Fatigue - how do you deal with it ?

[Joe]

So with new doctor, new medication, new diet regiments, I've gotten alot of my crohns issues somewhat under some control. However for the past 3-4 months, I've noticed I'm very, very, tired. He said it's common to be so tired. I've heard it here before as well, and reading around.

After lunch, around 1-2pm time frame I come to a halt at work, often sneak off for a 30 minute nap.

At home after cooking dinner I must avoid sitting down, or I'll just outright fall asleep.

I would think it's due to diet change, but it was over 9 months ago I changed my diet and cut out alot, so all that hoolabaloo about caffine withdrawals and etc is not applicable.

I do hit up an excercise bike or elliptical every other day minimum for an hour or so to keep my body active so it's not just being lazy-tired.

It's really become a problem, because if I don't slow down and get a nap in, I'm one hell of a cranky person to be around.

I've taken some Vitamin B suppliments. They seem to have done better, but dang there's days that you feel like you never got any sleep the night before.

5-Hour energy has never done anything negative to my stomach, and it works nice, but it's NOT something to take every day.

Anyone else dealing with it, what have you found to keep you off the couch more?

 

[SpoonNinja]

hm im tired all the time to i just try and keep active by doing stuff like drawing reading walking whatever i can think of that dosen't require a lot of movement cuz im still trying to get my cd under control. sooo i do things to keep my mind entertained and also my body somewhat like the walking.if i don't then i will fall asleep if im just siting watching tv or something. im trying to get my gi to give me a vitamin i should take but ive not heard back from him yet.

 

[fenway1971]

naps are not a bad thing, joe. how many hours of sleep do you usually get each night?

i know you mentioned diet changes a while ago. i find i'm more energized when i eat a large breakfast and less throughout the day. have you tried that?

 

[bball diva]

Joe,

I have had constant fatigue for about 2 years now. About 4 months ago it got really bad, to the point where my muscles started to feel like they weren't able to move my body anymore. I went to my GP instead of my GI doc and asked her what I am supposed to do about this? It was interfering with my daily life. I wanted to sleep all of the time.

She did a ton of blood tests, including a test for Vitamin D levels. Well she guessed right - my vitamin D levels were supposed to be between 30-100 and mine was 4! She said she was surprised I was able to walk! She put me on 55,000 iu's of Vitamin D for the last 3 months and I feel a ton better.

I think what people don't realize about Crohn's is the effect it has on different parts of your body. I never realized that Crohn's and the meds I am on would bring me this much fatigue! I guess since Crohn's doesn't allow your body to get the nutrients it needs from the food you eat, it can cause all kinds of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that we don't realize. One of these deficiencies could be causing your fatigue too!

 

[CD68]

Fatigue is my biggest Crohn's complaint. There were days that I slept for 18 hours. I had to plan my day around no more than two hours of work, so all grocery shopping, housecleaning, and other errands had to happen in that time frame or they just didn't happen. I even remember falling asleep while sitting at a traffic light!

My blood work revealed nothing remarkable, outside of the inflammatory markers, that would indicate something special happening that would cause such extreme fatigue. Doc said it's just a part of Crohn's and some folks have it worse than others.

The fatigue did not begin to ebb until the disease went into remission. I noticed a remarkable improvement within two days of taking my first dosage of Humira and I'd say I'm about 85-90% fatigue-free. Humira is the only thing that has kept me off the couch.

 

[AmandaC]

Hi Joe,

The fatigue is so hard to deal with. Some mornings I would wake up feeling like I'd been drugged or taken a ton of sleeping tablets. Even if I'd had a really relaxing day, just doing some light house work or a trip to the shops, I would feel like I'd worked a full week and be utterly exhausted.

I had all the blood tests and they told me everything was normal? This was really confusing because there didn't seem to be anything causing the fatigue. My doc also said it could be just part of the disease and maybe my body was just healing after being sick for a year, but that doesn't help you deal with it.

I've found my diet has alot to do with my energy levels. I've recently started a new program where you eat almost everything fresh, nothing out of a can or tin, so basically you're trying to avoid all the preservatives and additives. Just lots of fruit and veg and making everything from scratch. That has worked for me. After 2 weeks I'm feeling much better.

I also try to get to bed early every night and have a nap/rest when I need to.

I hope you find the answer for you soon because I know how debilitating fatigue can be.

Good luck!

Amanda

 

[la la]

Have they checked your iron levels? Are you not sleeping well at night? I know those two things are usually an issue when I am that tired.

 

[marcia]

This sounds so familiar. Just carrying my one year old son across the yard makes me out of breath and on the verge of passing out. I fall asleep sitting up in the evenings. My poor hubby says I fall asleep while he is talking to me all of the time.

I have tried to incorporate exercise but the doctor wants it to be super light and I do not have the energy to do much anyway.

All of my blood levels were checked and there is nothing out of the ordinary so I am just dealing with it assuming it is just Crohn's!!

Best of luck! Let us know if something works!!!

 

[Jerman]

I have only had active crohns since march. I was diagnosed with UC at 19 and had a tremendously high level of fatigue. I am now 42 and have been in an active "flare up" since i had ear surgery back in March. My level of fatigue at this point is super high, i tire going out to get the mail or even going up one flight of stairs.

I wish you well and hope you are feeling better soon. How many folks here are collecting or have filed for disability? I miss my work in Human Services terribly, it gave me purpose and drive. However, I am such a train wreck health wise right now there is no way i could hold a job.

 

[la la]

My doctor referred me to physical therapy. He wants to see if I can work on core strength to see if that will give me a little more energy. I had an evaluation and start therapy on friday. Will let you all know if it helps at all. I am sure it will take some time..

 

[froggie3kb]

I'm glad to see i'm not completely crazy or just "lazy" as i've been told before that had me boiling...

It takes me so much to get going in the morning, and when 6pm rolls around i'm completely wore out from the day and I really dont have a job that should be tiring me out that much. I hate having to turn down invites to go do something in the afternoon but have to say no because I dont want to be the party pooper sitting there tired as hell.

I signed up at a gym and plan on starting to work out regularly in the afternoon to see if maybe that'll help a lil, cant hurt to try I guess...