Fatigue

[jinasc]

Just lately there seem to be more postings on fatigue. I am not surprised as the past months have made it difficult for us in so many ways.

I was referred to this , quite soon after developing GCA by PMRpro.

It helped me to come to terms with the fatigue as I found I just could not cope with it. When I read it I bookmarked it and re-read it till I got it into my thick head.

"The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino" - just put this in your search engine.

I do have a male photo..............

[Constance13]

"The Spoon Theory" has helped me over the last 7 years (thanks to PMRpro). I don't actually count spoons in my head any more, but often say to myself ("that has just cost me ....... spoons)"!I wonder if Christine M knows just how many people she has helped through the years?

[SheffieldJane]

Bless you for the reminder. The stress in the air is not helping. I nod off as soon as I sit down.

[HeronNS in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yesterday morning I had a meeting, about 1.5 hours, with two friends. When covid restrictions allow we've been meeting weekly to discuss children's books and it's very enjoyable. Afterwards I went for a short walk and on my way back through the building encountered them again and they asked me to have lunch with them. I wouldn't these days anyway, but I suddenly realized how exhausted I felt and explained I was "flagging". When I got home I basically collapsed on the sofa with a cup of tea. I couldn't even read, but fell asleep for a while. So it doesn't take much to "overdo" it!

[Grammy80]

Thanks so much....this is a treasure! What a wonderful way for me to 'meter' out my spoons on things I enjoy~! 💖💖

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is a set of links including Spoons in this post:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

Including 15 different sorts of fatigue - bet you didn't know there were so many!!!

[jinasc in reply to PMRpro]

I did you told me ages ago..........but it is just I always remember the first.

What you doing posting it's Thursday 🤔 or have I missed a day 🤔 which I quite often do 🥪🥪Teatime today xxx

[tangocharlie]

For me in anyway, fatigue is a sign of/caused by inflammation and that if it continues beyond a few days I need a higher dose of Pred. Took me years to realise that and I just used to accept the fatigue was part and parcel of PMR. I wonder how many people are actually on too low a dose of Pred to manage symptoms including fatigue as well as pain and stiffness but they just put up with it because they accept the dose they are told to be on by their doctor? I was on 5 for years and really struggling in the early years, but knew no better or to question things. I don't think we actually know much about fatigue and it is an area that needs research as it is so debilitating. I also think people with other autoimmune illnesses suffer more because they are not allowed to be on steroids. In a way we are lucky - the doctors let us PMR and GCA peeps have steroids because they think we won't be on them for long (even then they push us off them asap, often tooo soon or too early) but others like those who have Sjogrens syndrome have to take things like hydroxychloraquine etc which don't work as well so suffer more.

[Parami]

Fatigue is a strange thing. I felt fine since having a parathyroidectomy at the end of November. Last Wednesday I had a wonderful night's sleep, then had an awful Thursday when I couldn't do anything but sleep! Needless to say, I had no sleep at all last night. I'm hoping I get back to 'normal' soon.