HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Tiredness & Tingling

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/24/2008 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed in November and have had low energy levels for quite some time.  Lately I have been having episodes of severe tiredness that comes on without warning.  Sometimes it happens late in the afternoon but most of the time it is around 7pm or after.  It is an overwhelming need to go to bed right now feeling.  I seems to come on so suddenly too.  Does anyone else experience this?

I also wondered when most doctors start treating tingling sypmtoms (if there is any treatment?).  I have been having tingling in my left hand 1-2 times a week (feels like you have just come in from the cold--that warm kind of feeling) and woke up the past 2 nights with tingling in my upper lip.  It happens very occasional in my other hand.  I told my rheumy about my left hand last month-he said it wasn't often enough to warrant adding another med.  Just curious when other doctors treat and if they do, does it work?

Thanks in advance for your help.  I have been reading for awhile, and this looks like a great site.

Posted 3/24/2008 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Kadey, I've had that overwhelming tired feeling that is so bad that you have to get into bed right away. I don't know for sure what causes it, but here are a couple of my thoughts. One idea is that you might be heading for a flare - that's when I start feeling my worst. Another possibility is that you are doing too much throughout the day and not taking enought breaks. I find that if I want to be able to do anything at night, I have alernate periods of rest and activity throughout the day. If you work, it's harder to do, but you can always rest during breaks and during lunch. Another thought is that maybe your disease is not very well under control yet. Those feelings of intense tiredness were more frequent for me before I found my current rheumy who has gotten my disease more under control. With the tingling, did your rheumy say what he thought was causing it? A lot of us have peripheral neuropathy which causing tingling. Mine is sometimes a tingling, but most of the time it's a burning type of pain in my toes and fingers. I take neurontin (gabapentin) to help control it. It doesn't make it go away completely, but it helps quite a bit and the added bonus is that I take it at night and it helps me sleep. If your tingling is really problematic and is interfering with your sleep or if it's really uncomfortable, be very up fron with your rheumy about it. He may not want to add a new med if you mention some tingling in general, but if you tell him that it is waking you up at night and that it is really uncomfortable, he may be more willing to try a med for it. I hope you were able to get some sleep last night. Take care and keep us updated about what you find out.
Posted 3/24/2008 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kadey,

I get the urgent tiredness, and I was diagnosed 9 years ago. I get that way if I have exerted myself too much that day. It doesn't take much to over exert yourself, either. If I clean my entire house in one day without taking a break, I have over done it (I used to work as a hotel maid, so cleaning my house was always something I could do with a breeze). The best thing to do is to sit down and take a break as soon as you feel a little drained. A cat nap in late morning/early afternoon always helps with my energy level as well.

As far as the tingling feeling, I have never experienced that. My doctor asks me every visit, though, if I do. I would just keep bringing it up with your doctor so he can make a note of it everytime. Then, he'll know that it's more than just a passing thing. Trust me, you'll want to take as few meds as you possibly can; after awhile you start to feel overwhelmed by them.

Robin
Posted 3/24/2008 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kadey, I'm sorry you are having these problems. I have experienced the symptoms you have mentioned as well. They may not be caused by the same thing however.
You could be tingeling from anxiety, angina, neuropathy, and I imagine about 300 of reasons for it. Of course what the doctor gives you for it will depend on what they think is causing the symptoms. Yoy might start keeping a journal every time you have this happen write down what is going on at the time. Than when you see the doctor just push him/her until he gives you some answers. I'm not as tired as I use to be. Of course I don't do anything. I mean I do get tired an lay down often but I have a hard time actually going to sleep.
I hope your doctor can get you some answers
take care and let us know
hugs carol
Posted 3/24/2008 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I've been having the tiredness too. I first just chaluked it up to being a new mom and when that wore off I went to the dr.
Posted 3/24/2008 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kadey,

   The urgent tiredness is something I call, "pulling the plug". I will be feeling pretty good then all of a sudden its like someone pulled the plug and drained all my energy out of my body and I just want to lay down. It can happen anytime or anywhere for me. When this happens I just get somewhere and sit or lay down for a bit, occasionally take a nap.

   My hands and arms will tingle at night when in bed sometimes. I woke up this morning with my right hand asleep. If I sleep with my hands above my head this will happen. Like the others said though, the tingling can be caused from other things as well. I also have neuropathy that causes some tingling.

   Be sure to tell your doctor about both symptoms when you see him/her. I hope you feel better soon. Please keep us updated and take care. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                           Babs

Posted 3/27/2008 4:56 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your replies.  My doctor never said what could be causing the numbness and I didn't think to ask.  (I am always so intent on taking in everything he is saying I get flustered in asking my questions--I do write a list, but I can never remember to bring it)  I will be calling tomorrow anyway, I am having some new scalp redness and soreness, and a part of my upper lip went numb yesterday but still isn't back to normal. 

Babs, you are right on with your "pulling the plug" description.  That describes it perfectly.  I do work at a school, so my hours are reasonable but I am spent for the rest of the evening.  I run my kids to and from gymnastics, my hubby usually fixes dinner so I do the clean up, and then most days that is it--I'm done for the night. I end up trying to catch up on the weekends.  I'm anxious to see how I feel this summer with not working, although I'm not sure how I will be affected by the sun since all this finally came to a head this fall.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed!

Posted 3/27/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I think you might find that you have a little more energy when you are not working, or at least you should be able to pace yourself better. I quit work over a year ago and it has made a big difference in how much I can do. Do be careful with the sun this summer. I got sick in the winter so I had no idea if I would have bad reactions to the sun, but I found out very quickly the next summer that I did have reactions to the sun. I would get rashes and my lupus symptoms would flare. I'm still able to go to my kids' ball games and take them swimming, I just use sunscreen, cover up and always have an umbrella and hat handy.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply