i'm a 64-yr. old female. have had colitis (sometimes diagnosed as crohns) since i was 19. have been on only 25mg. of 6mp for 8 years and have been in total remission since starting 6mp. am aware this is a low dose. my question is how to handle the debilitating fatigue. i work out daily very strenuously (which probably contributes to the fatigue) but find i must stop dead in my tracks by noon and take a nap..sometimes i'll need a 2nd nap and by 8:30 p.m. i'm ready to sleep. i've tried taking 6mp in the a.m. as well as the p.m. and regardless, i still have that horrid fatigue. want to get off the med. because of this but my research indicates that there's 87% chance of the probs. returning...something i don't want since this drug has worked so well. any suggestions from those who suffer fatigue from this med. i get my blood checked regularly and see 2 other specialists for other issues and have blood work checked by the 2 other specialists.
6 mp and fatigue
- Thread starter guest883
- Start date
Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
Are you sure its the 6MP? For me I've never had that problem with the drug and I've taken it for 10 years now at 65mg after my resection and am now on 50mg. There are a lot of other issues that could cause fatigue like insomnia, being low or deficient on/in B12 (when was you last blood work done for checking your B12?), low on iron (maybe your red blood cells are too small, which means a lack in iron), other health issues like heart conditions, diabetes (when was your blood sugar last checked?), age etc. This list could go on and on really.
Definately tell your docs and ask them to check you over. I had awful fatigue, and they found I was anaemic- it had been missed on my monthly bloods because they're not looking for it. But when I went to the docs specifically for the fatigur they checked b12, thyroid, kidney, diabetes and iron. So it could be any of those causing your fatigue. I have noticed an improvement since being on iron tablets (though still not perfect- but my blood cells are still small from the deficiency).
rebecca: i'm constantly having blood work done for other things besides the blood work ordered by my gastro. will ask both drs. to check everything in terms of anemia, etc. but you said iron pills help. what brand and more importantly, what mg. do you take. has it helped w/the fatigue? that's my only complaint.
I was prescribed 500mg of Iron as a kid because I was close to anemic and was very tired. As for the dosage for you, I'd ask either your GP or GI (whoever does the blood work) to find out how much you personally need if any. It does help with fatigue if that is what's causing it.
The iron tablets I have are prescribed by my doctor. You need to get your ferritin levels checked though as they won't help if your levels are already normal!
