Other Coping with fatigue

[jaccat]

I get fatigue pretty regularly, have done for years. It can last anything from a single day to a few weeks at a time. I’ve been fatigued for the last few weeks and am at the end of my tether with it. I’m calling the doctors on Monday.

There are reasons for me to get it. I’ve been diagnosed with three separate conditions that have fatigue as a symptom, and suspect there’s a fourth. Some of it’s stress/anxiety related. Except for the times when I actually stop sleeping, I don't really know what condition is causing the fatigue, but I figure it's one of them. Anyway, that’s for the doctor to work out.

My coping methods in the past have mostly been to survive on sugar and keep going until I crash, but I’ve come to realise that’s not working. I think it's actually making me feel worse. I try to rest as much as possible, but my job’s not the kind I can sit down for, or take extra breaks on, and I can't keep leaving early. I’m trying to eat well, but that’s incredibly hard when I’m struggling to even stand up at the end of the day. I’ve got a few issues with food anyway, which complicates things a bit.

I’m wondering if anyone has found anything that helps them just get through days like this. I need new coping methods.

 

[HealingMama]

I have a condition that causes profound, debilitating fatigue. One hack that's worked well is i got a rolling stool to keep in the kitchen so days that have taken away all my extra energy, I can sit and roll around the kitchen to prepare a decent meal.

Meal prep freezer friendly stuff when you have the energy.

I also give myself massive doses of vitamin D when this happens. Or oral steroids but that can cause moodiness and other bad side effects so I try to avoid it.

 

[jaccat]

Thanks @HealingMama. I did wonder about supplements, but I didn’t have a clue where to start.

 

[HealingMama]

I am not a doctor or your doctor etc etc. I can say what I take. I take ashwaganda, vitamin D and maca root extract. Ashwaganda helps mitigate the stress response which for me increases the risk of the fatigue symptom.

Holy basil aka Tulsi is a tea that is clinically studied to help with stress.

Turmeric helps with inflammation. Golden milk recipes abound. It's better to take turmeric itself rather than the curcumin supplements.

Sometimes my electrolytes are off. Epsom salt baths seem to help.

CBD (non thc formulary) doesn't help with fatigue per se but kind of makes me not care as much that I don't feel well.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I have a condition that causes profound, debilitating fatigue. One hack that's worked well is i got a rolling stool to keep in the kitchen so days that have taken away all my extra energy, I can sit and roll around the kitchen to prepare a decent meal.

Meal prep freezer friendly stuff when you have the energy.

I also give myself massive doses of vitamin D when this happens. Or oral steroids but that can cause moodiness and other bad side effects so I try to avoid it.

Vitamin B complex is really good. I take hydroxyzine so I sleep 7 hrs a night. A sleep routine is super important.....sleeping at odd hours and taking naps.....makes my fatigue worse. Good luck.

 

[shatter eyes]

I struggle from fatigue also and what has helped improve my energy and function are eating clean proteins, adding supplements like BCAA amino acids, NAC, MCT oil, Vitamin D3, B100 complex, liquid melatonin, and avoid sugar yummies and pastries.

When i do follow through i am good and mood is good also. Its a frustrating cycle because when tired i dont want to do anything...even drinking water is tough.

Also getting blood test may help you get an idea of where your body chemistry is doing.

 

[jaccat]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Unfortunately the fatigue ended up setting off my insomnia, and I’ve had to resort to sleeping tablets in order to get any sleep. I’ve been unable to take them every night and I’m not sleeping at all on the nights I don’t, so that hasn’t helped at all. But it’s not as bad as it was.

I did get blood tests. From the sound of it they were normal, although I’ll know more when I see the doctor again in a fortnight. It doesn't help that the waiting list to see her is a month long.

I’m a little worried about the coming fortnight as it’s a very busy time where I work and I’m expected to work long hours with only one day off, out of the next 11. But I’ve come to the decision that I can’t keep just pushing through, so if I need to put myself first I will do.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I struggle from fatigue also and what has helped improve my energy and function are eating clean proteins, adding supplements like BCAA amino acids, NAC, MCT oil, Vitamin D3, B100 complex, liquid melatonin, and avoid sugar yummies and pastries.

When i do follow through i am good and mood is good also. Its a frustrating cycle because when tired i dont want to do anything...even drinking water is tough.

Also getting blood test may help you get an idea of where your body chemistry is doing.

I tried the liquid melatonin but it didn't seem to have much impact. I use magnesium citrate for sleep, and flintstones w iron vitamins with iron, get 50,000 D weekly, vitamin B12 shots (monthly)-that really helps memory, and drink protein shakes first thing in the morning.
That seems to help energy -a high amount of protein in the morning (40mg.)

 

[blackemerald1]

I know it sounds counter... but exercise and getting adequate daylight time seem to help with fatigue. I'm not suggesting any sort of strenuous stuff or marathons to begin with but a graduated cardio routine starting off gently and working up to a decent half hour to hour a day might help with several things. Sleep, appetite, fatigue, energy boosts etc...

Perhaps ask your doctor what is safe and sensible when next you see them?

 

[shatter eyes]

I know it sounds counter... but exercise and getting adequate daylight time seem to help with fatigue. I'm not suggesting any sort of strenuous stuff or marathons to begin with but a graduated cardio routine starting off gently and working up to a decent half hour to hour a day might help with several things. Sleep, appetite, fatigue, energy boosts etc...

Perhaps ask your doctor what is safe and sensible when next you see them?

Yup i agree, the pain clinic doc said samething. Just going outside and movement helps with mood and pain perception. I know with ptsd or other anxieties it can be tough to get going or even peek outside the door at times.

I tried the liquid melatonin but it didn't seem to have much impact. I use magnesium citrate for sleep, and flintstones w iron vitamins with iron, get 50,000 D weekly, vitamin B12 shots (monthly)-that really helps memory, and drink protein shakes first thing in the morning.
That seems to help energy -a high amount of protein in the morning (40mg.)

For me, i been using liquid melatonin 10mg, magnesium doc told me to take magnesium bisglynate..spelling? 400mg at bedtime.

I also have whitenoise fan running and use earplugs at night.

 

[jaccat]

I do try with the exercise. I do yoga once a week, which includes a half-hour core workout, and short of being on my knees, I go. I love walking, and am surrounded by countryside, but there I struggle. Work takes so much out of me that on my days off I frequently don’t want to do anything but sit in the house. Often on those days even the garden seems a step too far. When I first started getting fatigue, years ago, I did stop doing things and lost a lot of strength over a period of months. It took a long time to build it back up again.

The confusing thing is that when I’m not so ill I’m probably a lot fitter than most people. I think that’s because I push myself so hard a lot of the time. I guess it’s about finding a better balance for myself.

 

[blackemerald1]

I do try with the exercise. I do yoga once a week, which includes a half-hour core workout, and short of being on my knees, I go. I love walking, and am surrounded by countryside, but there I struggle.

^Sounds good to me. Gentle exercise is best until your body lets you push it a little.

A personal trainer/physio might be able to give you some help with this.

Swimming even if it's not doing laps (like I was doing) is absolutely fabulous for appetite, fatigue, muscle strength, sleep and mood.

Swimming has probably saved my life really. I cannot remember feeling better in so long after I swim and tbh I am a hopless swimmer. But I watched heaps of Youtube on swimming etc., and taught myself. I can do it without having to talk, listen or engage with anyone else and that really suits my frame of mind most days.

I have stopped because of family commitments in the last several months and hell did I notice a deterioration in all of those areas. So honestly even walking through some warm pool water once a week will make a big difference if done regularly.

Hope this helps give you some ideas.