Coping with Fatigue | Arthritis Information

 

I was just wondering how you all cope with fatigue.  I'm 45 years old and have only been dealing with this(RA) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica for almost a year and a half.  I have two teenage kids and I don't work outside of the home.  I do run my wheelchair bound mother to the doctor's and dentist periodically and get her things in the nursing home.  Physically I am still very active.  The last couple of nights I just can't seem to sleep and then I am exhausted all day.  It would be nice to go back to work full time (haven't worked since I had my first born - busy raising my children and taking care of other sick dying relatives - they have passed on), but I can't imagine how I would do that.  How do you all do it all?  Did any of you go back into the work force after being diagnosed with RA?  How do you find a job where you need time off to take yourself to the doctor's, take you mother to the doctor's, and take you kids to the doctor's, and dentist, and eye doctor's?

Fatigue is a real bummer because you really can't do much about it and rest doesn't always help.  I just stay active and eat healthy and that helps, but some days, I just need to sleep.  Good luck! 

Phats

 

im usually pretty exhausted lately I just keep on pushing. I went back to work full time and take care of my husband's business books, etc. in the evening. My kids are grown- youngest is 17 but they still throw worries my way which can be very fatiguing. I've always kept myself so busy I don't have time to think about the fact that I'm tired or ill. I simply don't have time for it. Unforunately, the reality is that, fatigue is probably the worse symptom we have to learn to cope with and manage...probably because it is the one we have least control over. My body literally just decides it is going to sleep.

Pushing through it, in my experience, can be done at times but you will eventually pay for it.

I've found that 'going with it' and 'power' sleeping if you can is a better management technique because you stop fighting with your body about it and resisting what is happening.

Of course, if you work and have other commitments this is not always easy.

Changing your activity is often supposed to help with the fatigue and sometimes it does help me to do so but sometimes not.

If I can think of any more helpful ideas I will post them later.

Hi Kim, I try to have a rest every afternoon, it doesn't always help but mostly it helps a little, I certainly feel more pain etc if I don't!!!!  Good luck, Janie. Fatigue is a battle.  I have a hard time sleeping and I'm always tired.  I have to give in and have an ambien night for some good sleep. Thank you everyone for your feedback.  I will keep your suggestions in mind.  I do alot of them already.  Thanks for your support, too.  That's actually probably just what I needed at the moment.  Thanks. I do a Monster energy drink every morning but I also know as a fact that if the RA is controlled, more of my fatigue is gone. The more inflammation and swelling, the more fatigue. It was explained to me that just like when we get the flu and the body works overtime in it's war against the disease, we are practically bedridden, so are we when our immune system (because of Ra) is out of control, working overtime to try and destroy us as if we are the disease. I found that when I started taking enbrel, and so much of my disease symptoms went away, so did my fatigue. I used to call the enbrel my feel good drug.

Fatigue was the worst of all of the symptoms.  Like Cordy says, there's no control.  I ended up with a housekeeper out of desperation.  Fortunately, I had that option and I could keep working.  I finally had to retire when the flare from hell hit and I was bed bound.  It took many months to get that flare under control and the fatigue was unbearable. 

I too have found the fatigue to be less when my RA is well controlled. When it's not it's a horrible symptom that you can do little to help. Sleeping well at night is one way to help (at least some) often the lack of sleep at night makes for horrible days; fatigue and pain wise. I always take something to insure I have a good nights sleep. For the past few years I've been on lyrica and that makes me sleepy so I don't have to take something seperate for sleep. My doctor has in the past prescribed things like ambian; but I have always preferred OTC PM medications like Advil PM or Tylenol PM. Some of those prescription sleep aids are just too strong for me. I agree with most of the earlier posters that control of the disease does help control the fatigue -- you need to get to a point where your symptoms are minimized. I have been very lucky to have my symptoms under very good control these days. When I talk to my rheumatologist the fatigue is the only symptom that I still need to manage -- it's much better than it used to be, but my body will likely never be completely like it was before RA. I think the fatigue aspect of RA is almost as bad as the pain aspect. Even when my RA is fairly controlled, the extreme fatigue remains a problem. I work full time in a busy hospital, so resting during the day is not an option. I usually go to bed early during the week days, and try and get at least 9-10 hours of sleep a night. I never make big plans for the weekends when I'm off work, and usually rest and take naps as needed. I keep meaning to talk to my RD about taking Provigel, but I always forget...[QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]I just keep on pushing. I went back to work full time and take care of my husband's business books, etc. in the evening. My kids are grown- youngest is 17 but they still throw worries my way which can be very fatiguing. I've always kept myself so busy I don't have time to think about the fact that I'm tired or ill. I simply don't have time for it. [/QUOTE] Good subject and one that I suffer from. I just hit a wall and can walk away from just about anything.
I just get that tired that driving can be a problem.
Oh the fatigue, I know it well. I have PsA, not RA but I assume they are similar. My husband and I just had a talk because I have so much guilt over not being able to always be running around after our very active 3 year old. She the best, but I love bed time. I work a pretty physical job but my boss is understanding that when I say I need to rest I really do. Plus I'm married go the world's best husband.
AllyFatigue can be as much of an issue as the pain sometimes.I have given up trying to fight the fatigue. I close the curtains, lay on my bed and rest/ sleepThe Doctors Book of Home Remedies by the editors of Prevention Magazine has 35 tips for dealing with fatigue including: [QUOTE=Brisen]I think the fatigue aspect of RA is almost as bad as the pain aspect. [/QUOTE]
I agree and in point of fact think that the pain is, at least peripherally, both a response and a causation of RA fatigue.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the "common remedies" for fatigue are, at best, only minimally effective in the face of debilitating RA fatigue.

Sometimes the ultimate remedy is just to accept the fatigue and keep moving to a different drummer than those who do not experience the enfeebling RA fatigue. I do know for certain that attempting to explain that level of fatigue is futile.
sorry for all of us that suffer w/ the fatigue....It's horrible....the inability to take one more step.... to hold the phone to talk w/ friends.... to even speak! at times was too much effort...... Oh yes, I remember it well. I don't know that its that easy to ignore the fatigue.  Does anyone feel like they are a danger to thems and maybe others when so tired?  I know I don't think clearly when I am so fatigued.  I have messed up my pill taking a couple of times even though I have them already laid out in specific day/morning/evening pill boxes.  I also don't feel on top of my game when driving.  I have not been sleeping well lately.  Last night I got about 3 hours of sleep.  Then I had to take my mother for an echo cardiogram which takes about 5 hours out of my day.  Tried to nap when I got back but the phone kept ringing.  I have always valued sleep and trying to take care of myself.  I have to take my son out to practice his driving and sure wish I didn't just now.  Hope you all sleep great tonight.
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