Fatigue - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

orngcrayon · 03-29-2006, 01:09 PM

I know probably a lot of you deal with fatigue… I could use some of your advice.

Since I recovered from my first attack in June, I haven't had much fatigue and have had pretty normal energy levels. Then all of a sudden, starting about 10 days ago, I'm exhausted! I get home from work and fall asleep at like 7 or 8pm and sleep through until morning. I'm pooped by noon, but I'm at work, so I just muscle through it. It doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I get, 12, 14 hours a night, I'm still tired the next day.

Any advice for coping with this? Also, could this be a relapse, since it's sort of a new symptom? Or maybe its not MS at all - could be anemia or something else.

StephanieAnne · 03-29-2006, 01:39 PM

Hi Orngcrayon

Good old Fatigue

it comes and goes, and personally I think it is based on hormones, I think that they have something to do with it, I get extremely fatigued around PMS time, which now only happens every 3 months. Do you think that could have something to with your recent fatigue?

You can try to beat it, drink lots of water, eat apples, peanutbutter on whole wheat, walnuts, these are things that give me strength and help to fight the fatigue.

Alot of the time, I just give in and take a nap, hmm maybe try that [if you can] after work, take a 20 min nap, maybe that will give you an energy boost.

I often think that I am getting a relapse, per my neuro, symptoms of a relapse have to last at least 24 hrs to be a relapse. I think I get little relapses fatigue, and aches and pains, and I lay around until it goes, which I also think is hormore related

I would check w/your PCP for anemia or thyroid problems ya just never know with an autoimmune disease we pick up lots of things along the way

1Thes518 · 03-29-2006, 04:46 PM

Sounds like chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. I was dx with that about 5 years ago, and my doc put me on Effexor XR it worked almost immediately. Maybe you could check with your doctor.

Take care,
1Thes518

lilc · 03-29-2006, 05:45 PM

1Thes518 - wait a minute, Effexor XL HELPED your fatigue? I've been taking 37.5mg daily for 2 months now. I take it as soon as I eat something, which some days is close to noon. It SAYS it can cause drowsiness. I still have times in the afternoon when I CANNOT stay awake - but I'm not as sleepy at night as I've been. Am I taking it too late in the day???

1Thes518 · 03-30-2006, 10:18 AM

Yup! I take 150 mg every morning with breakfast. It helped tremendously with the chronic fatigue tiredness, and also with the pain from fibromyalgia. I think there is something in there like epinepherine.

However, since I have been having what I'll call my "MS-like" symptoms, I have been hit with a sudden tiredness late in the day where I just have to lie down and take a nap. Some days I want to take a nap after I get up!!!

So, maybe it only helps with fatigue from certain medical conditions, and not with others...? I don't want to give it up, though, 'cause I wonder what I'd be like without it. I wonder if you need a higher dose, or if that would make you more tired. 37.5 mg is really low.

Blessings!
1Thes518