Any tips for fighting fatigue?

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Hi all,

As some of you will know I've just come off Entocort. I'm now in a transitional period of not knowing quite what's going on with my body. Are the symptoms I'm feeling due to coming off Entocort, is this how I'm always going to feel or is it my symptoms coming back? I just don't know. Since becoming ill for the first time last year I've only known either having my symptoms or being on steroids and feeling much better. I'm struggling to understand how I should feel post steroids and if how I do feel is "normal".

Anyhow... as my title suggests I am struggling with my fatigue again. It's really hit me over the last two days. My main worry is that I have got a really long day at work on Thursday (parent's evening as I'm a teacher) and I'm just not sure how I'll get through it all and also how I'll be fit to work the day after. Tomorrow is my day off so I am going to just rest up but I wondered if any of you had any suggestions for keeping me going?
Bit of a long shot I know but just need some advice to get me through the next few days (and have the same again next Tuesday)

Thanks for reading

Sam
 
I find it helps a bit if I eat small regular meals, eggs or something proteiny for lunch (not too many carbs). Also I find the fatigue really hits me when I stop- if I keep pushing myself to do stuff I can. So for the parents evening I would try to work through it and then go straight to bed when I got in.
 
Hi Sam, sorry your going through this but if you find the solution can you let me know of it too please? I've never taken Entocort, but am currently on 40mg of pred and could hardly get out of bed this morning. I feel like I've hit the proverbial brick wall and had to take today off just to lay on the sofa (what a waste of a nice day!).
I can say, that when I'm not flaring, I hardly feel any fatigue, it only ever bothers me when it's all going t**s up. Just a thought, but Have you had any blood checks recently? Any chance that you are anaemic or lacking in B12?
Tomorrow needs to be a day of rest for you, and then the same on the weekend. Hope that you can build up some energy stores for parents night. Do they start when school finishes or do you have an hour in between where you could possibly get a power nap?
Sorry I can't be of any help. Hang on in there,
And xx
 
Rebecca - thanks. I do find that I 'flop' as soon as the kids go home. They somehow keep me going!
Andrea - I thought is was worth a chance to see if there was any temporary miricle cure out there ;)
I haven't had my bloods done since I last saw my GI 3 months ago (back next week so they'll be done then). Fatigue was one of my biggest symptoms before too and I was never classed as anemic then but it's certainly worth checking again.
I wish I could get a nap in before hand but there is little time and no where that I could sleep apart from the home corner in a dolls cot :D
And don't apologise just getting a reply is a great help!

Thanks
Sam
 
Hiya Sam

I think with steroids, Entocort included, our adrenal glands go to sleep, the steroids take over, and when we come off the steroids it takes a while for the glands to wake up!
What you're experiencing is normal I think, I was the same after the Entocort.
I have no miracle cure, just plenty of rest, water and energy superfoods such as walnuts, almonds, oats and brown rice. (if you can eat them)
Or some Pro Plus? Not recommended for long term use tho.
Good luck
xxx
 
A high protein diet can help with fatigue (eggs, cheese & meats). I don't know what you can or can't eat though.
 
Thanks for that Joan. It's good to know that about the steroids.
I have porridge every day for breakfast. No sure about nuts. Not eaten them for a long time!
I think pro-plus is caffeine based and coffee doesn't do good things to me anymore. I used to get through parents eve with a good old can of red bull but I've had to give it up ;(
Lots of rest tomorrow in preparation!
 
Thanks Lee. I'm veggie so can't do the meat but might try out the cheese and egg ideas. It's all worth a try!
 
I have the same problem :-( I went to the health food store and asked them if there was anything that would help they told me to take Maca, so I have been using it for the past few days ill let you know if i get any better, i did work out last night which is huge for me so who knows maybe its working :)
 
Hi Sam,

One thing I am trying to find time to do, is go see a nutritionist. I really believe that I have absorption issues, my CD is in my ileum. I failed the iron test when trying to give blood, not the normal thing for a guy, especially the day after eating a huge piece of beef. I also get muscle cramps. So I think I may be deficient on everything from b-12 to iron to potassium. There was a doctor on the news the other night that claimed many people have B vitamin deficiencies but never get diagnosed but walk around tired all the time. Good luck I hope you feel better!
 
I concur that making sure your vitamin levels are up to par is a good place to start. I take a liquid multivitamin and find it is really helpful for keeping me generally "up" in terms of energy.

Good luck getting thru parents' night!

- Amy
 
Forgot to say as well, I am not b-vitamin deficient but find that if I take a large dose of b12 (like 2000mcg) it can give me a temporary boost.
 
I'm fighting fatigue at the moment due to being anemic. My friends try to tell me energy begets energy - but that doesnt help when I am so stuffed to start with. But I totally get the concept. How are your blood sugar levels, if you hit a wall in the afternoon you may need to eat more regularly or see what is happening with blood sugars as this to can cause fatigue
 
Thank you everyone for your advice. It's great to know I can go to sleep at night and wake up with so much advice ;)
I phoned my GP this morning to see if he could offer any advice too. He thinks it could be steroid withdrawal but doesn't know anything about Entocort. He has put me back on 3mg of it for the next week (I see my GI next Thursday) to see how I go.
The hospital had not sent on my blood results from 3 months ago so my GP assumed that everything was ok. He said it would not be possible for my iron or B12 to drop so quickly in the past 3 months but I will get another blood test at the hospital next week anyhow so we shall see...
I already take multi vitamins and I try really hard to eat regularly to maintain my energy levels. I'm trying to do everything I can to help myself. I'm doing meditiation and yoga/pilates exercises regularly. Though I'm not sure Metahadone's idea would be that advantageous ;)
Is there anything specific I need to ask to be checked in my blood or will the normal tests pick anything up?
I've not heard of Maca but have thought about getting some Guarana...
Thanks again everyone
 
I would say no way to the Red Bull, as I think that was part of the problem with my husband getting Crohn's in the first place!
 
What about that barroca? Think that's supposed to be good for energy. My mate swears by it
 
I saw a post on facebook recently asking people their worst symptoms...it was hands down the fatigue (followed closely by the pain)
I agree with this and I have never been on steroids. I had people telling me for years I was depressed and to go on meds for depression. I did.... and the shrink was shocked that they weren't having any effect on my energy levels. Good to know Im not just depressed ... strange how people try to make things a mental health issue all the time...
thanks for posting this thread..
 

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