I am on prednisone I become type 2 diabetic and it is really tough for a few months after I taper. My doctor thought that I was fullblown diabetic because he treats my dad who is and my a1c was 9.7. I never quite felt the same as him but I decided to try going off the diabetes meds when I was finally off of prednisone and low and behold my a1c dropped into the 5 range. Sure enough next time I was on prednisone that dang a1c was back up in the 8 range. I still will have blood sugar drops and know when it is by the weak feeling I get but I can control it. Losing weight also has helped the situation and if you are overweight you may want to consider a diet.
Also, have you had your vitamin d or testostorone tested. Steroids deplete your body of nutrients and kill your bones. I have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis due to a year of being on 100mg of prednisone and I was in dangerous territory of vitamin D deficieny. I had to go on 50,000 unit pills weekly for 6 months and 3,00 daily of vitamin d with testostorone injections monthly. The benefit has been incredible and I am finally getting back muscle tone and energy making me act more like a 30 year old man.

Testosterone, cholesterol, iron, b-12, vit d and blood sugar all ok sugar at 5.6, definately not overweight due to crohns. Took prednisone for 2 days and yesterday had lots of sugar as a test and today lots of energy. My hypothesis is that prednisone can also mask fatigue in short courses. Long term it generally causes fatigue for me. I know what I'm doing sounds crazy but I'm so excited to finally be getting a good read on how my body reacts to so many meds and this DD. You folks have given me so much good information since I joined I've been able to check things I didn't know about and add things I needed but didn't know about. I'm very pleased to be a member, thanks all of you! Rob