Sudden episodes of feeling exhausted - Pain Management Message Board

sammyo1 · 06-25-2008, 03:49 PM

Hey everyone, I have recently had to return to work abit. Problems at work, kind of been supervising from home but had to go back in at least for now.
Anyway I was strugging with being tired to begin with but now I will have these episodes of like this exhaustion hitting me within minutes. Much like low blood sugar attack. Scary. I just feel shaky, weak, like I cant think clearly.
I am wondering if I am just trying to adjust to working again, or if now that I am back to work are the meds not holding up as long. I know I dont always sleep the best & my eating is abit off, but not enough to feel this bad.
Does anyone ever get this way, could it be the percocet? For that matter could the percocet interfer with my glucose?
I have tried not to increase by much, allowed 4 aday, for the most part still on 3 to 31/2, with a baby dose of valium. I do have an extremely stressful job, at least for now till I get things back in control.
I know I should be on medical but I live in the one of the worst states economy wise. People are loosing their jobs left & right & my husband is at high risk. To put it bluntly if I want to try to keep my home & my medical care for now I have to at least attempt part time. I just dont feel right, strange. I really felt so out of it today scared me. My energy is zapped, zilch, gone with in like 1/2hr time frame. Any opinions? Any suggestions? Thanks, Sammy

ms_west · 06-25-2008, 09:41 PM

Hi Sammy, I have found that since I had my last surgery I have lost considerable strength. For example: my girlfriend came over yesterday and we went swimming and sat and talked. Well here it is over 24 hours later and I am still wiped out and exhausted. Tomorrow I will be wiped and in alot of pain too. A year ago, I could do this with no problem. Another example would be walking - I can walk without my cane around the house but if I go to the store by the time I enter into the store I need my cane and I start losing my balance, pain increases and become very shaky.

I really think what you are experiencing is a mixture of pain, weakness, and medication as well.

Maybe you could try working 1/2 days or working M, W, and F so that you are not overdoing.

Take care Sweetie!

brianpain33 · 06-26-2008, 12:51 AM

I have also experienced this quite a bit as well. I don't know if you remember my posts about dealing with tiredness and exhaustion but there have been quite a few. I think that the exhaustion & tiredness has been worse since being on the Percocet as well. It doesn't make sense why straight Oxycontin tends to increase your energy but Percocet (oxycodone APAP) tends to make a person drowsy and tired. I don't understand it but it is true. Of course I am also on quite a few other meds that make a person drowsy & tired.

Maybe someone else could explain this which seems to happen with Percocet quite a bit. I do know that narcotic medications act on those areas in the brain that affect a person's alertness & balance. I have to drink several cups of coffee a day and then that constributes to my blood sugar raising & lowering quite a bit. I do know that feeling of when my blood sugar drops and I start to get light headed, jittery, sweating, and exhausted. Please be careful and try to see how many meds you take have this side effect & also when you combine meds with these side effects, that makes the drowsy/tired effects even more. I don't know how much all of that rambling helped but hopefully some.

brian

sammyo1 · 06-26-2008, 05:41 AM

Thanks pepper & brian, this is strange. Its alot like a sugar attack or maybe even a drop in BP. I have hardly changed any meds but I dont feel real safe or secure with this happening. Thus far its not right after I take my meds but like approx three hrs after. I have been really busy at work, playing a game of catch up so I will have to watch. I hate this, this has happened in the past kind of how I felt on the oxycodone at times. I am going to have to try to take my bp & glucose to try to figure it out. I hope its not my BP, I have to have my meds. If thats the case I'll have to try to take in more sodium, see if that keeps my BP from dropping. Always something.
Brian do you still get this way? Sammy

Ps Pepper you never replied on the spinal board & I am worried about you, have you mentioned your concerns to anyone, how are you doing with that? I hope you dont let that go.

trowftd3 · 06-26-2008, 07:28 AM

Sammy,
I have this problem from time to time. I have to be really careful about what I eat and have to eat throughout the day..,probably 6 times a day as opposed to 3. I hadn't thought of a connection to my meds. There are times when my energy wanes...if I wait too long between doses. Good luck and take care.~Mush