Fatigue

[Pat-rick1]

Ok I know fatigue is common after brain injury,has anyone fond away to increase there energy ?

[Barnstable2010]

Hi, lm afraid if your in the early days after your Brain injury then no you have to listen to your body, l had my brain injury 2 years ago and only now it's not as often as it used to be.

I did try to fight it but made it worse so in the end l learnt how to prepare myself if l had a night out or event.

I also started reading about mindfulness which is very good along with a CD to help. You will improve but don't push it or feel guilty as l did. Take care.

[Pat-rick1 in reply to Barnstable2010]

It’s been 3 years since my accident, I have accepted that this is how life is now . Mindfulness has helped and it’s been good for me, it’s just this fatigue is driving me crazy

[iforget]

Are you experiencing physical or cognitive fatigue or a mix of both?

I found it helped to identify the times of day when I was more cognitively able and to keep brain tasks to those times, filling the other time with a mix of physical tasks that did not require brain power in between restful periods. It was trial and error but after a while I found that I was not as wiped and was able to be productive (in different ways) for longer periods.

[Pat-rick1 in reply to iforget]

It’s a mix of both I think 🤔

[DTBI]

It largely depends on how fit you were prior to the BI. I know people who have struggled for a few years however I walked plenty within months (10k steps a day target) and was running half marathons within 12mths. Positivity and commitment should help you. Good luck

[sospan]

Fatigue is a really complex problem to solve it is balance between too much and too little exercise, over and under sleeping. Then you add in battling with cognitive and memory problems, stress and any physical symptoms like aches and pain. The problem I have found is that when questioned about "fatigue" many specialists say "it happens after a head injury" and the say "don't over do things and have a rest in between!" Hmmm, even in my befuddled state I had worked that out.

Improving the quality of diet makes a huge difference for a large percentage of people during recovery. Its basically eating like your grandmother would tell you - no junk food, alcohol, coffee etc. but plenty of good meat, veg, nuts etc.

When I was doing my own research, I found a few articles where they recommend getting exercise (a walk outside preferably) between lunch and 4pm for 90 minutes. According to the findings this is the best way to burn off any peak energy after lunch and then pre-pare the body to slow down in the evening so that you sleep at night.

One thing I have been trying this week is a product called Floradix (£14 Amazon) which is a "tonic" but adds extra iron into your system. It has only been a week, I don't feel quite so off as I did but still can't leap over tall buildings like Superman ....

[Miss_B_Haven]

Hi Pat-rick1

I really hate to say it but it does seem to be a trial and error thing. No one thing works for everyone.

And that is not as simple as it sounds, because everyone seems to think if it worked for someone else it will work for you.

Advice is don't push. And don't let yourself be pushed. Listen to your body and your brain and stop when they are telling you to.What you overdo today you will pay for tomorrow and maybe the tomorrow after that.

Vit B=12 shots every 10 days did help me for a while. Sort of. In that I had more energy but that energy wasn't real or sustainable so I overdid and then crashed like a lead balloon. Stress seems to be a very common energy drainer in this type of injury so anything you can do to find some peace is likely to give you an improved energy level.

Just remember that you are unique and your solutions will likely have to be unique also. Best wishes for you!

[Starwars28]

Hi afraid not i am still struggling after three major ops within eight months brain tumour then infection then titanium plate hope you find your way

[cat3]

Hi Pat. I take vitamin & mineral supplements and, though there's no way of knowing whether it helps, I think it has to be beneficial generally. But I find at 'Down' times, a 10 minute walk always kick-starts my metabolism into action, enough to get things done. And getting things done can lift the spirits enough to do even more, whether mentally or physically.

Too simple ? Try it and see...…...just a brisk walk to the top of the street & back should do it. Love Cat x

[Matt2584]

Hi Pat,

I used to suffer with fatigue quite a lot... used to. Not so much now though.

I do get fatigued at times. Mental fatigue can pop up from time to time. I could look completely fine on the outside but my brain would feel tired.

Anyhow, I have more faith in natural/herbal medicines these days as pharmaceutical medicine is all for the money... and plus most, if not all, of the “medicines” carry side affects.

I have researched on essential oils and frankinsence essential oil is excellent for the brain.

I am an artist and before the oil if I were to spend a couple of hours drawing I would feel very fatigued after and my head would feel like it had been clogged up with concrete.

After a few weeks of inhaling frankincense essential oils I don’t get so fatigued :).

[Hidden]

Hi Pat-rick I am 24 yrs out from BI and still struggling with fatigue. Look fine on the outside but regularly batting brain freeze. I think I might try the frankincense oil. Walking outside really does help. Short or long whenever you can fit it in. I find it clears my mind, oxygenates it, make me more alert, enables me to concentrate more afterwards, brings me calm and clarity. Helps manage my symptoms. Just thinking I will try to have a short walk each morning e.g. 10 minutes before I shower, just to get me going for the day. One saying a really believe in is- Win the morning, win the day- but due to fatigue, particularly neuro fatigue this is so hard to do. Fingers crossed for you. best of luck.

[Broken_Doll]

How’s your sleep Pat?

[Pat-rick1 in reply to Broken_Doll]

My sleep is good! But it’s 04:42🙃