Hi Lakiee, I get how tired you must be feeling.. the meds, depression and just life with MS can make you feel tired. I would try to start incorporating a little gentle exercise in your life if at all possible.. you might want to check out the prior post from falalala about exercise and just see what it does for you. The Endorphins that you get from doing just a little bit can help with the depression. Ps are you being treated for the depression? Keep us posted on what works for you.. 🙏🏼🍀🤞🏻
Wow, Lakiee, I feel you! The fatigue with MS is just seemingly insurmountable. Depression and anxiety tend to be more common in MS, too. You are not alone. And yes, the meds! All kinds of meds. Sometimes it seems like they are trying to outdo each other to see which one can make you feel the most tired. You can ask your doctor to go over your meds and see if they're helping you or if you could stop taking some of them, or maybe take something else that's less sedating. Are you taking anything for the depression and anxiety? Because both of those will sap your energy. The trick is to find a treatment that doesn't make you more tired. Also talking to a therapist helps in addition to meds.
I'm guessing you take the pills that make you drowsy at bedtime when possible? I try to put off taking meds like baclofen that make me drowsy until afternoon if I can.
That and trying to keep a schedule where you go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day can help you fall asleep. An hour before bedtime turn off your phone (yes I'm a hypocrite, as I am typing this after midnight!) or at least turn the brightness way down. Sometimes a warm bath can help you unwind before bed.
Have you tried Provigil or Adderall? Or amantadine? Stimulants can be a big help, but start low to make sure they don't make your anxiety worse. Going outside in the morning and taking a walk if you are able might help cue your body that it's time to wake up, assuming the sun is out.
It helps me to call a friend and get my mind off of how tired I am. Or if it's nice out my hubby will sometimes take me for a drive, which is nice because you don't have to look perfect since you aren't actually going anywhere.
That said, it is an uphill battle for me every day. It just sucks. I hope you can find a few things that will help you feel a little better.💕
Have you considered talking to your dr. about having a sleep study done to see if you're getting the sleep you should be at night? When we fall off to sleep, we don't always really fall off to restful, deep sleep. Just a thought.
Mine was done at home and I don’t even remember what it entailed. Guess wires weren’t an issue for me. For me it was all the darn miles. Had to drive 45miles to sleep study machine instruction place and then 45 back to drop it off. Still worth it to take it off “cause” list.
Just reading replies is exhausting. 😏 Great advice in those replies. I think I was where you are about 2yrs ago. 11 meds then, now 5 and at lower doses.
No one advised me to do it. My PCP played big part along with my Mom. She suggested I may have some food allergies. I did, some of my favorites. Hoping today is a tolerable day. 🫧
Ok, Lakiee, bear with me. You will think I am nuts. But what helps my energy is my little recumbent bicycle. I would sit trying to put on makeup in the morning, trying to get ready for work. But I was so tired, I could barely sit up. Dr. Boster double dog dared me (& the world) thru YouTube to exercise to help fatigue. And dang if he wasn't right. Even 10-15 minutes of slow petaling helped the next day. It may not take away all the fatigue, but it helps!
It's quite heartening to hear that you feel a boost from such a brief time. I am up to eight minutes with the treadmill set at "loiter", trying to help the new tightness that has suddenly appeared in my legs. They actually feel weak from baclofen and stiff at the same time. Thanks for the encouragement!
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