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Always so tired and have trouble concentrating

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/10/2010 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have Ulcerative Colitis and have been on Remicade (every 8wks) & 6MP since November 09. It has worked great controlling my symptoms so far. And I am very happy about that. But for the past 6 mts at least I am feeling so very tired all the time. I have trouble concentrating on anything. From a conversation that lasts more than a minute, to writing this on my computer, never mind helping my kids with homework. It feels like I am in a fog most of the time. I wake up in the morning fine and then an hour into my day it's like a wall hits me. It is starting to really depress me. I am wondering if that is either the Remicade or maybe even the 6Mp that's doing this or maybe just my UC in general. I was wondering if any of you had any advice or similar side effects.
Posted 10/11/2010 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on remicade(that is it)since July 2009 and I feel the same way. I think it is the remicade but alot of people with uc feel the same way. It is horrible. I'm like you fine for an hour in the morning and than  I drag the rest of the day. I try to take a nap but if I can't watch out. Today we went to the pumpkin farm and I didn't get a nap and I'm soooo tired I can hardly function. This is the worst for me as far as the uc goes. Even if I take a nap it really doesn't help. I drag the rest of the night. I know how you feel and it is horrible.
Posted 10/11/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Have you had your vitamin D serum levels checked recently?
Posted 10/11/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
You might consider the possibility of a candida overgrowth. It's very common with IBD. Fatigue and brain fog are symptoms. Try this online quiz to see if any of the other symptoms match: http://www.yeastconnection.com/yeast.html
Posted 10/11/2010 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
For me, I found that by avoiding sugars and keeping up-to-date with my vitamins and minerals (like Iron, etc.), I was able to recover my energy levels.
Posted 10/11/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've had this issue for the past couple years. I've had all kinds of tests done and everything is normal, went to a chiro and homeopathic dr...no one has answers for me. It is very frustsrating, especially now that I'm in grad school. I just can't function like other people my age.

FWIW, I don't have many of those candida symptoms. Is there a blood test to check for candida overgrowth?

Posted 10/12/2010 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am the same way. I am not on remicade but I am on 6mp and 5asas. I wonder if I have a yeast imbalance of some kind. I have tried avoiding sugars and grains and even did the SCD diet for a few months and it didn't seem to help my exhaustion. That was when I was in a really bad flare. I am considering a low sugar/grain diet while I am feeling better, maybe it would give me some energy. I don't know what else to do.
Posted 10/12/2010 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
notsosicklygirl, some time ago I had a nutritionist run a full test on me to see what my body was lacking. He prescribed vitamins and minerals that "my" body was very low on as a result of UC, it was also discovered that I was anemic ... you may need different vitamins/minerals to what I needed and in different amounts. I have realized that if I stop taking herbal vitamins/minerals, I will start to feel tired after a few days.
Posted 10/12/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Bookworm: Common diagnostic tests to determine the presence of candida and leaky gut include the following:

• Candida Immune Complexes is a blood test that has been proven to be effective in the detection and monitoring of candida overgrowth (Candidiasis). Candida Immune Complexes correlate to clinical symptoms of Candidiasis;
• Candida antibody panel (IgG, IgM, IgA) ( is a blood test);
• Intestinal permeability testing for leaky gut syndrome (a blood test); and
• Digestive stool analysis and culture.
Posted 10/12/2010 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know about you but I'm on so many vitamins because I'm low on all of them and I'm not anemic but I give myself b-12 shot and take vitamin d none of this has helpped. I wish you luck
Posted 10/12/2010 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
You could try Vyvanse its 12 hours of high energy, but I never take the full 60 mg -way too much, 15-30 is all I need. I get the 60 and just open it up and spread into 4 piles, looks like a cocaine party.

I have taken every supplement and vitamin D3 and B12 shots and got cocky and stopped taking everything after Florastor even though I tested negative for candida . Then I flared hard and eventually beat it but the Neurologist I saw today said the stroke ( actually a Thrombosis ) was caused by inflammatory disease ( UC ) and being ultra dehydrated.

After discharge from the hospital I had zero energy and I have always relied on pre-workout stims and energy drinks to keep me going in a.m. and after lunch. Tough going cold turkey on that.

But they said no to all of that. No stims because most are caffeinated and dehydrate you.

I quickly had enough of that and took 1/4 of my Vyvanse ADHD medication which always revs me up, I felt normal again. I did not take it today and feel like I need a nap real soon. However the neurologist was quite pleased with my stroke recovery and agreed I could begin slow jog around lake since walking did zip for me. He also agreed mild weights with no straining is ok but just forget about Squats and Bench press for a good while.

I told the neurologist I used to take it and would it be safe, he looked it up and said go ahead, no conflict with blood thinners or the stroke.

Great news.
Posted 10/18/2010 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
The fatigue & "brain fog" bother a lot of UCers, even in remission. I'd recommend having your bloods done at least twice annually to check for vit/mineral deficiencies. Taking a Centrum multivitamin daily helps me, but I really need a rest period, anyway, here & there. We've discussed the fatigue issue in many threads over time, and the consensus seems to be that our overactive immune system wears us out-- because it makes our bodies constantly fight off something that doctors cannot figure out. So hang in there-- you're not alone in this. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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