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Lupus
Preventing Fatigue
Lupus: A Patient Care Guide for Nurses and
Other Health Professionals Chapter 7, Patient Information
From the National Institutes of Health
Preventing Fatigue Due
to Lupus
Fatigue is a very common complaint of all people with
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), even when no other symptoms of
active disease are present. The fatigue of lupus isn?t just being
tired. You may feel an extreme fatigue that interferes with many aspects
of your daily life. You may find that you are unable to participate in
your normal pattern of daily activities, such as working, caring for
your family and home, or participating in social activities. The exact
cause of this fatigue is not known.
Your doctor and nurse will probably ask you about your lifestyle and
patterns of daily living and activity. They will also evaluate your
overall fitness, health, nutrition, and ability to handle stress. Your
doctor or nurse will then be able to advise you about how your fatigue
can be reduced. It is important to remember that getting enough rest,
maintaining physical fitness, and keeping stress under control are
absolutely necessary for anyone with lupus.
Changes in your lifestyle and patterns of daily living and activity may
not be easy to accept. In addition, the changes necessary for you to
cope with your disease today may be different from the changes you may
have to make later as your disease changes. A positive attitude and a
well-thought-out, but flexible, plan of action will increase the chances
that you can make these changes successfully.
Caring For Yourself
- Get enough sleep. You may be able to get by on 8 hours a night, or
you may need more.
- Plan for additional rest periods throughout the day, as needed. Do
not exhaust yourself.
- Getting enough rest does not mean no activity at all. A
well-designed exercise program is important to maintaining strength,
endurance, and overall fitness.
- Every week, make a simple plan of your work and activities. The
plan can help you organize the events of your life and ensure that
you have a good balance of rest and activity.
- Each day, review your plan and decide if you are physically up to
the activities for that day. Be flexible; if you don?t have the
strength to do an activity today, do it another time.
- Don?t try to complete a large task or project all at one time;
divide it into several steps.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Dealing with stressful issues and problems takes a lot of energy.
If you feel stressed out, talk with your doctor or nurse. They may
be able to provide you with help for your problem or direct you to
someone else who can.
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