Fatigue.

[Tykelady]

I cope, reluctantly, with my lung problems, hear failure and atrial fibrillation but the last few weeks I have been so tired I dare not close my eyes or I will fall asleep. I feel ten times worse when I wake after about 20 minutes. How do others handle this?

[adenough]

umm I seem to have the opposite to you, insomnia.. been going on for more than 40 yrs it’s really no good for the body

[peege]

Sorry to hear this Tykelady, can you sleep at night? Change in medication, have had a bad infection lately or covid? Been diagnosed with CFS? Or oxygen levels lower than your normal ?

I have chronic fatigue syndrome, slept 5 hours on Thursday night but made up for it last night with 8 hours so feel a littlebettertoday. The only way I can survive to a reasonable way of life/existence is to practice Pacing. I've got used to imagining I start the day with a pocket/ envelope or small tank of energy and once its gone it's gone. I'll usually push myself past my limit on occasion ie an outing, long walk or time with family/grandchildren and then I'm completely wiped out and done needing to rest up for days sometimes weeks depending on activity.

Yesterday for the first time I met up with some members of a local CFS/ME group (all younger than I, two with mobility scooters, one with motorised wheelchair and one who rolled the wheels of her wheelchair. All more severe than I). It was enlightening and these are bits of information stood out: - Pacing is essential, we need to rest up daily but they all reccomended to rest with no distractions ie high stress situations, tv or reading (gentle or meditative music is ok). I was warned to take care not to push myself when the tank is empty (as I'm in the habit of doing) and to realise I have a base-line. The risk is that continually pushing my base-line boundary is that the base-line gets lower and lower so the tank is always faster in emptying or gets stuck on empty.

I hope that makes sense, my go to to rest is always to read from my kindle app on tablet, hours of the day are spent at kitchen table , the sofa or when wiped out my bed with the Samsung tablet propped up on a cushion.

Personally I never let myself sleep during the day because then I cannot sleep at night. I'm sure others will say "if you need to sleep then sleep" but unfortunately it doesn't work for me.

So, what I'm going to try is resting in a meditative way with no distractions ie getting very comfortable begin deep diaphragm breathing with one hand on stomach and one on diaphragm or chest or heart and try to empty my mind by imagining a favourite place (I'll try waves lapping on a beautiful warm beach for starters).

Sorry if I sound like a whacko however, needs must. Good luck Tykelady. 💐

Edit: have you had a chat to a sympathetic GP? When I did in 2016 (after years of fatigue & brain fog he arranged many blood tests, after results that's when he diagnosed CFS

[Tykelady in reply to peege]

I sleep most nights for at least 8 hours and have been told by the respiratory nurse about pacing myself. The trouble is my bursts of energy seem to have vanished. It's most liely all the medication plus old age. I've been lucky so far. x

[Patk1]

Have they done a blood gases check of late? Also routine bloods to rule out such as anaemia,low thyroid etc? X

[Tykelady in reply to Patk1]

I have regular blood tests because some of the medication I'm on can affect the kidneys.

[Bingo88]

Good morning Tykelady. I too have the same problem of sleeping too much. But I also have ckd. And that can leave you feeling fatigued and tired. I just have to keep busy and moving around when I can feel myself dropping off. I don't sleep well at nightime recently so that's not helping. Brian

[pasquino]

Ask your gp to refer you to a cardiologist ;I had heart failure and a specific PET scan discovered clogged coronaries requesting stents; I am surprised that you were not considered for a deeper heart examination.

For some strange reasons the vascular problems are never taken into account , concentrating only of lungs, but forgetting that lungs and hearrt work on sinergy and normally one`s faults influences the other`s.

Pasquino

[Izb1]

I don't sleep well at all and seem to be awake every couple of hours either too hot or needing the toilet. I suffer terrible fatigue which I think is due to having rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis . I sometimes fall asleep in my chair for 20 minutes or so some days but not often. Perhaps you should speak with your gp there may be something that can help x