MS FATIGUE!!!!!

Oh Yeah. The fatigue is the worst part for me. I am 32, female, and I just got diagnosed 1/4/12. I started the copaxone 2 months ago. I have a four year old son to take care of daily (until his Daddy gets home) and some days I'm just barely getting by. My fatigue may be a little different from what you're describing, though, because I just feel zapped, no energy whatsoever. But when I lay down to try to take a nap I can't actually sleep. And I feel decent when I first get up in the morning, but by 1pm I'm beat. It does suck, could always be worse I guess. I haven't tried the NuVigil but I had a lady with MS tell me the other day it really helped her so I'm gonna ask the neuro about it when I see her in 2 weeks.

Cliff, you're definitely no wuss. Taking care of a 2yr old and bar tending would wipe anyone out. Makes me tired to even think about getting a job. I guess taking care of my son is, but I think if I actually tried to get employed somewhere I would let my boss down. Just don't have any motivation. And I definitely couldn't be a bartender or waitress due to my shaky left hand. But I hope it gets better for us both, too.

Yeah, the fatigue is annoying! I've had MS for almost 12 years now. That was a key sign for me in the beginning, before diagnosis. I would work a 6-8 hr day and come strait home and sleep. This didn't work too well with a 1 yr old at the time. Since, I force myself daily to push through, take otc energy pills, and my neuro has had me on provigil, but I have heard great things about nuvigil. I drink coffee too, seems to take more and more as time progresses. Hopefully this is a temporary thing for you :) Best of luck!

I was diagnosed in '99. I had bouts of unreal fatigue and exhaustion, but mostly it was a feeling of being exhausted by noon or 1 o'clock. I inadvertently discovered my answer to be Concerta. It's and ADHD drug I believe, and I originally tried it as a way to focus more clearly, but I found that I no longer needed to take naps. I take two 36mg tabs in the morning and it has simply given me my life back. also, there is no nervous feeling like I had with Provigil. There is now a generic version of Concerta as well. Has anyone else had good results with Concerta. For the last 4 or 5 years I have gone to work at 5am, worked till 2 or 3 or even later, and then gone to bed around 9 or 10....no problem. once or twice a month I might take a nap....but that might have more to do with being 53 than it does with MS.

Diet helps me big-time. When I eat green smoothies and other super foods, I function rather well. Scarf a greasy burger along with fries and I am cut down. I think you get the drill mg

Fatigue is a problem for me too, usually VERY debilitating. Diet does help me but it's subtle and something I have to stay very consistent with (if I get off the wagon I start feeling like crap in general... when I eat healthy things I have more good days than bad days noticeably). I have tried amantadine, Provigil (double the normal dosage and weigh 120 pounds), and Nuvigil. After 10 years I was feeling like nothing could help me and very concerned about not being able to work any more, and have 3 kids still at home. That also contributed to very bad depression. What I decided to give a try this last month is Adderall, and that has made a HUGE difference. Most days I feel somewhere between close to normal and every now and then I have a day where I feel totally normal. It has been WONDERFUL. It is very inexpensive too. My heart goes out to you and I hope you can find some things that help! Keep trying and asking until you do find what works and don't lose hope. It is a very tough thing to deal with.

I am A new member i was diagnosed in 2006 when i woke up one morning with double vision about 6 months later they discovered i had m.s the fatigue part is the hardest for me because it seems i am tired a lot but I have to push my self to get through my day because my job depends on me being awake and alert. I drive charter bus for a living and also i drive school bus. a lot of times i will get home from work and pass out on my couch. My girl friend takes good care of me though if she sees that i am tired and hurting she makes me rest. I am not currently on any thing for fatigue but I have just started copaxone. before i was on avonex and hated it it made so sick i would have to count my self out for at least a day

I am a 25 year old male and I was diagnosed with MS Spring 2013. I am currently taking Tecfidera and have moderate Relapsing Remitting MS. I have incorporated two aspects to my life that have greatly reduced my fatigue. First, I run 3.5 miles at 5 am, at least five days a week. This has had a significant impact on the mid-day and evening sleepiness because I have so much more energy. Feeling like a human and not a zombie all day makes waking up and exercising that early totally worth it. The second life change I have made is to become vegan, strictly limiting my daily Saturated Fat intake to no more than 15 grams. This has left me feeling healthier instead of lethargic; once again a sacrifice that is more than worth it. I highly recommend a plant-based diet to everyone, not just people with MS. There is research that supports vegan-type diets as the best lifestyle to combat MS. Here are a few articles with more details:

http://ms.about.com/od/alternativemedicine/a/Basic-Rules-Of-The-Swank-Diet-For-Multiple-Sclerosis.htm

http://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/stars/stars-written/donna-mcfarland/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandy-henson-corso/vegan_b_1176452.html

You poor people! I have been diagnosed as having MS for nearly 3 years. In New Zealand I had to have 3 attacks before I qualified for any medication. 3 in 6 months gave me copaxone, which after 3 months I had a major allergic reaction to. Switched to avonex, which made me feel worse than I have ever felt. So I tried low dose naltrexone with avonex. Research found avonex suppressed the immune system, naltrexone boosted it, so they were essentially cancelling each other out. So I decided to be brave. I cut avonex, no more injections! I take 4.5mg Of naltrexone a night. My fatigue is less than 3 quarters of what it used to be. I feel like I have my life back. Please Google low dose naltrexone and read why it's not always offered to you when it should be. Please. There's more testimonials even better than mine. Reading this thread makes me want to cry. I hate MS.
Btw I have been taking just naltrexone for 4 months. No relapses. Seriously if I have an attack I will go back to probably interferon, but I will not regret feeling this good for this long.

Post Edited (stateofblink) : 3/6/2014 6:13:51 AM (GMT-7)

Yes. I had it this morning. I also have that really annoying brain fog.....

Today, I was taking a tennis drill outside, and I was feeling pretty good, until about 1/2 hour into the lesson. Then, all of a sudden, I felt like I was hit be a ton of bricks. I wanted to lay down right there, and go to sleep. I felt overwhelming fatigue, a slight headache, and a little lightheaded.

I've had this feeling many times, before. It's extremely debilitating. Right now, I have the chills, and a little fatigue, but I'm often sweating and hot.

Regulating my body temperature is another major issue for me.

Hi Gary!!! It's nice to see you here again! I hope you are doing well.