I have been so tired lately, no energy. I was doing so good after I quit working in October. I was able to catch up on my sleep and felt fine since then, until the last few weeks. I’ve been experiencing so much fatigue like before. I’m wondering if an anti-depressant may help. Have any of you had any luck with anti-depressants helping to ease your fatigue? I get my exercise by taking my dog for walks and it’s a good thing he likes to lead and pull me because it really helps to keep me going, otherwise I’d be walking very slowly and our walks would be much shorter. He helps me along by steadily pulling me.
Another thing I noticed that helps is to drink pop with caffeine. I do this when I need the extra energy for bigger chores. I had given up pop many years ago because of it’s high sugar content and all the calories. I’d prefer not to go back to drinking it. I’m going to try green tea next. I just worry about caffeine because I used to get anxiety and panic attacks when I was younger and since then have avoided caffeine, until now.
Has anyone noticed an improvement in their fatigue after taking anti-depressants?
Yes an antidepressant can help you with the energy but you still have to watch how much you do.
I was feeling ill and undone last year after another major surgery. The psych raised my dose to 133% and so I got off the couch. However, it interfered with my sleep. He doesn't have to worry about himself over-doing it.
I also walk my dogs for exercise. I live in an apartment with them and we go out four times a day. I do my long walk at night for my sake and it being summer--they love it. These two campaign all day to go out. Here I am off on a tangent.
Walking dogs is a great exercise. If you do get an antidepressant, you still have to pace yourself.
You got to hold on.
I am taking twice the normal dosage of Cymbalta for nerve pain and depression. It was doubled because of my nerve pain. I still have constant fatigue that gets worse off and on. I will starting plaquenil soon so I am hoping that will help.
I think that just means you need rest. It gets in the way, but sometimes you just have to listen to your body and rest. I use to walk my friend’s dog and it did help me a lot. I am now looking for my own dog to rescue. I live in an apartment and work crazy hours so I need to find the right dog. But rest is still something that I have to remember that I need or I just get sicker. In fact I am going on leave again because of not resting enough during treatment and big flare-ups.
Have you checked your iron levels? Many times when my fatigue is extreme, I’m anemic or low on iron.
I also have fatigue especially if I do too much. We just cut back on my Cymbalta so maybe it would help with the fatigue. However, my thyroid has been out of control. Have you had your thyroid checked? I have always had hypothyroidism and it stayed steady for years until my lupus flared. So now I can't tell which disease is causing the fatigue and pain!!
Hope you get better soon.
I am having major fatigue again. I am on an antidepressant but I can't say it has helped that. When it gets worse than usual for me it usually means I am doing too much or my white blood cell count is really low, which it is now. I see my Dr. in a few days and I am going to see if I can get any help!
I feel your pain!!! I constantly feel fatigued and all I want to do is lay in bed. I want to lay in bed and watch TV, eat, read, and I think if I hada catheter I would never get up. I am currently taking an anti-depressant, an anti-anxiety medication, and abilify. I go see a psychiatrist and she suggested the aspertaine is bringing my energy level down. Yeah, didn’t work. I don’t know what to do!! I just try to stay busy with low key housework to keep me busy. I teach school, so that keeps me busy to an extent, but it wears me out more than it helps me!! Dang lupus!!! I hate it!!!
Oh my gosh I cant seem to shake the fatigue either. I am starting to feel so guilty and lazy. I am taking two anti depressants and I am a little better bit these last hot days have shut me straight down. Good luck
Thank you everybody for your replies. Lots of great advice as usual. I hope everybody that also has this problem gets a break from it, too. Because of this fatigue I have no choice but to take it easy. The housework is slipping and I hate it, but I do what I can for the time being. I asked my GP for a prescription for prozac. I just haven’t gotten it filled yet. I keep hoping this will pass soon. I had a good 9 months fatigue free which I’m thankful for and because of that I forgot how debilitating fatigue can be. So frustrating! Kawena I also feel guilty and lazy at this point. The dishes are piling up again like before, but I’m gonna try not to be too hard on myself since I’ve been there and done that already since this began in 2008. Try not to be too hard on yourself either. Julie, my GP wanted me to try Cymbalta instead of Prozac, but I didn’t want to because of my glaucoma. I read that Cymbalta isn’t good for people with glaucoma. Ever hear about that?
Geneva yes I have had my thyroid checked in the recent past. Thanks for the suggestion.
geneva21 said:
Have you had your thyroid checked? I have always had hypothyroidism and it stayed steady for years until my lupus flared. So now I can’t tell which disease is causing the fatigue and pain!!
Hope you get better soon.
Hi S. yes, my iron levels are normal.
S said:
Have you checked your iron levels? Many times when my fatigue is extreme, I’m anemic or low on iron.
Hello, I feel good at times taking them, but there are some days I have to much energy !! They really help me to sleep and the next day am up through the daytime . It also help me to focus some days. Wish the best for you…Beverly L.
I’m always soooo tired nothing helps I swear I sleep more than my 3yr old and I drink coffee all day long and take a good 2-3 hr mid day nap. I feel your pain.
I started taking Pristiq about six months ago for depression and my doctor felt like it would address the depression and give me a boost of energy. It did for a while, but I think the effects have tapered off some. The fatigue is hitting me really hard right now. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. I am continuing to work, but looking at options for early retirement, because I think continuing to work in a stressful environment is not helping me at all. Some days I feel like a complete slug. Hoping for some help from my docs. Hope you find some help, too! Hang in there!
My work environment was very stressful, too. It caused a 4 year flare. I too used to get so tired at work and as a result I was slower than the others. I just started on fluoxetine/prozac on Sunday. We’ll see if it helps. I hope you find relief for your fatigue, too.
I was prescribed Cymbalta for my pain before my diagnosis, however since my diagnosis it's been upped a bit. I do find it very helpful, however anti-depressants are not for everyone and I wouldn't presume to suggest that anyone take one without a clear, honest discussion with your doc.
As to caffeine in soda, tea actually contains more. My husband found a wonderful bottled tea, Tejava, which is unsweetened which is my preference. One of the things I do like to do is use my tea maker. There is a wonderful tea shop (herbal teas are not actually made from tea leaves but herbs) near my home. I use a strong black tea and add a raspberry/lemon blend. It adds enough sweetness that I don't need to use a sweetener and it's super yummy!
You can mix your own blend and find one that you like.
Enjoy your experiments and let us what you come up with :)
DeAnne
I second what the others said-
Iron, vitamin D, thyroid, lack of rest can all can contribute to fatigue.
Wellbutrin helped my fatigue some. Nuvigil REALLY helped and when I’m finished nursing my baby I’m definitely going back to that. Really helped the brain fog too. It’s the only thing I’ve found that did.