Hi, I know tiredness and fatigue is a main symptom of lupus and there's not a lot we can do about it but does anyone know of anything that can help wake me up a bit I'm literally shattered all the time and sick of it. I hate drinking coffee and not sure about energy drinks.
Thanks
Wow....good question. I have a real hard time getting up too. My whole life. I guess discipline helped as a child, but seems to be getting a lot harder as we get older. Sometimes my eyes don't want to open, and my body hurts. I get up early to bring my children to school. No bus . That routine has put me on a schedule and I have been waking up the same time all summer. I take time to have my cup of tea in my favorite room now, my back porch. My husband just put on the back of our house this summer. I love being outside and this room makes me happy. Do you have a favorite spot you can go to and sit have a cup of tea that really makes you smile? Whether there's a picture there you love or a window you can sit in front of look outside? I have also been going to bed by 10 pm. I wish I could help more. Hope you can find some guidance with this tiredness. Very difficult. take care...
Hi Lucy86. Fatigue is a major problem with me as well. I use to be able to spring out of bed before the sun came up and start the day. Having lupus has changed that and I feel Somedays I have to pull myself out of bed. I agree with Natura's post. I have found that setting the alarm a bit early and waking up slow helps. I have tea or coffee in a quiet place and just enjoy the stillness. Once my mind is clear, I can move a bit better and the fatigue and body pain becomes bearable. Find something that makes you feel good whether it's a quiet cup of tea or gentle stretching to ease in to the day.
Hi Lucy,
You will probably see this on another thread we are both on, but my body had really high inflammation which I think was part of what made my body tired. I started eating differently (also on plaquenil) and the inflammation is much less and maybe not even present on really good days. I also was able to make a change to have much less daily stress due to my job, and I get better sleep now that the work stress isn't pervasive.
I could hardly get out of bed in the past due to the pain and exhaustion. How could I have just slept all night and I feel like I need a nap upon waking up? Now I do not feel depleted like I did. This has been my experience, and may not be the same result for you. I essentially gave up all processed food and sugars (other than naturally occurring in foods). If I drink a glass of juice, it's too much sugar for me , so I will have a small amount of juice and look for less sugary foods to get nutrients.
I started feeling better within a few days of eating healthier, but it took a few months of giving up my favorite foods to make a sizable difference in my energy. I've been "eating clean" for about 1.5 years and it has really helped me. I use an app occasionally to check what I am eating from a nutrition standpoint and make sure I am getting the essentials from what I'm putting into my body.
All the best to you,
Calafia
Hello. Fatigue was the worst symptom for me to deal with, as a 39 year old, wife and mother of three young children and working part time. I am just coming out if a flare that started in January 2013. When the fatigue was at it's worst I was struggling to get through the day and would then nap from 4pm and just get up to eat an evening meal, my husband was putting the kids to bed every night. I hated it. I missed my children and being involved. I missed my old life. It has gradually got better. 8 months of twice per day, 200mg of hydroxy. I still get very tired on days I work and can be in bed by 7.30 but on days I don't work can be up until 10am. Also have your iron levels been checked? I was border line aneamic and was told to take 200mg a day - I still haven't been able to get a prescription for this from my GP but I have bought iron supplements and am taking about 100mg a day - just the last 8 days - and I have more energy already! I'm sorry that I don't have a miracle cure. By the way, I only have 2 coffees in the morning and drink decaf the rest of the day and I never drink high caffeine or energy drinks as I don't think they are good for you. I think you have to learn that if you need rest, you need rest. I think for me, it was part if accepting the Lupus. I had always been strong and lived a busy life. But I have had to change and accept I am not Wonderwoman! I have learnt to say no to people and no to invitations too. It's hard. But I have to prioritise my energy and my family need me. Good luck. Wendy
Read my recent thread "fatigue - a solution?" 
I find coffee to be fine but energy drinks for whatever reason seem to make me worse - I suffer from sjorgrens disorder too which means I have to drink all the time and water just doesn't cut it at all, so it's mainly coffee and I know bad for me sugary drinks just to try and boost my energy, I agree with easing into a day a quiet cuppa with the radio on in a peaceful place works wonders the days I can't do this due to appointments etc does mean by the afternoon I am suffering for not easing myself into the day try your best (although life stops this happening) to take some time out for you even if that is just a soak in the bath discover what works for you to relax and try that I find listening to rain totally relaxes me so I always have my headphones to hand and listen to that even just for 5 minutes it helps a lot
Plaquenil improved my fatigue a lot, leaving behind something more like tiredness for which I just drink coffee - one morning, one afternoon.
Hi, just take things easy, take naps, sleep longer, stop doing tiring things, or spread things out over the day, or days if you can. I get incredibly frustrated now I can no longer play sports, be as active or do the normal everyday things I took in my stride before I was diagnosed. Instead now I try to listen more to my body.
Hi Lucy
I plan my day so that I don't waste energy at the beginning of the day that I might want at the end of the day if I am going up stairs I look round to see if anything needs taking up to save taking two trips, I also take a nap in the day. My body needs it and so I give it time to rest it is surprising how much difference just half an hour can make, I might do this twice sometimes if I need to otherwise I will feel like I am going to collapse anyway. I am allergic to caffeine so can't drink energy drinks and things to wake me up so a little sleep works wonders. I only work two short days a week now and so this seems to work well for me, though I have been woken by the railway staff when the train terminated a couple of times on my way home they woke me and asked where did I want to get off once I woke up I would definitely recommend a small nap if it is possible.
Good luck
Madmagz x
This may just work for me but I just take a minutes walk or pace up and down my office when I get sleepy. It is usually around 3- 4.30pm if I am having a quiet day. When I am busy at work I have noticed I do not get fatigue. If I am doing something that needs a bit of attention I am fine, it's when I don't have to concentrate on anything do I tend to find myself dozing off to sleep at my desk at work. Have woken up once, sleep-typing, my computer had line after line after line of nonsense lol.
Polymyositis Help please share with me thankyou 
How do you cope with pain in the feet ? 
Lupus Hypothyroidism and Ramadan
Tiredness and feeling weak, any tips? 
Chronic illness and social isolation
