Fatigue
Tari150
Posts: 17
I've had MS for about 30 years. I struggle with fatigue more than anything. It not only affects my physical energy, but my mental and emotional energy as well. When it comes to losing weight, eating healthy takes a lot of work (I also try to stay away from as much processed food and eat a lot of raw vegetables) preparing and cooking. My biggest struggle is having the energy to do it consistently, no matter how tired I am.
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I hear you! I get tired all the time! Before even being diagnosed, I always needed at least 9 hours of sleep most of my life. Now I really have to make sure I get enough sleep. I have found though with exercising, even though initially it makes me tired and sometimes I have to nap right after, in general I feel like I have more energy. Same with eating better, I feel less sluggish. I say this of course even though I skipped my workout today! I plan on getting back on track 1/1/12...giving myself a break through the holidays! Anyway you look like you've started and 13 pounds is a big deal! I think the less weight we carry the better we feel too
Keep it up, you can do it!!!
Christina0 -
Exercise has been incredibly helpful for my MS fatigue, but I still have my days. My doctor has me on vitamin D which helps quite a bit - I can always tell when I haven't taken any that day.0
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I too need about 9 hours sleep at night - and sometimes on the weekend I'll just go lay down for a nap and wake up 4 hours later. If I can do that - add 4 hours to my regular sleep pattern weekly - then I can get through the work week pretty well.
My doc has me on 4000 IU of Vit D daily. I'll admit I've been bad and didn't take them in December. Got caught up in things and forgot! Getting back on track now.0 -
I feel you 100 percent! Fatigue is also my biggest complaint with my MS. It's unbelievable isn't it how exhausted you can feel at any time of the day even when you first get up?! UGH! I went through the barrage of meds also for the first few years provigil, ( (Nuvigil now) was the only one to work some but it's very spendy and I couldn't take it everyday.
So now I try and plan my days a little better with rest. Also I take vitamin D multiple times a day. I really had a great neurologists for a few years and he taught and worked with me a lot. Very sad he retired!
I did a lot of reading when I was first DX about all the little energy expenditures you do each day from laundry, getting dressed, to even grabbing something off the top shelve. I didn't pay attention to those at first, I was all gung ho on doing everything the same. But over the years my fatigue really got a lot more intense and it forced me to rethink.
Once I started organize my life and home I really noticed a change. This was also with implementing rests and a daily nap (even if I can't fall asleep) to just lay down for a bit.
I still struggle with my fatigue, And I have some cognitive issues that are frustrating along with the other symptoms. But I do have the ability to get out and swim now, and for me that's HUGE.
Best of luck Tari and if nothing else know we are out here knowing how it feels.
Be well0 -
+1 for Provigil. I honestly cannot function with out this. For me the benefits are 2 fold - first it help tremendously with fatigue, the 2nd thing is that it helps keep me focused thru the day. With out it - my mind is all over the place.
Also a note about NuVigil - it the same is basically the same chemical makeup as provigil just released under a new name.
Cephalon did this b/c the patent for provigil expired in 2011, which means that generics should be available for it around mid 2012. For us the consumer that means that provigil will go from about $50/dose to about $1/dose for the generic version. Thus cutting into the pockets of Cephalon.
(Sorry about the soap box)0 -
I was taking Provigil for awhile and it helped me amazingly. My insurance quit covering though for some reason. So, it's good to hear the price should be going down. Maybe my insurance will cover it again. My doctor is currently talking about another pill that is less expensive, but I can't remember the name of it right now.
I've always been told the B vitamins can help boost energy. I've honestly never had any real luck with those though.0 -
I was just talking w/ someone else about this.
There is Patience Assistance available for Provigil.
http://www.provigil.com/prescription_assistance_patient.aspx
These guys bend over backwards to help you out.0 -
I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and fatigue is my biggest issue too. I try various medications that sometimes work and sometimes don't. It's frustrating!!! It makes it really easy to want to give up. Every day I have to struggle to get through the day. Talk to me anytime because I get it even though no one else ever does. Stay strong!0
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