Tiredness

[howard48]

Ok so I'm trying to tell my partner I'm tired all the time. She is reading on the Internet that people with crohns only feel tired when they are awake in the night on toilet. I sleep very well about 8/10 hours but it feels like I don't sleep at all.. any advice will help

 

[Orchid]

Talk to your GP about having your iron levels tested, along with vitamin B12. They're common deficiencies in those with CD that would lead to extreme tiredness. You can get injections of both to bypass your shoddy digestive system.

 

[theOcean]

When in flare, a lot of people feel fatigued all the time. It's not just at a specific time of day, and it differs for everyone. Crohn's is a very individualized illness, and it may help to explain that to your partner so she understands that not everything she reads will apply to you.

 

[howard48]

I had my iron and vitamin levels and they was apparently fine. Last night for instance I slept 8 hours and I was still tired when I woke up and feel like doing nothing all day

 

[theOcean]

I sleep around 8 ~ 10 hours a night if not more, and I often still wake up feeling exhausted. If it isn't your iron, it may be your sleep habits. Do you find you wake up frequently in the night? Is there anything that disturbs your sleep?

It also sounds like your relationship is stressing you out a lot, and that listlessness may be associated with stress or depression.

 

[howard48]

Sometimes I do get up yes. And other nights I can feel pain in my stomach and groin but am to tired to get up or even move... last night I slept 8 full hours without waking at all..

 

[FrozenGirl]

Even when I do sleep a full night (almost never) I am still usually tired. You are fighting a disease all the time. I think some fatigue is probably normal for anyone who is chronically ill even with good vitamin levels etc.

 

[howard48]

All I know is its putting a real strain on my relationship. I love my partner and my kids. But it isn't fair I treat them like I do sometimes..

 

[theOcean]

Is it okay to ask what medications you're currently on for your Crohn's?

 

[howard48]

Mercaptopurine . Prednisone. Omeprazole. Ensure and adcal

 

[theOcean]

I personally found that Ensure actually caused me a lot of stomach pain for some reason. I looked up Adcal and saw that it's a combination of Calcium Carbonate and Vitamin D3, and the only thing suspect about that is the Calcium Carbonate -- but that really only causes constipation, and can sometimes be tough on the stomach. (What's recommended instead is Calcium Citrate.)

It may be that you need stronger medication for your Crohn's. Possibly a biologic (Remicade or Humira) on top of your Mercaptopurine. That may really help with your symptoms.

Also, try not to think of your illness as something that you've "inflicted" on your family! It's not as though you are sick on purpose, and it's not as though you aren't trying to get help. Crohn's is very difficult and confusing to deal with, and you should give yourself some credit for trying.

 

[Orchid]

How long have you been on 6-MP? It takes quite a while to build up to levels considered therapeutic because of a combination of the slowly stepped up dosing due to complication risks, and the fact it's an antimetabolite so it needs to time to to prevent cells from dividing.