constantly tired.

kissygoose · 02-04-2003, 04:05 PM

I've always seemed to need more sleep than others but the last couple of months it's gotten way worse. Weekdays I do ok cause I have to (can't fall asleep at work if I want to keep my job) but on weekends it seems all I do is sleep. If I'm up for an hour or two I get real tired and have trouble keeping my eyes open. So I lay down with the intention of just resting a bit and end up sleeping the entire day away. YOu would think that would make me not sleep at night but it doesn't . I know I have PCOS (diagnosed last week) and they are checking my sugar and insulin levels (was diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia 3 years ago by GP but gyn doesn't agree with diagnosis) but I don't think either of those problems would cause this kind of tiredness or am I wrong?

JodyGirl · 02-04-2003, 04:13 PM

I hear ya in terms of tiredness! My doctor told me that PCOS has some elements of an autoimmune disorder (some specialists think it IS autoimmune, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or endometriosis.)

Autoimmune conditions cause tiredness, because your immune system is hyper-vigilant, and way more active than in a normal person. This causes fatigue because your body's internal resource meter is running faster than normal.

This sounds really simplistic, I know, and I'm not a doctor, I'm only a writer.

But I've researched autoimmune disorders quite extensively, and this may be what's causing your fatigue.

I know what works for me, as someone with not one but *three* autoimmune disorders (PCOS, endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis, also possible fibromyalgia, which would bring it to four!) I try and build some gentle exercise into my day - for me, it's sometimes reallllllllllllllll hard to get going, b/c I wake up stiff and sore in my joints and muscles. But if I can last through the first five minutes, I tend to keep going. Exercise, for some reason, gives energy.

Also make sure your nutrition is as optimal as possible. I try to follow the IR Diet, which is sensible and balanced. Periodically I have to take a tonic, like Maltivol B-12, because I have pernicious anemia (no, I'm pale because I'm a vampire LOL)

And drink plenty of fluids. I know it sounds dumb, but it really does work. A lot of fatigue comes from dehydration, believe it or not. You can get an extra nutritional boost from drinking skimmed (or as my sister says "skinned") milk - I buy the calcium-fortified kind. I don't know if you can get it where you are, but if you can, it's a great protein/calcium bargain.

The main thing is to realise that you can't control every aspect of this disease - this is something I fought with, so hard. I thought that, if I was fatigued, it was my fault, because I was fat, lazy, you name it. Nonsense. I'm fatigued because I have an illness. My part of the bargain is to take care of my health with sensible exercise and nutrition, and REST. From what I've read, autoimmune disorders take a LOT out of you - if you need to go to bed a bit earlier, or take a nap during the day, do so without guilt. One arthritis guide I read said that RA patients (like me) need at least ten hours of sleep - so I normally sleep about eight and a half, and try to make up the rest in naps during the day.

Be good to yourself. It's hard enough to have this disorder. And, to paraphrase Freud: sometimes fatigue is just fatigue. :-)

DianeJ · 02-04-2003, 07:11 PM

I just want to add a few other things to think about:

Have you had your thyroid checked? That can cause really bad fatigue.

And I really have to agree about hydration. I've been having problems with insomnia and I've been so exhausted. My doctor told me I was very dehydrated and that could be a big part of my problem. I may also have sleep apnea, which can cause this tired feeling too.

Depression can also cause a lot of sleepiness, even if you don't feel depressed.

Good luck. Hope you find a solution. It's awful feeling this way.

Joleen · 02-05-2003, 04:27 PM

I was suffering from extreme exhaustion. I couldn't sleep well at night and had a string of 5 nights in a row without sleep. I was an absolute mess. I was depressed and felt desperate.

I went to the doctor and he prescribed me met. I initially didn't want to take it but because of my extreme exhaustion I didn't have the energy to put in to work at it naturally.

I started the met last week and haven't had that problem since. It also helped me with the highs/lows so that I don't have them anymore. I am on a low dosage of 500 mg a day and eventually want to do it all naturally but until I am strong enough I will stay on the met.

I was taking vitamins before the met that should have helped with the exhaustion but they weren't. You might want to ask your doctor about metformin - I was surprised!

The other suggestions listed are also really good. I follow alot of them myself.

Yolanda L · 02-18-2003, 05:35 AM

Get your Iron levels Checked out if you have not already done so.
Taking an Iron supliment has really helped me

guineapig · 02-18-2003, 05:40 PM

I am constantly tired. I'd sleep 10-12 hours nightly if I could. I get up regardless of sleep and drag through "fog" all day. Thyroid and everything else has been normal. Best GP can come up with is "chronic fatigue." Great. I wish someone would test me for EBV or lupus--I heard that also lupus can cause head hairloss.

HopeNJesus · 02-18-2003, 08:12 PM

Kissygoose,
I also have trouble with being severely tired! Last week I took at least a one hour nap every day even if I had gotten a full eight hours of sleep the night before. This is not good when you're a college student and need every moment you can get to study. This week I started taking a multivitamin every morning, and it has REALLY helped! I still get a little tired but not to the point of exhaustion. You may want to think about taking a multivitamin if you don't already.

FIONA · 02-19-2003, 10:45 AM

I have the same problem, I have blamed the hormones, the depression, the Metformin (even though I am not on it anymore!) ....everything but to be honest I don't know what it is - I am carrying way too much weight and it's a vicious circle - I feel too heavy and tired to exercise but I am needing to get some exercise.

what to do?

fee

jannie_b · 02-19-2003, 11:21 AM

First, definitely get your thyroid checked. Extreme sleepiness is one of the major symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I had exactly that, but once I started thyroid replacement, I was just fine.

Second, have you considered sleep apnea or another sleep disorder? Basically, what happens is that although you feel like you have slept for a long time, you are not getting into the deep, restorative sleep phase. I had an employee with this problem. He had NO idea that he wasn't getting good sleep at night, but he would fall asleep at the office and was always sleepy. He spent the night in a sleep lab and they determined that he had sleep apnea...he would stop breathing momentarily at night and this would pull him out of deep sleep.

Best of luck to you.

Janet

curlygrrl · 02-19-2003, 12:27 PM

I, too, am tired all of the time, walking around like I'm in some kind of fog. I was tested for thyroid at the same time I was tested for PCOS and it came back negative.

I believe my tiredness is from depression, and just started Wellbutrin, which can have an energizing effect. It has helped me get through the day quite a bit but by 8pm I feel like I am totally crashing. But right now I am just on a test dosage of 100mg. In a couple days I ramp up to 150.

Just wanted to say I feel ya. It is so discouraging to be so tired, even after a full night's sleep.

((hugs))
Tamara

Jen_uk26 · 02-19-2003, 02:31 PM

Hi Girls

I too am really tired all the time. My thyroid was also checked at the same time as being diagnosed with PCOS, and my results came back fine.

Ive found it too difficult to do everything at work and at home, and after 2 years of battling away, Ive had to drop a day at work a week just so Im not so tired all the time. I do feel a lot better, not so tired all the time, but now there is the financial struggle to deal with!

At the end of the day I think your health must come first.

If anyone has any good remidies for the tiredness, please let me know, as this would be helpfull to all of us in this ever increasing boat!

Best wishes
Luv
Jen
xxxxxxxxxxx

Maddy · 02-19-2003, 04:21 PM

Just got to say "me too"

sometimes it happens if I have overexercised in my enthusiasm to lose weight. But mostly I have noted is the week before a period. At those times I feel unable to cope and everything is difficult. I just have to shrug it away and allow myself more sleep. The problem is though if I do not have my period because then it just goes on and on and on!

I have noticed I feel a little better when low carbing though. I just read a chapter in a book I have quoted on a few boards here today (okay getting boring now, lol) entitled the Diet Cure by Julia Ross - a paragraph in that book is:-

Restoring Energy and Focus

When your brain is adequately fuelled with its back-up emergency supplies of L-glutamine you are ready to rebuild your four key neurotransmitters, starting with dopamine/norepinephrine, your natural caffeine. without this natural brain stimulant, you can be slow and tired and have a hard time concentrating. you don't sparkle and can't stay on track mentally. It's hard to get things done and you can feel dull and sometimes just want to stay in bed. your physical as well as your mental energy drops without adequate norepinephrine. The amino acid that provides this jet-fuel is the nutritional powerhouse L-tyrosine. L-tyrosine also produces thyroid hormones and adrenalin. Like L-glutamine, L-tyrosine goes to work in minutes to perk you up.

It also goes on to state a good complete amino acid supplement can help your system if you have had too many low calorie diets, depression, or blood sugar problems.

Selena_Jo · 02-21-2003, 03:27 AM

i know how you feel i am only 17 years old and i am so tired that i come straight home from school and sleep. not only that but its takes everything i have to drag myself out of bed even then. i've always been tired alot, but the past month has been horrible. i really feel as if i'm missing out on life..for sleep.

Jen_uk26 · 02-23-2003, 09:59 AM

I know what you mean selena jo,

Just take this morning for example. I woke up at 8.30am and got up, had breakfast etc, then by 10.00am I was falling asleep on the sofa like I hadnt slept all night!

Some days I come home from work, and fall asleep on my bed without even taking my work uniform off! Its not an ideal situation is it!

I have a friend who works in homeopathy, and she said she is going to see if there is any herbal remedy that can help. I will post it here when I find out.

Keep smiling girls!

Luv
Jen
xxx

bakergirljennie · 02-23-2003, 09:47 PM

Yes! I am always tired. If I get 12 hours I'm tired, if I get 8 I'm tired. I just learn to live with it.