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why am I so tired?

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Posted 10/15/2006 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
sad  sooo tired eyes hurting & blurred feeling lonesome. why has it affected me so quickly dx in july.is there anything that can help?

working full time but need to drop my hours

feel that weekends are just flop around

help

Posted 10/15/2006 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well.
I am sorry to hear of your dx.

Fatigue is the biggest problem for many with MS. Have you tried Provigil?

I wish you luck!!

Lysha
Posted 10/15/2006 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Fatigue is probably the most common and for many, the most disabling feature of MS. There are many causes for the fatigue and identifying the cause can help you and your doctor come up with a plan for you.

One cause is directly due to the disease itself because of the particular location of lesions. A second cause is due to medications such as the interferons. If this is the cause, it will hopefully resolve itself after you've been on the medication for a while. If not, you could perhaps ask to switch to Copaxone.

Another cause of fatigue with MS is depression which can be due to the disease process itself, medications, or having to deal with a chronic illness. You could try an antidepressant, find a support group, or switch meds.

In sum, it's a very complex issue. However, there are strategies for dealing with it once you've identified the cause. Good luck!
Posted 10/17/2006 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
yeah  not really on anything except painkillers yet take supplements & am very careful about what I eat

I have asked work to consider reasonable adjustments but no joy as yet.thanks for replies. very tired again today & eyes hurting badly

what is provagil?

aliba

 

Posted 10/17/2006 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Aliba,

Provigil is a medication used to treat excessive sleepiness. It has worked for many msers. I used it and it helped. My pcp prescribed it for me. My insurance wouldn't cover it and it is very expensive so I had to stop taking it, but it does work!!

I hope you find some relief!

Lysha
Posted 10/17/2006 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
am seeing my gp next month so will ask him about it . unfortunately I dont sleep very well at night as well as the fatigue.but hey thanks Lysha
Posted 10/17/2006 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
The provigil works for 10-15 hours. So it will still let you sleep at night!
Posted 10/17/2006 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Good afternoon:

 

There arew certainly a full series of MS stmptoms...

 

But to me, the deep fatigue is the worst....

 

And unless you are a MS patient, you cannot understand the depth of the fatigue...it is not a "..stayed up too late last night...or "had to get up very early today"  kinf of fatigue, as we all know.

 

I also takew Provigil...have to go now...am tired and must go lay down...

 

John

Posted 10/17/2006 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Aliba

I'm so sorry u'r feeling so bad. I know u'r down right now, but hang in there. It should ease up. Are u taking anything for u'r symptoms now?? The med Lysha told u about is good. Many people here use it and love it. There is a lesser priced version of it called Ritalin and as far as i know it's just as effective. I see u'r saying u can't sleep at night. If u'r using any meds during the day it may be causing probs at night. If not, u'r doc should be able to give u something to help. I was having probs with fatigue and sleepiness for a long time and tried provigil, welbutrin and finally cymbalta. The cymbalta is what i settled on since it seems to help with my symptoms overall. I also use requip for jerking and that makes me pretty sleepy. I take it a few hours before bed and i sleep very well. Those are just a few of the meds u could talk to u'r doc about if they fit u'r needs. The welbutrin seemed to make me sleepy. I'm sure others can and will tell u more about the meds their on. about the eye pain, have u seen an eye doc for it? I have a lot of pain in my right eye and am scheduled to see a neuro opthmalogist soon. That may be a good move for u, but even a regular opthamalgist can see if there is any prob with ur eyes related to ms (i.e. optic neuritis). The thing i've learned in all this is that u should see a doc relative to the particular symptom u'r having...so seeing an eye doc for eye pain...and so on. I really hope u'll be getting some relief when u see u'r gp next month Are u writing down u'r symptoms? That'd prob help when u see him/her so u don't have to try to recall everything on the spot.

I'm glad u found us and i hope to hear u'r doing great very soon. Please come ask all the questions u want or just come and vent. We all understand and will be very happy to be here for u.

rhonda
Posted 10/17/2006 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
John,

I always enjoy your posts!! You have got to be a real cut-up in person!!

I don't think I told you... My hubby bought me a ranch!! So now we are both living large in a ranch house!!

Lysha
Posted 10/18/2006 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Wednesday a.m.

 

Hello Aliba:

 

Those were some very kind words to me.

 

Well, as I always tell my wife, you did not marry me because of my looks....I can make her giggle, though.

 

Wow...how cool...a ranch...fill me in.......where is it...how large....

 

Being the ultimate city boy, I have no idea what makes up a ranch....

 

But I can tell you are excited....so your hubby deserves all the credit...

 

John

Posted 10/18/2006 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Wednesday noon

 

Dear BG:

 

Sorry....I should have said THANK YOU to you for yor kind words.

 

And you were referring to a Ranch style home, not ranch.

 

I swear, I am am ama college graduate.  I swear.

 

My wife and I moved into a ranch style home @ 1.5 years ago.

 

"A whole new world..."

 

Enjoy.  John

Posted 10/18/2006 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
John,

I was talking to you about the stairs in our previous home and how I would crawl down and up them. You mentioned that you were living large in a ranch! I was just giving you an update!!

You still crack me up!!!

I live in Kansas City. Where you from?

Lysha
Posted 10/18/2006 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Wednesday p.m.

 

Hello Aiesha:

 

I live in St. Clair Shores MI, a suburb of Detroit.

 

Live within 2 miles of 4 of my 5  siblings....who are immense help to me...

 

 

John

Posted 10/18/2006 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Aliba: Thought 12 - 14 hr shifts were exhausting until I experienced MS fatigue. I actually had to pull into a Sonic Drive Thru Rest to take a quick rest because I couldn't make it home. After 2 hrs, woke and made it home. I drink Cammomile tea at night which seems to work great! That and a 1 hr power nap in the afternoon has really increased my energy level. Now if there was only a tea that would make my leg work!
Posted 10/18/2006 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Aliba and Pegleg

I agree on the power nap. I find i've cultivated a great habit of sleeping 2-4 hours every afternoon...when i can. When i do i feel so much better. Of course that's a huge chunk of my day, so i don't get to do it unless i'm really beat and then i have no say in the matter...body takes over. :( If u can find a way to nap or at least just stop and rest it'll help. I hope u'r feeling better today.

rhonda
Posted 10/19/2006 5:19 PM (GMT 0)

:-)  hi everyone pants day on the whole

symptoms: optic neuritis, fatigue( ugh) & sore legs are worse I think

my ms nurse was fab & she has reccomeded some of the drugs you all have mentioned

will ask Gp in Nov at 3 month review

my line manager who is a little bullying creep shouted at me today so after nurse went to Marks & spencers for a little retail therapy always works|| I am not going to let creep face win however.

 

found this website via the ms society it is good to be here

Byeeeeeeeee

Posted 10/20/2006 4:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hi albia,

I felt the same way as soon as I got diagnosed (5/04) I was the same way at work (I had let all my coworkers in the know).  Some days I'd come in and I was like dang!  Why all of the sudden and I always tired?!?  It was and still is a problem.  Now I have never stopped working even though I do get tired at times I work it around my fatigue.  But guaranteed every day at 3PM my body starts dragging.  It's hard to hang in for the 2 extra hours.  I am more energized in the mornings and usually do all the heavier workloads at that time.  I have now relocated to North FL and have a great job with excellent benefits.  The good thing is they are very aware of ADA and "accommodations" if I should ever need any.  I have not yet told my coworkers here in FL but currently none of my MS is interfereing to even notice it at work to be a problem. 

I have moved from a semi cooler place to heat!  On weekends if I am outside doing yardwork or just being outside for about 2hrs.  I will go back in and easily take an 1 1/2 nap.!  I used to hate naps I felt like I was wasting my day.  Not now, I always feel better after a nap.  The body needs a little recharging now and then.

Sorry for the babble hope you cope with the fatigue.  :-)

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