These last few weeks I’ve been having issues with fatigue. Not the regular fatigue that I’m used to. This fatigue is so frustrating. I can sleep for hours and hours and wake up still exhausted. During the day it’s difficult for me to function, I’m so tired. I don’t know what to do. Does anyone else have issues with severe fatigue? Any recommendations? Any tips would be helpful.
I’m afraid I have no tips other than to go with it. It doesn’t happen to me often but last week I slept for virtually 3 days straight with the only exception, taking my daughter to and from school. In the past when I’ve tried to fight it, it’s lasted much longer. I am lucky I can do this though as I don’t work, my daughter is 11 and my husband is fully supportive and able to work from home when needed. Is there any way you can ignore life and just give in to it for a few days?
I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on top of my Lupus and I am like that all the time. After I get up for about 4 hours later I can go back to sleep. My dr told me the best way is to give in and sleep when your body says sleep your body is needing more rest. According to him the body is stressed and it needs to sleep.
I can do this because I do not have children or a job, I have my disability but if you have kids, a husband or a job I just have no idea what else works because I have gone through different prescription meds, herbs, etc. I would love to find something to give me energy.
Hope you find something that helps you. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
That’s ok. Thanks for the replies. I’m currently on disability. I take night classes. I pretty much just sleep all day and go to classes at night. Even after sleeping all day I wake up and I’m still exhausted. But I just feel like I’m sleeping way too much.
I fight this quite frequently but I can’t sleep during the day very well. If there is sunlight anywhere it keeps me awake. So I end up just lying in bed dozing off n on all day. My husband doesn’t understand when I say fatigue. He thinks I mean sleepy…lol I’ve given up on trying to explain that it’s like my whole body aches like I’ve run a marathon on my feet and hands like a dog. So I just say yes I’m sleepy. After 30+ years of dealing wirh this I’ve learned to give in to it. I’ll push it if I have to, like taking care of my youngest, but some days all I can do is plop him in front of the tv and lay on the couch. My doctor prescribes provigil which does help, it’s used to treat narcolepsy. I don’t always like taking it though because it makes me very jittery. You might try asking your doc about it. I don’t like the shakes I get from it so I only take it as a last resort. However everyone reacts differently to meds. Best of luck, Annemarie
Severe fatigue is one of the top 3 symptoms in lupus. So sorry you are experiencing it. Before i got lupus, I only felt that fatigue when i had pneumonia. Lupus makes you too weak to even eat or digest food. It could mean lupus is affecting one of several organs.,
Ginkgo Biloba helps my mental fatigue and brain fog to a great degree. There are other supplements that help with body fatigue. Different things work for different people. If you find one you'd like to try, Google it to see if it interacts with any of your meds.
. I really like one Dr. who is an M.D. and a naturopath (Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum). His brother is also a Dr. and naturopath and the head writer on the Dr. Oz show. His advice is available online. He also has twitter and FB pages. He had to quit practicing full time due to CFS, so he became a researcher and world's top specialist for fatigue based illnesses. my daughter ad I read his website www.endfatigue.com and my daughter and I both bought one of his books. (Different ones). Lupus goes back many generations in my family. I am grateful to live in the age of Internet where we can find help and support online.The products that he formulated are on his site, but the exact same brand is on iherb.com for less.
His advice has improved my health considerably. Using modern medicine and natural alternatives together is more effective than just one or the other. On his site, look up D-Ribose in the search box. That's what put my daughter into remission. Show the D-Ribose info to your Dr. He might be very happy to find a supplement that is safe and no-toxic. D-Ribose is a substance already in our bodies. it is the "D" in DNA. We who have fatigue based illnesses use much more and there is no food that has it, so we need to supplement. It helps each cell use nutrients as energy, and helps the cells pass along oxygen and nutrients from one to the other. When any part of the body isn't getting enough oxygen will malfunction and hurt.
Best wishes
If you find yourself falling asleep during the day, especially if you're driving or sitting in a meeting - ask your physician about the possibility of sleep apnea. If you snore, and have these kinds of symptoms, sleep apnea is frequently the cause. I fought daytime sleepiness for years - once I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and put on CPAP therapy, it completely disappeared.
This is completely different from the Lupus fatigue where you just don't want to move. I'm still trying to figure out how to function through that.
Ive also been wondering what I can do about extreme fatigue. Im experiencing more than usual. I dont want to keep using age as an excuse because that might make me feel older than what I am. I have considered checking into herbs for energy. I either stay in bed for the day or I may push myself.
I will definitely have to bring these things up with my doctor. Thank you so much for the recommendations and information. It’s been really frustrating these last few weeks because fatigue hasn’t been an issue in the past for me. I’ve brought up the possibility of sleep apnea with my doctor but after testing I found out it’s not it. So I’m leaning more towards lupus fatigue I guess.
I’ll have to try the natural alternatives and see if they work. I’m hoping I can at some point feel rested.
Taking my vitamins and B12 has helped me with fatigue, but it did not completely make the fatigue go away. It gives me energy for about 4 hours, I also drink V8infusion energy and also Ocean spray cran-energy raspberry has also helped.
The main ingredient is B12 and other B vitamins
I’m new to everything lupus myself, but I’d read somewhere that herbs are a bad idea and should not be taken and could be detrimental with lupus. Honestly, I can’t give you a source at the moment, but I would just absolutely talk to the dr before starting anything herbal. Vitamins I believe are ok more so from what I understand, but it seems like every discussion and recommendation I read on here is just being in close communication with your doctors.
Brittany, like you I have severe problems with fatigue. I have found that a combination of magnesium, liquid L-Carnitine, D-Ribose, vitamin C, and a B vitamin combination help me through the day. Check with your Dr. to see if this may help you. Best of luck and blessings, Shelly
Unfortunately,
it is a common symptom. I went to Maui for my anniversary and stayed 8 days...by the time I got home, I could do nothing but sleep. The good news is that it's not something that happens all that often. As your medication takes effect you will feel like you have more energy. I eat gluten-free protein bars (they actually taste good) to give me that little burst. Sleeping too much also makes you miss meals and you need to eat for energy. Vitamins are a must as well. These are just some suggestions, but the number 1 symptom of Lupus is fatigue.
Good health,
DeAnne
Hell! Talk with your doctor to do a iron test , like me , i have chronic anemia , which I have to take 2tablets 3times a day!! That’s how bad I am -smile My energy level is a lost . The doctor should give you iron pills /shots or recommend viatime for you ! Hope you feel better soon…Beverly L.
Thank you all for the recommendations. I will definitely have to speak with my doctor. I have never experienced fatigue like this before. Hopefully it doesn’t last much longer. I have anemia as well. I’ve been taking my iron pills for some time. Maybe the shot would be more effective. Have you ever taken the iron shot?
Brittany said:
Thank you all for the recommendations. I will definitely have to speak with my doctor. I have never experienced fatigue like this before. Hopefully it doesn't last much longer. I have anemia as well. I've been taking my iron pills for some time. Maybe the shot would be more effective. Have you ever taken the iron shot?
I was told they no longer give iron injections. I receive I.V. Iron when my hemoglobin goes below 10. I hope you feel better soon! And how awesome that you are attending classes.
Best!
Kim
Fatigue is a big problem for me too. I was Vit D deficient, and since taking this everyday, my fatigue has improved along with my pain. Staying hydrated is another big thing for me as well. I had to cut out caffeine after 2pm so that I get a good night's sleep. Trial and error has helped me, I have caffeine at lunch and then at 2 for a pick me up.. I try to have a light snack every two hours to keep my blood sugar steady so I don't have the spikes, and that seems to help. When I come home from work though, its time to rest. Some days its not enough to just rest in the recliner, I'm so exhausted I need to go to bed. On Wednesday, I went to bed at 7:30, and watched tv and played with the dog and I felt better. I couldn't sleep yet, but laying down helped, and I had no trouble falling asleep later.
They do still do iron infusions...I know this from personal experience. I can't take oral iron because my body doesn't absorb nutrients from foods that I eat. This means I get B-12 injections, as well as iron infusions for chronic pernicious anemia. This is when the red blood cells become too small to carry oxygen to all of the extremities as well as the organs that require it.
I usually feel good for about 3-4 months after, but truthfully the infusions do make me feel miserable immediately after. Anemia is VERY common and should not be lightly dismissed.
Biggest hugs,
DeAnne
I’m testing out the oral tablets. They haven’t been working well. My body isn’t absorbing it so the next step would be injections? How often are the injections required. Needles terrify me.
I too am vitamin D deficient. No matter how many times my doct ups my IU for some reason nothing seems to be working.
About every 3 months I get the B-12 injections, but the iron infusions are once a week for 4 weeks, every 3-4 months, but they are done at the cancer center in a room with several patients receiving chemo. My first time was horrid, but a young man sat next to me and held my hand the whole time. Now, when I see someone else there for the first time, I try to pay that forward.
You will get through because after you will feel so much better, it will be a dim memory.
And we all hate needles, but not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but with blood tests and all other treatments, needles are now a permanent part of your life. But if the person is any good with the needle, you won't even notice after a time. :)
I do hope you feel better soon.
Big hugs,
DeAnne