Last night was an ordinary night (relaxed, didn't do much) and this morning when I woke up I was a little sleepy--nothing out of the ordinary, but for some reason, about an hour ago, the fatigue has practically knocked me off my feet, and unfortunately, I'm at the office.
I went to the mailroom to get something, and halfway back to my desk I thought I was going to drop. I made it back to my desk, but I'm suddenly too exhausted to move (both body fatigue and a bit of drowsiness), plus I feel like I'm not getting enough air into my lungs. My breathing is fine, no wheezing or shortness, no palpitations, but I just feel like I'm not getting enough air....kind of like my breathing passages are swollen (but definitely not an asthma attack) or the air is "thick" (well, it is humid anyway).
OK, so what do I do? I've been working at my desk for awhile, but I keep stopping and putting my head down because of the fatigue. I can keep this up for another hour, but then I have to take a small customer group to lunch in our dining room. I hope I can keep up conversation and appearances. Heck, I hope I can make it down to the dining room (about 160 paces from here...I counted once because although it's doable, it often hurts for me to walk that far without stopping).
Any suggestions on what I can do to feel better? Or at least fake it?
when i have shortness of breath i drink alot of water, posibbly dehydrated?
kel
Sounds like typical ra to me. Can you do a little mediation to get some energy back? A protein drink? Don't eat anything heavy for lunch. Stick with stuff that will give you natural energy. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, stuff like that. Maybe some white meat if you are a meat eater.
Rest when you get home tonight.
Yes, very possible! Amazing what you don't think of when you're too fatigued to think.As for mediation, I can certainly negotiate with my fatigue, but I don't know how far I'll get. Or did you mean meditation?
Liz...I gotta say, that little chuckle really did help perk me up!
Lisa, I think if I can get through lunch, then afterwards I can take it easy, and maybe leave early. But you're right, I can't let this get too far or I'll be trashed tomorrow, and I have a much bigger customer group coming in then.
how about adding some light caffeine? like some tea??? I crash fast from coffee or coke but green tea seems to stay with me and sustain my energy longer.I had some not-so-light caffeine this morning (coke), and I'm wondering if that helped do me in, although it normally doesn't.
Unfortunately, I just can't get into tea (or coffee). But with all the latest news on green tea, I'm gonna have to try again. Kinda makes me sick in the tummy, and the meds already do that. Blah.
I was like that yesterday. I could barely hold my eyes open. Evenutally I went to the fridge and got one of my boss's Dr. Sundrops. It gave me the boost to get through the rest of the day.
I've pretty much cut out caffeine during the day.....but sometimes I does help me. It makes the day so long when you feel that way.
Hope your day gets better.
Lovie, what is a Dr. Sundrops? I've never heard of that. I have lowered my caffeine intake, but I find elminating it altogether to be hard when so many of the meds make me tired.
Anyway, the water seems to be helping a bit. I just went down to check the dining room with a pit stop at the ladies room (I forgot to go earlier...yes I forget). Lunch will be a garden salad, then chicken francaise with rice pilaf and roasted veggies. I'll have fountain coke with lunch, which is usuallly kinda watered down, so that tempers the caffeine and sugar. And I'll try to stay away from dessert...double chocolate cake or rice pudding.
The good news is that the dining room is much cooler and I'm realizing how stuffy, warm and humid my office is today. An hour in a different environment should do me a world of good.
I menat to write Diet Sundrop; which is just a soda with lots of caffiene. My boss is addicted to them!
A change of scenery will surely help some. Hope you enjoy your lunch. Sure sounds better than the can of soup I have planned!
The customer lunches are good, but there is a trade-off. On those days, I get a "free" lunch cooked by our chef, but I don't get a lunch time to myself (which is my main break during the day), I'm "on" with the customers and need to make both business and small talk, and I don't get to choose my food, which doesn't always leave me with the healthiest choices (plus I'm a picky eater).
All in all, it's a good deal, just not always as fabulous as it sounds. And it does help on the financial side...less money on lunch means more money for meds.
Just 3 more hours to go, and then I can go home and collapse.
Sounds like most of these drugs could put us to sleep at any moment. Good luck with your lunch (yummmmy!) sarah
Dark chocolate is now meant to be good for us and full of antioxidants - also has caffeine and I find a few pieces of chocolate give me a boost - any excuse!Cassie, I am a recovering chocoholic. But it's OK, cos chocolate is a vegetable - it's made from beans!!! I tell myself that every time I succumb to old urges! LOL. Danny came home with chocolate last night (an unusual 8 hour night!) and all of us girls dive bombed the bag! He was like...sheeeeeesh...lemme get out of the way first!!!2 chocolate muffins(large ones), 2 packets of crisps (chips) and 4 cups hot choc...................what is wrong with me. i never eat that much junk in a week let alone an afternoon and i dont even feel sick, i feel quite ful of energy.( not taking pred either or any other steroids) not on the humira cause of anti bioticsSarah, there could be water retention (it's that time o' the month), but I'm on a daily diuretic (with my bp med) and I'm not on pred. It's interesting, because I never would have associated the breathing with the water retention.
So last night I went home, had a brief fight with DH, skipped dinner, went to bed, and slept for 10 hours. I couldn't believe I stayed asleep that long...usually the pain from my back or the pain from my arms would wake me up long before that.
I am feeling a little better fatigue-wise, but my muscles are now sore to the touch. Sounds like I am having a big FM flare.
Lisa...I think you stole my energy. Give it back!!
Jeanne, you can take him for a year....and he cooks and cleans too. He's just gettin' on my nerves right now, and I already have neuropathy!
We'll see, she wanted me to go on cholerterol lowering drug, but I said 'i'm on 3 drugs' now, no way. One of them pred could be causing high cholestrol? Who knows.
Sarah
hi i have just started crestor for high cholesterol . the methotrexate and arava have caused hypothyroiditis and this has made my cholesterol high. it has nothing to do with my diet. so on top of my joint pain from pa i now have muscle pain from the crestor. where to next. its just a viscious circle. also i am concerned about taking the crestor as i have heard it has killed many people in the us.
ally
Just to add:
fatigue has been a major issue for me over the last year. Just found benefits in Green tea complex (vitamin section) and Ginseng. some green tea thru the day keeps that mid day sink hole at bay... if i feel quizzy, just a small bite of something will take care of it... take care.
OK, now karma's getting me back for those 10 good hours of sleep...I can't get to sleep tonight. Not that I'm not tired. I can barely stop yawning. But I'm hurting and hot then cold then hot and I just cannot get comfortable. And I have to get up in less than 4 hours to get ready for work.
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