Migraine

I have a question. Really I want to see if this is just me. And yes, I plan to talk to my doctor about this.

I am tired all the time. I sleep 7-8 hours a night (more on weekends) and take a 2-3 hour nap every day. But I'm still exhausted all the time.

I drink half caff coffee in the morning, and no othe caffiene. I barely have the energy to get through the day (btw, I work from home). After my nap, I'm lucky if I have the energy to microwave myself some dinner and do the dishes. I shower 2-3 times a week if I'm lucky b/c I just don't have the energy (or "spoons" for those of you familiar with that story). This is on non-migraine days, and obviously migraine days are worse.

I don't know if this is just b/c I've had chronic migraines for 2 years, or if this is something else..... I've made my doc do thyroid tests on me a few times (TSH, T3 and T5) and I'm in normal range, so I don't think it's a thyroid problem. I thought it was the Elavil but I've been off that for two months now (and I was only ever on 20mg which is a really low dose).

I eat a pretty healthy diet. I haven't been able to exercise regularly for the last few months b/c of a herniated disc, but even when I was working out pretty much every morning I was still exhausted all the time.... Though I don't have a car, so any errands I run are all on foot.

Does anyone else experience consistant fatigue like this? I'd just like some anecdotal evidence to bring into my doc. Thanks!

Hey Kat In the Corner,

Did you ever have your vitamin D level checked? Mine is very low and I am taking a prescription Vitamin D supplement.

I was given a number of articles on low vitamin d and pain and fatigue. I don't remember any of the authors, but I'm sure you could google them.

I was also given Provigil to try to help with my energy level which my gp said is low due to chronic pain and fibro. I also had a sleep study done and while I thought I was getting plenty of sleep, hours wise, I was sleepy all the time. Come to find out I have restless legs syndrome and essentially don't get any restorative sleep.

I hope you find your answer to the constant fatigue. I know how frustrating it is!! We just can't function physically or emotionally when we're tired all the time!!!

Good luck!

Cyn

Kelly,

I will throw in my 2 cents here. Since I have been working from home I find I am much more tired. When I am out more, especially on the weekends, I find I have more energy. I find the isoloation tends to increase my fatigue.

Even getting outside for 15 minutes during the day helps. I remember when you were doing yoga you had much more energy.

Just my thoughts.

Kelly,

I used to be tired all the time too. To the point that around 1:00 p.m. I'd want to take a nap but knew that would mess up my bed time schedule. I thought it was thyroid too, but my levels are just fine. Then, I thought it may be side effects from my meds but that wasn't it either.

The endo that I went to found that my PCM missed the fact that I was super, super low in iron and was severely anemic. So, now, I take iron supplements along with all my other ones. But, I still found myself getting sleepy in the afternoon.

Since I started my part time job, I actually find myself not getting tired until the early evening after I cook dinner and chill on the couch for awhile. And, that's with me getting up way earlier than I used to the last two years I stayed home. I think just getting out and about, helps me maintain my energy. It also helps me be motivated to run errands since I'm out anyway. Even on lo-grade Migraine days, I seem to be doing better.

Is there a way to take your lunch hour and just get out of the house for awhile? Maybe that will help?

My issues with excessive fatigue, whether for part of the day or the whole thing, are generally due to thryoid levels most of the time. It can really hit me fibro-wise if the weather is abruptly changing. When the weather gets really unstable, I can count on aching all over and some really rough times with fatigue, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. If my thyroid levels are off, I usually respond to a dose tweaking. If they're okay, it's usually a matter of time and being diligent about dialing it back some.

Thanks for the input.

I have to see my PCP soon, so I'll ask him to check my vitamin D and iron levels.

Unfortunately, getting out and about during the day is hard for me b/c the sun is one of my major triggers.

I definately need to start exercising again. I see my pain mgmt doc today, so I'm going to ask him when I can get back to it and what I can do. I'm still having back issues, so I'm scared to do much of anything b/c exertion tends to make it worse...

Also, and this is a huge "DUH KELLY", I realized it might be from upping my Lexapro several months ago. I didn't think to re-read the side effect profile, b/c I've been on it forever. Turns out 2% of people exerience fatigue on 10mg, and 6% on 20. So I'm cutting my dose back to see if that helps. The extra 10 mg wasn't doing much for my depression anyways....

Thanks again for the ideas

I too suffer from fatigue, and recently had ordered a number of blood tests. It would be wise to request as much bloodwork as possible, to rule out diseases and what not.

Ah, CFS! I was diagnosed about 6 years ago by my psychiatrist. She based her diagnosis on my having had mono twice (when I was 7 and again when I was 19) and my excessive fatigue. PCP had bloodwork done that ruled out active mono or other causes. Actual CFS is a very difficult diagnosis, they tell me.

I take lots of vit. C, Lysine, B-vitamins and Fish Oil in addition to regular multivitamins & my prescriptions (I'm hypothyroid, too) to keep CFS under control. This works for me. All in all, I take around 16 tablets/capsules each day.

Exercise is always tricky for me. I'm lazy, and I have arthritis in my back, feet, ankles and hands. I'm also seriously overweight. Topamax helps make me breathless and overheated after about 5 min. of strenuous activity (like mucking out stalls.)

Anyway, "Kat," on you finding the cause of your fatigue and eliminating it soon. I'm in your corner!

Rebecca, The Island Mama

Rebecca, you said the three little letters I've been trying to talk myself out of.

I'm terrified I have CFS. I've also had mono twice, once at 16, and again at 18.

I have trouble with vitamins, because most of them make me nauseous. I've even thrown them up a couple times, so now even when I think about taking them my gag reflex kicks up.

I'm also having issues exercising because I'm exhausted. I got the okay from my pain management doc, but I'm so tired I find the idea of voluntarily moving to be exhausting....

I have to see my PCP for a ton of reasons, so I'm going to ask for lots of bloodwork and anything else he can think of. I'm hoping it's the lexapro, but I'm not sold on it. I've been a nap addict for as long as I can remember in my adult life....

Kat,
Thats good that you are going to your PCP and they can run some tests. I struggle with a lot of fatigue and noticed a huge difference when I started taking vitamin D. I'm not out in the sun much either and we have a lot of cloudy days here in the winter. My allergist recommended it because it also helps the immune system. I noticed a huge increase in energy within a week of starting it. I also notice that the fatigue makes me depressed, which then makes me more tired. Its exhausting sometimes trying to manage a chronic illness with work and all the other demands of life. I hope you can get some answers on what is affecting you!

Peggy

Hi, Kel, I'm a bit late to the party here but I did have a thought about your issue with vitamins. In my personal experience, it does make a difference what type of vitamins you're taking. I want to stress that I'm not trying to give you medical advice, just share my own personal experience.

My herbalist specifically recommended that I take capsule-type vitamins (rather than tablets) because they're easier to absorb. (Capsules are the ones that look like little beads surrounded by a gelatin-like coating; tablets are the more typical pills.) She also mentioned that I would probably process capsules better because they have fewer additives/binders than tablets. I've also found that they don't have the disgusting, gag-inducing taste of tablets.

Just over a year ago, I switched to the brand of vitamins/supplements my herbalist recommended for me (Twinlabs) and noticed within a few weeks that my body seemed to be processing them better. My energy levels increased, even before I added anything new.

So, just thought I'd throw that out there for you. If you and your docs do decide to start vitamins/supplements, changing the formulation may help your gag reflex.

It might not help anyone else, but when I've taken any kind of med or supplement in the past and felt queasy after, it was usually because I took it on an empty stomach. So now I just take all my meds right after lunch. It's a consistent schedule, and no queasies.

Droolie, that was the other thing I forgot to mention! I take all my supplements with meals (after breakfast and dinner) and that helps both with absorption and the queasies.

Well, since we're helpin' each other out, MJ, I'll ditto your mention of capsule meds being better absorbed than tablet meds. I've been told that by all kinds of health care people. Of all the supplements I take, I've always been sure to get them in a capsule if they come that way, even if it costs a bit more. It really does seem to make a difference for me.

Just a quick update. My PCP had no thoughts on what might be causing my problems and recommended I talk to Jefferson. No tests, nothing! I'd totally fire his sorry butt, except normally his in-and-out manner is useful for me. Just not when I have a medical problem I haven't been able to diagnose myself!

I always take vitamins (or any pills for that matter) on a full stomach b/c I know they make me sick or give me a tummy ache on an empty one (my stomach is really sensitive). I'll try the capsule form though, b/c I think a lot of my current aversion is taste based. I take most of mine in regular pill form, and you know how when you've thrown up a certain food and can't eat it for a while? Yeah.

So now I'm trying to eat better, get some exercise, and get back to my vitamins. Until I go to Jefferson and maybe they can figure out what is wrong with me....