What do you guys do for the exhaustion?

Are you anemic? If so, do you have iron supplements? What about B-12? Low levels can cause fatigue, too.

I find that drinking a lot of gatorade helps. When I'm flaring my electrolytes tend to run really low, I get leg cramps and I'm totally warn out. Every time I go to the bathroom during a flare, I try to drink a cup of gatorade.

Thanks a lot guys. Im not anemic so thats not it. But Ill look into the b12 and the other things you guys mentioned. Thanks again.

gen

I was seriously anemic and I've been on iron tabs since. The ferrous ones were to harsh on my stomach so I started taking once the doc prescribed and they're the glutamate ones. I feel much better, but I'm still seriously anemic. Did you get tested for anemia?

I know it's really easy to get frustrated. I'm so depressed when I'm flaring. It seems like nothing I do helps. It does, it just takes longer to get back to "normal". I hope you find out what's wrong soon. Getting some sun helped my mood, but some meds mixed with sunshine will reduce your folic acid and make you sleepy too.

Thank you guys so much! I cant tell you how helpful its been to be here. You guys are great.

Im not depressed. I have been in the past, not due to the illness. I kind of have an awesome way of coping with the illness where feeling down is concerned. Im so sorry others get so depressed, I do know how easily that could happen. I know my way of dealing with it wont be everyone's way tho so...
Also, when the sun is shining I do feel much better. Now, I still feel quite tired but not down. I do tend to get more done when the sun isnt shining. There are days when Im feeling so drained I do very little. I used to feel so guilty bc of it, when I didnt know what was wrong with me. I can remember talking to a fellow mum, who happened to be a work outside the home fulltime mum. I didnt know how she did it! It was when I was just starting out feeling so tired, before i was diagnosed. I told her I needed a nap everyday. I honestly had no idea what was wrong with me! She said 'Well when you're not used to doing anything all day, maybe you just lack motivation'... Lol...

Thats another thing with this illness, you look well! But you feel like pure crap sometimes!

Anyway, that was my gripe for the day!

gen

Post Edited (SoIGotIBD) : 6/10/2010 11:52:19 PM (GMT-6)

yeah right, sleep away! I love sleeping & napping- honestly, if I go a full week without my usual hour long naps, I'm dead tired by Friday. Almost to the point of collapse, for real. I'm not anemic now, but was in the past- even though I'm in a pretty decent remission right now I still suffer from exhaustion. Not sure if it's from the meds, the UC, or both. I say lgive in to it- it does help, I also believe lots of rest helps ease flares. Don't forget that when your body is in a state of inflammataion, it burns more calories than a healthy body, trying to fight the inflammation. So that adds to the mix!

I rest whenever possible. That's really the only thing that helps my fatigue. I take a daily multivitamin-- so my blood tests fine, just tend low on vitamin D-- but am allergic to major supplement for that. It's common for UCers to feel exhausted, as Eva Lou & others wrote above. Hang in there & never feel guilty for needing a nap or rest break! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Hi LittleKim,

Welcome, I'm also new to the board and Love it!

I too suffer from extreme exhaustion, I just try to rest and drink gatorade. I am overweight and do my makeup everyday, and people think I'm not sick! I was always very active, but this past year my UC has kicked my butt! I have had the worst 2 years with my flare, on prednisone, then off and in remission for about 4 months, now back in a flare again! They just put me back on prednisone yesterday, doctor wanted 20mgs, i convinced him to do only 10mgs a day, so far so good.

Every day is a different day!

Renee

I don't know what medications you are on but Vit. B12 is must. I have a prescription of 1mg B12 everyday, thats loads but thats what my GI wants me to take.
Sorry but have to ask this question, how old are you and if there is any other (major) illness. I just turned 33 and so far so good, not too much of exhaustion.

I seem to have noticed some improvement since starting the iron, b12, and D

IRON!

When ever i bleed a lot i really notice that taking iron helps me feel better. I dont take it when im not flairing though just as needed.

Yes, my blood tests showed deficiencies in all of these things. I hadn't been taking iron for a while, though, even though I was having weekly blood draws. The blood tests didn't show anemia because I was so dehydrated. They would show hemoglobin levels of 10-14 but when I was put on more fluids, my levels dropped to 8. BEcause I was dehydrated, my blood was thicker and registering incorrect levels and I didn't realize I was actually anemic for months.