When is your fatigue at it's worst?

[bethr]

Any recomendations for fatigue medication without side effects?

I am a doubles tennis player. I play in the mornings, usually at 10, or 11. I always feel like crap, during the first set, until my adrenaline kicks in. I'm OK the 2nd, and 3rd sets, and then after I get home, I'm wiped out for a few hours. It's also all that I can do to stay awake past 8:00 at night, and then I sleep on and off all night, because my hands burn from heat, and I have to keep squeezing the metal on my bed frame, just to cool them off. I would love to have more energy!!!

Any recommendations for an anti-fatigue medication that won't make me dizzy, or light headed. I can't afford those side effects, if I want to keep playing tennis.

Thanks!!!!

[rdmc]

I differentiate fatigue and sleepiness. I still have fatigue. I agree with Jerry, showering is one of the most fatiguing things I do. I have to plan ahead and have at least a couple hours between my shower and leaving the house just to recoup the energy lost from the shower...I use a shower chair, I have a handheld shower head, I keep the water luke warm...to no avail.

But sleepiness, for me, is in a different category. Used to be I just couldn't stay awake. I work from home, and I was constantly nodding of while doing some task on my laptop.

When I changed neuros a few years ago, he sent me for a Sleep Study, something he routinely does when he gets an MS patient.

Turns out I had Central Sleep Apnea episodes all night long. It makes sense since that results from brainstem issues and I do have a lesion there. So I started using a BiPap machine (similar to a CPap) and my morning sleepiness all but vanished. Still have fatigue, but falling asleep while I'm typing has disappeared.

IMO, a sleep study might be wise for anyone with excessive sleepiness.

[Shoo]

Fatigue

My fatigue usually happens around 2:00 in the afternoon, no matter how much sleep I had the night before I usually take a 1/2 hr nap and I feel better Many, many yrs ago the dr had me try Amatdine (sp) and that didn't seem to help. I don't even know if they still prescribe that.

Shoo















s

[pennstater]

It's also all that I can do to stay awake past 8:00 at night, and then I sleep on and off all night, because my hands burn from heat, and I have to keep squeezing the metal on my bed frame, just to cool them off. I would love to have more energy!!!

Any recommendations for an anti-fatigue medication that won't make me dizzy, or light headed. I can't afford those side effects, if I want to keep playing tennis.

Thanks!!!!

Bethr,

Since you are constantly waking up, I am sure this is part of the problem. Have you tried to address this with your neuro? It is hard to address fatigue without getting a decent night's rest.

I take provigil, but had an adjustment period with it related to dizziness. Aside from that, my neuro says exercise (which h you get) and eating healthy are the best things for fatigue, along with a good night's sleep.

The other thing to consider is whether any meds contribute to fatigue or sleep disturbance.

Good luck.

[jumangi]

Up until a month and a half ago, I was sleepy all the time.

My neuro first Rx amantadine twice a day. It took the edge off for about 3 hours in the morning. Second dose did nothing

Switched to aderral once a day. Now I don't get sleepy until after 6pm.

However, this did not help the "loss of strength" fatigue after most physical activity. For example, I can only do about 30-45 minutes of yard before I need a long rest.

Best wishes,
Bill C.

Thought I should follow up on my earlier post.

For me, Adderall became less effective after a few months. My bouts of yawning and inattentiveness became earlier and earlier. I saw my neuro last month (April) when the yawning was starting about 2pm. He said that becoming accustomed to it is common.

I am now on a higher strength dose, which has helped a great deal. He also upped my vitamin D from 2,000 to 10,000 IU per day. No change to B12 (1mg injection once a month).

The neuro also said that even though I am taking the extended release Adderall, I may eventually have to go on more than 1 dose per day.

I must say, that even with the reduced effect, it was still much better than feeling like I needed to take a nap the whole day.

[Jballdinger]

2:00 PM

2:00 PM is when I hit the wall. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get or what time I wake. There are other factors that may affect the severity of my fatigue, but it's always present.

[hunterd]

update, I went to see my MS specialist and see change my prescription from modafinil to Nuvigil. It is still too early to tell if it made a difference.