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    fatigue: Push through it?

    I experience profound fatigue. I know the usual reasons. Most often it just happens in the early afternoon for no apparent reason. I rest for a hour or 2 and feel better.

    Recently I have experienced this fatigue all day, starting in the morning.

    I wonder if I should just try to "push through it"?

    Thank you

    #2
    At times, pushing through can deliver diminishing returns and cause you to spiral downward into trouble. For example, I cannot push through when overheated or I am apt to become a casualty!
    My PT lady gave me a rule of thumb about fatigue.

    Wait 5 minutes and if you recover then continue, but if you don't recover in 5 minutes you're done.

    Comment


      #3
      Thanks Marco

      I have had little response to my posts about fatigue in this site as well as others. You PT gave you (and me) a great response that is easy to remember! Thank you Marco!

      Originally posted by Marco View Post
      At times, pushing through can deliver diminishing returns and cause you to spiral downward into trouble. For example, I cannot push through when overheated or I am apt to become a casualty!
      My PT lady gave me a rule of thumb about fatigue.

      Wait 5 minutes and if you recover then continue, but if you don't recover in 5 minutes you're done.

      Comment


        #4
        Still figuring it out...

        I have had the same question, honestly. I don't want to limit myself because I feel run down. That is status quo for me, & I would never get anything done! I feel that is happening more and more, and I wonder if it is depression settling in.

        I had an excellent test this week with several work colleagues in town. I had long days at work, including 1 late night dinner plus the usual house/family responsibilities. In addition, my husband was traveling this week and working long hours, too. It was one of those just-get-through-the-day type of weeks! I felt miserable by Wednesday night. The entire right side of my body felt like it was in a contraction from my head to my toes, and I was almost brought to tears when I finally kissed the kids goodnight & laid down in bed.However, with some medication and a little rest, I actually bounced back OK by the next day.

        I'm operating sub-optimally for sure, but I feel like I can push myself a lot harder than I have been provided I have a plan for relaxing at some point in time.Of course, this weekend may tell me otherwise...so I guess my only point in this rambling is it seems to be a try it & see thing. If you push too hard & spiral downward, well you will have that data point to use for information the next time.

        For me, I feel like I need a little shove to do a bit more these days. Sometimes I tune into my body a bit TOO much and being new to MS, I get overly-jumpy about every zing and zap. That's just me, though . I am still figuring all this out.Cheryl

        ** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **
        Cranial VIth Nerve Palsy (2008, 2014); Partial Myelitis (9/2015); RRMS Dx (11/18/2015); Plegridy (2/2016)

        Comment


          #5
          Hi Karen,

          Profound fatigue is tough, I've been dealing with that a lot lately. I try to push through it. Take ampyra for leg fatigue which doesn't seem to help much anymore. Modafinil was helping but didn't get approved this year until last night so hopefully when I finally get it I'll feel better.

          Somehow I do get through the day, not sure how because I'm a mess. Falling asleep whenever I stop for even a short time, feeling so overwhelmingly tired all the time. I find when I have time to catch up on rest it helps briefly then it's like I never rested at all.

          My doctor says I can push through it, it won't make me worse in the long term, just will have a lot of bad days. she also says she disagrees with me doing that and that I'll be at even higher risk for more falls being so fatigued. I hear her but still keep going. Definitely not functioning well. You may see that in yourself too.

          Avoiding reality big time so I keep pushing forward despite how bad I feel. I know it's the wrong decision but can't get myself to cut back on things. I think im afraid of what that will mean for my life. My family keeps warning me that the choice will be out of my hands soon.

          On the scale of which of my symptoms are the worst, it goes vertigo, leg weakness, then fatigue. All the rest come after. How about you? Where does fatigue rank?

          Comment


            #6
            To cjtdm anad AriD

            Hi Ari D and cjtdm,

            I have found that the issues associated with fatigue are different with each person. Although I have had profound fatigue for about 6 months, I do not yet have any concrete answers for myself.

            To get my bearings, 3 weeks ago, I began recording about my fatigue to determine what, when and where. Patterns have emerged, but there are many days that I have no idea why and what is best to do.

            I believe that the most important questions that can help you are:
            >What activities trigger your fatigue?
            >Are these activities that you can modify?
            >Are these activities a "want" or a "need"?

            It's difficult to give up activities that are essential to family life/work as well as enjoyable things, yet you many need to. I have had very difficult giving up traveling and walking long distances (more than 3 blocks) as I have always been willful and independent. When traveling I have used a wheelchair, knowing there was another way I could go, e.g.Disney. My spouse calls a wheelchair a "tool" to help me do what I could not otherwise do. Other times I just have to realize that I can't take a long walk on the spur of the moment.

            You will come to your own realizations over time. I think my life is an ongoing lesson, if I am open to seeing within myself and open to listening to what is going on around me. Be open and willing to take a few (safe) chances

            I have a wonderful mental health counselor. My family is very supportive of my needs and will gently let me know if I am exceeding my usual boundaries.

            Let me know if you have any other questions, and/or your response to this post. I'm happy to continue the discussion
            Karen

            Comment


              #7
              Hi Karen,

              Originally posted by KarenNP View Post
              I experience profound fatigue. I know the usual reasons. Most often it just happens in the early afternoon for no apparent reason. I rest for a hour or 2 and feel better.

              Recently I have experienced this fatigue all day, starting in the morning.

              I wonder if I should just try to "push through it"?
              Pushing through fatigue is different for each person and even from one time to the next.

              In my case I will usually push through or at least attempt to There are times when my fatigue will improve when I keep going or trying. Then there are times when I have no choice but to give in and sleep or just "hold" the chair down.

              It's a wonderful feeling to push through and find you feel better
              Diagnosed 1984
              “Lightworkers aren’t here to avoid the darkness…they are here to transform the darkness through the illuminating power of love.” Muses from a mystic

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by SNOOPY View Post
                Pushing through fatigue is different for each person and even from one time to the next.

                In my case I will usually push through or at least attempt to There are times when my fatigue will improve when I keep going or trying. Then there are times when I have no choice but to give in and sleep or just "hold" the chair down.

                It's a wonderful feeling to push through and find you feel better
                That is my experience too.

                Also, I am learning to differentiate my true fatigue from the temporary inability to function due to a slight rise in body temperature.

                I am very heat sensitive - (when elevated body temperature, even a 1/4 to 1/2 degree increase, further impairs the ability of demyelinated nerves to conduct electrical impulses).

                Sometimes while moving around doing various tasks, I warm up and consequently experience significant muscle weakness and/or spasticity. I've learned that a cold drink of water and a short cool down period will allow me to continue, when it's not true fatigue.
                PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
                ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

                Comment


                  #9
                  Hi,
                  I agree completely. Being able to sit for even a short amount of time and do something to cool down helps a lot. At work there are times when I have stood doing something which makes my legs really weak. Now I allow myself to get a chair and sit during patient rounds or while documenting. At first I felt uncomfortable in front of other people all standing but they are okay with me sitting. Simple things like that help me get through my day a little better. Just have to let up on my previous standards.
                  It's just so hard to see yourself declining little by little. Giving up on more and more. I know I can find other ways to get things done and accommodate but the loss is still real and sad.
                  Thank you for all the advice but also the personal stories of coping. They all help.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    drinking cold water helps me!

                    Hi KoKo,
                    Thank you for your insights.

                    After lunch, (even with a very small meal) I usually have profound fatigue. Even though I don't feel hot, I wondered if my core temperature goes up, ever so slightly due to digestion. I have tried drinking a glass of very cold water then rest for 1/2hr.

                    In the past month, it has helped about 75% of the time!!!!! Amazing!!
                    Thanks for sharing your experience. You have made a difference in my life :-))))



                    Originally posted by KoKo View Post
                    That is my experience too.

                    Also, I am learning to differentiate my true fatigue from the temporary inability to function due to a slight rise in body temperature.

                    I am very heat sensitive - (when elevated body temperature, even a 1/4 to 1/2 degree increase, further impairs the ability of demyelinated nerves to conduct electrical impulses).

                    Sometimes while moving around doing various tasks, I warm up and consequently experience significant muscle weakness and/or spasticity. I've learned that a cold drink of water and a short cool down period will allow me to continue, when it's not true fatigue.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by KarenNP View Post
                      After lunch, (even with a very small meal) I usually have profound fatigue. Even though I don't feel hot, I wondered if my core temperature goes up, ever so slightly due to digestion. I have tried drinking a glass of very cold water then rest for 1/2hr.

                      In the past month, it has helped about 75% of the time!!!!! Amazing!!
                      Hi Karen

                      Good for you! It is amazing how often the small (seemingly insignificant) strategies can really help us with our quality of life.

                      Take Care
                      PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
                      ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

                      Comment


                        #12
                        When my daughter was a toddler I had to push through because I was her only caretaker. When she got older and more self-sufficient, I had the luxury of sleeping more. I am sleeping a ridiculous amounts but my body seems to need it. I am up fewer hours but the quality of those hours are better. I do not work outside the house, even part-time, due to fatigue. I only had so much "push through" in me and I feel like I used it all up a long time ago!

                        Worst symptom ever
                        Tawanda
                        ___________________________________________
                        Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 2004; First sign of trouble: 1994

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Wait 5 min the weather will change

                          I blame Barometric Pressure.

                          Spent my entire day 4.01.16 sleeping with bouts of guilt waking.

                          I call it guilt waking because had it not been for guilt I probably wouldn't of woke up at all. I made myself wake to eat, drink fluids, shower, do my hair, dress in street clothes and leave house. This task is normally complete within a 1 1/2 hour time span.

                          I had dinner plans for 6pm; even tried to cancel. I was exhausted. I was not the normal go getting me. I was exhausted and cared nothing about life or dinner. Honestly I didn't know where I was going to extract energy to chew and resolved to eat soup once I got to the restaurant. I could at least swallow. Even if it was a chore.

                          Medicine could make a person this tired; if I was on medicine.

                          There is no reason on the planet for me to be this tired other than the weather.

                          Spring has sprung and the temperature is swinging like a Prohibition dance hall.

                          Tuesday warm near 70.
                          Wednesday - Rain 56
                          Thursday - 40's some sun, increasing winds
                          Friday - some snoring with sporadic wakefulness. High of 50 after 7pm.
                          Saturday: High of 36, snow flurries with blizzard conditions, some sun, winds in excess of 40 mph.

                          The day before the temp has a drastic change I either spend my day half awake, sleeping or in excruciating pain with muscle spasms/contractions. I prefer the sleeping...I guess. That is if I have to choose between the two.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            My 2 cents

                            About the water - I find that staying hydrated helps me cope with fatigue. From a general chemistry point of view, this makes a lot of sense - I don't have the biology chops to know how this works. But I know it's a thing for me.

                            About a year ago, I heard an MS specialist speak at support group - he said that one reason fatigue happens in the late afternoon is because that's when body temperature naturally increases as part of the circadian rhythm. It's a minute amount, but for those of us who are very heat sensitive, it could be enough. This really resonated with me, because 4:00 pm has been time to sit down for a break and have a cup of coffee (it's a stimulant!) since before I was diagnosed. A good 20 years before, it was a time I'd need a nap.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              When I'm overcome with fatigue I just crash in bed and wait. Nothing good has ever come from trying to push through it. Staying hydrated is actually an amazing suggestion I've never thought of! Will keep that in mind.

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