Extreme Fatigue

[Dave_H]

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I was completely able to get out of bed. Like at all. Complete exhaustion. This is happening to me every 10 days or so but only last one day usually. My Major Depression is very high (PHQ-9 score of 24) and my sleep is very poor, but this seems to happen randomly and is causing severe disruptions in my life. I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. My current episode of depression is 2 years old now and I have been declared 'treatment resistant'. These exhaustion spells are not only debilitating, but even on a 'good day' I don't feel like doing anything; everything is a chore. It was very frightening the last couple of days to not be able to even take care of my self. I just spoke with my doctor and he was of no help at all. Anyone else experience this and any ideas how to combat it. I try to walk half and hour a day, but don't always make it, and it hasn't seemed to help much.

[Dave_H]

I meant to say UNABLE to get out of bed.

[Agora1]

Hi Dave, I wish I knew what the answer was. But I can sympathize with the way

you are feeling. I have Fibro but knew others who had CFS. A much more difficult

diagnosis. Unfortunately, I don't think much progress has been made on either.

I hope it can help knowing that I care as well as the others on this site. Sending you

a gentle hug.. xx

[Dave_H in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for the reply. I'm wondering if anybody knows of any doctors who specialize in the treatment of exhaustion/CFS in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

[Agora1 in reply to Dave_H]

I'm sorry I don't Dave. I'm from Chicago and do see a Rheumatologist

for the Fibro. I hope you get an answer from others on the forum. xx

[Agora1 in reply to Dave_H]

Dave, what about Mayo Clinic? From what I hear, they are the best

in diagnosing and treating difficult cases. Just a thought. xx

[Dave_H in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for the tip. I was actually just at the Mayo Clinic inpatient psychiatric and it was the most disappointing inpatient visit I have had (and I've had 15 of them) I'm going to try to get a second opinion from the doctors at the University of Minnesota but can't get in for a month and that's just with someone in internal medicine.

[Agora1 in reply to Dave_H]

Sorry about that. I don't see it getting any better when this whole

thing is over. My doctors keep cancelling appointments. Good Luck

with the University of Minnesota doctor. There's nothing like a

teaching hospital. Keep us updated please when you get some answers.

I'm truly interested as well. xx

[Soblu]

God I wish I had an answer for you. I am going through the same. I have a good easy going life but still can not find the energy to do simple chores. My husband of 33 years acts like he accepts my down days but then every few months something triggers him to become very angry with me and we have a huge falling out that is so difficult for me to overcome. I'm on meds, therapy, accupunture and I think I should just end the marriage because my unhappiness is causing him these insensitive outbursts. I don't know what to do.

[Dave_H in reply to Soblu]

10 years ago I was in a wonderful relationship with a woman I loved very deeply. I met her in AA. When we first got together, she was only seeing her kids every other weekend. Halfway through the relationship, she got her kids back and naturally and rightly so they became the focus of her time and energy, but we were still in love. That November, I fell into a terrible bout of depression. I was on SSDI at the time but working my way back to health when it happened. In my depressed mind, I decided that I probably couldn't be the man she deserved, and so I let her go. But I never stopped loving her. Just found out she recently got married, and it really hurts. If I had it to do over again, I would have done anything to ride out that bout of depression and stay with her. Who knows what might have happened. I'll never know because _I_ took myself out of the game. And I wished to God I hadn't. I don't do well on my own, and have been praying for a companion. Any chance you two could do marriage counseling? It might give the two of you a safer more constructive forum to talk about this and about how he really feels. I know I learned a lot from couples counseling about how not to 'vent' my anger. Maybe he just needs to hear how much you value him (if you still do). Just a couple of thoughts, and sorry to hear what you are going through.

[KittenMittens22]

I have also had these extreme bouts of exhaustion. When I looked up symptoms online cyclothymia seemed to be the case for me as sometimes I get moments of hyper feelings. So although not quiet the same for you I do understand the regular periods of extreme exhaustion. I have felt it more with all the stress lately so I now wonder if it is just stress related. One day I had it so bad it scared me. I felt so weak that I felt like I couldn’t walk and almost felt drunk. I have never felt it that bad before.

On the days I do nothing the day is more tolerable but on days I work all day the exhaustion is really bad. I really don’t know what I can do about it. I can’t not work. I think maybe exercise will help me but worried it will make me more tired. I have given up on doctors as they don’t ever seem to take me that serious. I hope you can find a good doctor and a good solution.

[Dave_H in reply to KittenMittens22]

5 years ago this may have matched what I experienced; bouts of severe depression which would lift for at first years and then just months. I wouldn't call the 'better' times anything like hypomania though; more like just feeling better and wanting to 'catch up'. I've been manic 100's of times on cocaine and so I know what mania feels like and I've never felt that way since stopping 13 years ago. Now, the depression won't leave at all, it's been 2 years since I was last functioning normally. It was an interesting thought though and I checked it out. Thanks for the reply, and best wishes to you.

[Beau-penny]

Hey

Yes I experience this all the time and have the exact same conditions as you and what makes me angry there is a drug out there called motilium (provagil) and not only does it wake you up it lifts your mood and it’s like I’m a different person. They have even done studies on it as been doing some research. I’ve had it because my brother has narcolepsy but it’s amazing . But I’m really angry that they will not prescribe you this although it’s a life changer . What is the point of spending half your life in bed when something could help . My overall care on the nhs has been disgusting anyway basically just left to suffer, and exercise absolutely everything I’ve tried don’t work for me either.

[Dave_H in reply to Beau-penny]

I currently take Vyvanse for ADD and depression. It's a classic stimulant. My P doc is always very open to suggestions. I think I tried NuVigil once without much success. Or maybe it was ProVigil. I'll give it some though and bring it up when I next see my psychiatrist. Thanks for the tip.

[nxl71 in reply to Beau-penny]

Hi. I know its very late, but im new here and just checking the posts. I think you re talking about Modafinil /Provigil , not motilium as i checked and that thing is taken for stomach issues. Yes you need to have it subscribed to get it from pharmacy but you can also order it online easily. I tried it because i experience fatigue too, not extreme, im just not feeling as i used to be regarding my energy levels and its frustrating. I tried it, didnt do much. Had 2 different batches. I still have some left, and might try them again, but they felt uneffective for me. Everyone is different though, and if you feel like really exhausted and fatigued it might help. Just search on google "Modafinil online order" and you will find where to get it from.

[nxl71 in reply to nxl71]

Btw, if anyone here found any good fix for their fatigue, tell me

[Beau-penny]

Your welcome i think I might try and see a private psychiatrist I hope you get on ok I need something like that to survive tbh

[Mathewsmith]

Wow I feel the same. TMS worked for a bit then I go back. I was hoping that ketamine would save me. Can you say if you felt any benefits from it.

[Dave_H in reply to Mathewsmith]

Sorry. I had 10 infusions and nothing happened. I do know it really helps some people and I don't see any downside.

[Mathewsmith in reply to Dave_H]

ok interesting to hear. Did you like the process even if it did not work?

[Dave_H in reply to Mathewsmith]

It was a little bit 'trippy'. Hard to describe. Not in a bad way, just felt a little drugged.

[robbylynnofnm]

I just had five days straight of the same. I essentially lost 5 days to sleep. I could literally do nothing. Finally on the 6th day I got up, showered and went to work. When I was in the shower I thought why is this so hard to do when I'm like this because it feels so good. Anyway taking my meds has lessened these occurrences but they still do happen. I do not know the trigger. It escapes me. I can so relate.

[PackerGirl]

Hi, have you tried ECT?

[Dave_H in reply to PackerGirl]

Yes, I've had 37 treatments without any success.

[PackerGirl in reply to Dave_H]

I’m sorry!! I’m stuck in somewhat of the same scenario so I can empathize but don’t have many solutions to offer. I’m here tho if you ever want to chat! Hang in there!!