Newbie with question about fatigue

[hamster139]

How do you guys handle the CD fatigue?

Does anyone take stimulants?

Large doses of caffeine? ephedrine? Modafinil?

Do you just have to sleep more?

Does working out help?

Thanks.

 

[Agent X20]

Hi Hamster
I'm tired a lot of the time. I don't take take any stimulants... in fact I've even cut caffeine down to almost zero. I've cut down my working hours from 5 days a week to 4 days (and working towards 3 days when I can afford it). Unfortunately, during the week, I often have to go to bed early... don't actually sleep that well either

I'm trying to get as much exercise as possible, though, as I think this is also a good thing. Working out is beyond me, but I used to do a lot of hill walking (there's a lot of hill round here) and I'm gradually building it back up again

 

[Jonhenry]

I've been constantly dealing with this problem. I don't use any stimulants of any kind, they just speed up the D. I usually just muscle through that initial wall of "I'm going to drop" and it gets easier for a bit. And I try to plan 12hrs of sleep a night, never get that much but at least it gives me time to rest. Exercise has helped me too. It's hard to motivate myself to do it but I always feel better afterward.

 

[drew_wymore]

I've never used stimulants other then caffeine in soda but not in large quantities. I just try and get as much rest as possible and listen to my body. If I need to sleep, I sleep.

 

[jed]

not sure if you'd really call it a stimulant, but i drink a lot of sustagen

http://www.sustagen.com.au/

it seems to get a lot more vitamins etc into my body without having to digest solid foods all the time.

 

[Jax]

I spend a small fortune on coffee and count down to my holidays (3 days to go!) I feel like a zombie this week but I never seem to sleep well. Exercise is a great help for me but as soon as I get out of routine I find it hard to get back into it as I am so tired. A vicious cycle.

Oooh sustagen is all I live off during a flare. The chocolate one is delicious!

 

[kello82]

more sleep helps me. like drew said, sleep when you need sleep.

currently i sleep all day basically (flaring bad and not working nor in college), but in high school i took a 2ish hour nap nearly every day. was STILL tired, but it helped.

i try not to drink to much caffiene either. bad me, i am a soda/iced coffee fiend, but i try to limit. it does seem to noticeably make my insides run faster. plus it makes me nauseous and shaky at times.
but i still drink that darn iced coffee....

and pen makes a good point too, get some blood work done. iron deficiency is common with crohns and that will make you tired too. supplements can help!

 

[fenway1971]

we all suffer from it. i echo the comments above - get your bloodwork done and check for any deficiencies. i also make sure to take a multivitamin every day. oh..and that one cup of coffee each morning helps me too. more than a cup and I get the runs. avoid sodas - corn syrup is evil.

exercise helps too. even if it's just a brief walk up every day.

 

[big.RHONDA]

I had severe anemia when I was first diagnosed and iron supplements brought my energy back up.
The thing about iron supplements is you have to make sure with your doctor first because its actually fairly easy to overdose.
My girlfriend was also given iron supplements but they aggravated her crohn's something awful... so beware!

for 7 months leading up to my monthlong hospital stay I worked at starbucks.

I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible...
and energy drinks? please, just kill me.

I find if I do light but vigorous activity [like dancing, swimming, yoga, etc.] right when I wake up then my energy levels stay up.
If my energy is dwindling, I'll eat a spoonful of peanut butter or something to raise my blood sugar levels.

 

[shootingstar]

I've found that my fatigue has gotten a lot better since I was diagnosed as anemic and begain taking iron and B12. Get some bloodwork done and see if this is contributing.

Listen to your body and make sure you're getting enough rest. I've also found that I've been feeling more energized since I've started practicing yoga each day.

 

[hamster139]

Hamster, having a lot of caffeine only aggrivates your crohns, stimulants are the same. Perhaps you are low on B12 vitamins or lacking something in your system. If you are able to exercise and watch your diet it will help with energy levels. Always check with your doctor, and get your blood work done, it could help. Take care.

I didnt know that. I currently have about 4 cups of coffee a day. It allows me to have small bursts of energy. But I wasn't aware that it could make the Crohns worse. I guess I can try to get off it for a while.

I just CANT get 12 hours of sleep. I have a 1 year old that keeps me up A LOT. Maybe I'll 10 hours of sleep in a few years.

 

[hamster139]

more sleep helps me. like drew said, sleep when you need sleep.

currently i sleep all day basically (flaring bad and not working nor in college), but in high school i took a 2ish hour nap nearly every day. was STILL tired, but it helped.

i try not to drink to much caffiene either. bad me, i am a soda/iced coffee fiend, but i try to limit. it does seem to noticeably make my insides run faster. plus it makes me nauseous and shaky at times.
but i still drink that darn iced coffee....

and pen makes a good point too, get some blood work done. iron deficiency is common with crohns and that will make you tired too. supplements can help!

I dont think Im deficient in anything. I just had my blood work done . But maybe I should take a multivitamin, just in case. Who knows.

 

[Guest]

hi hamster

multivits are a good idea with Crohns, because of the possibility of poor absorption anyway. i find the liquid ones (sometimes the only liquid multivits are in the children's med range) are better absorbed than tablets.

i also get very tired, and don't sleep well (it's now 5.15am and i'm awake again), but i do try and listen to my body and take rests when i can during the day. every little nap helps, particularly if you can't get a long sleep at night.

hope you feel better soon!

 

[CD68]

How do you guys handle the CD fatigue?

Does anyone take stimulants?

Large doses of caffeine? ephedrine? Modafinil?

Do you just have to sleep more?

Does working out help?

Thanks.

Nothing helps make it go away.

I have in the past slept as much as 18 hours on and off throughout the day. I didn't wake up refreshed.

I've been so exhausted in the middle of the day that I've nodded off while driving.

All my bloodwork is normal.

I try to keep working despite the fatigue now unless it means doing something requiring a lot of concentration (e.g. proving a mathematical theorem, or operating a vehicle.)

I do drink caffeine in the morning, but it doesn't help. The reason I drink it is because I tend to get constipation with Crohn's and the caffeine will keep my guts active and moving.

"Does working out help?" I continue to do lots of housework and I don't know about making me less fatigued but it at least the house gets clean.

I think they are going to put me on Humira within a week or two and I'll let you guys know if that helps with the fatigue. Doc said inasmuch as it puts the Crohn's into remission, the fatigue also will go away.

 

[Stleger88]

yeah the fatigue is really crappy especially at first, but I've changed my diet around to drinking only water and lipton green tea w/ honey ( usually drink 6-8 a day) and that makes it about the same, but if I don't have them I not only get tired but really bad migraines so long as i drink my tea, which is really good for you btw im ok lol also during the summer months I take hydroxycut hardcore cause I go to the gym and without it I don;t even have enough energy to lift at all lol

 

[Stleger88]

o yeah to much sleep makes it worse lol