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Lack of energy, any advice?


Sparrow

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I could use some tips if anyone has any.

I have NO energy at all. I am always tired and very rarely make it through the day without a nap. This has been going on for a few years and the doctors are no help at all.

It makes me sad and frustrated that even simple tasks wipe me out, I want to be able to enjoy my life more. Not to mention the fact that I'm never going to be able to get ahead and have things taken care of for tomorrow (as far as preping) if I can't even manage to get today's things accomplished.

Thanks!

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Sooooooo many things can lead to chronic fatigue and I'm sure you'll hear about a number of them from members with this same struggle. Has sleep apnea been ruled out. I was shocked to find out that I had this several years ago. I simply could not stay awake during the day. I would just dose right off.

 

When I was diagnosed and then put on a sleep apnea machine it was miraculous the difference it made in my energy levels.

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I was on a merry go round with the doctors for a couple of years with this one telling me one thing and giving me one medicine, and another one something else, and so on- until they had me on so many different medicines I was a Zombied out mess.

 

I got kinda fed up and quit taking everything 11 months ago. I feel better than I did then, the only problem with that is now I'm aware enough to know how tired I am.

 

I know there is some issues with my liver, my body is storing iron there instead of sending it out to be used. I was seeing a specialist but... every 6 weeks I went into the city, waited 30 minutes or so paid my $45.00 co-pay and another $15.00 to have my blood drawn, then the doc would come in look at my chart and say "keep working on losing that weight, will continue to moniter for now, see you in 6 weeks". I really felt like my money was being wasted. So now I am going it alone, and looking for a more natural approach to my health issues.

 

The list of things that keep me up at night are looooong- husband's snoring, kids that wake me, my stupid legs, a bladder the size of a peanut, ect. Add to that I am a really light sleeper, my DH jokes with me sometimes about it. I'll give you an example, the dog that sometimes bugs me at night lives about 6 acres from us. My mom says I have always been that way.

 

Thanks for the response.

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Sparrow, I am the mistress of fatigue. I have Sjogren's Syndrome and there are days I cannot do much. I have found that sticking to a wheat-free diet has helped some of the fatigue and that walking every day, even if it's just two tenths of a mile to the frog pond helps a LOT. The thing is, we think if we are fatigued we can't exercise. But you're going to be exhausted whether you walk or not so walking is better. It does help in the long run.

 

Food allergies can make you chronically tired. When mine were diagnosed and I quit eating all the things I am allergic to, much of my energy returned. Now that I have Sjogren's, I have to pace myself, but I still manage to do quite a lot even when fatigued. I have fatigue on me today and yet I washed floors, vacuumed, dusted, and cooked cupcakes, made roast beef and kept the fire going, hauling in some firewood. I just do it slower on tired days. Yesterday I was much more fatigued and only cleaned off the porch and had to leave things that needed hauling to the basement for husband or daughter to do.

 

If you have checked your blood for anemia and have run tests for various things and doctors are stumped, I'd say check for food allergies. You might be amazed to learn you have some. However, you could also have sleep apnea, and not be getting enough good rest. I hope they can help you figure it out.

 

Part of fighting fatigue is a mental battle, also. And this does NOT mean I think tiredness is all in your head....I mean that you have to not let it make you depressed. If there is no known cause, or even if there IS a cause found, you must accept this tiredness as part of who you are now and you must not let it be something that wears you down emotionally. It just is what it is---and you will have to work around it.

 

I'm not sure if any of this makes sense...but there it is.

 

My heart goes out to you. It's just awful being tired all the time. Hugs!

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Eating more veggies helped for me, especially the orange and green ones. Cutting out processed foods and getting excercise made a huge difference.

Sometimes a cleanse is in order to rid your body of built up toxins.

I still experience fatigue in the winter because of the low light. We just came through 8 straight days without any sunshine and I was dragging. The sun was out today and I am a changed woman!

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No, you're definitely not the only one. I've been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue a few years back and I was anemic...wonder if I am again. I have a 'tight' schedule that I have to keep but that will soon be ending. I've had this schedule before and when it ended, it took me a number of months (from June til Dec) to recuperate but I felt like a new woman til the schedule started again.

I'd def'ly get my iron level checked if I were you...seems to be the no. 1 problem of women. I'm having a hard time right now between the CFS and some arthritis which causes pain to move. I'm hoping that spring and more sunshine will help too--its been a very dull grey winter here with little sunshine and lots of snowstorms this year.

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From what I understand, based on my internet searching, lack of sunshine affects your hormone levels.

When sunlight shines on your skin or into your eyes it triggers the production of a hormone that calms you. I may have this reversed, but I believe the hormone is seratonin. When you aren't exposed to it, your levels drop and you end up with more melatonin, ( the hormone you need to sleep well.) This causes you to feel depressed and tired. It can also cause you to over produce adrenaline and have panic attacks.

 

I specifically have problems with the adrenaline surges that cause my heart to race , I sweat profusely and my blood pressure goes up, triggering a rosacea flare-up in my face and even in my eyes, affecting my eyesight, (occular rosacea.)

 

I don't have any problems as long as I get enough sunshine. I won't even consider going to the doctor for this problem because he would just treat the symptom with anti-depressants. I can treat the root cause by being sure to expose myself to sunlight each morning and using a light box when it's cloudy.

 

 

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puppyinwindowsnow.gif

 

I also don't get enough sleep most nights. I do know that there are days I just have to take a nap, be it 15 minutes or 30 minutes and those are the nights I sleep the best. When I don't take a nap, I don't sleep good that night. I also think I need to get outside more now that the temps are a bit nicer. :) All the fresh air will do me good too. :) Remember how when our kids were small, we would send them out to play and they were ready to go to bed when they should. :)

 

On oldpine's days off I don't get woken up by the radio and so I sleep better those nights too. When he goes to work, the radio comes on just after 5:00 A.M. and then my sleep is broken up and that isn't good either. :(

 

HUGS4-1.gifhaveanicedaydogandflowers.gif

 

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Iron is a major problem. The condition I tested positive for is called -hemochromotosis-, basicaly it is like being anemic, my body is storing iron in my liver instead of using it the right way. It can't be treated with iron supplements though because my liver will just latch on to those to and clog itself up even more.

 

It's really frustrating, kinda a darned if I do darned if I don't scenario. I guess I need to have a little more paitiance, I didn't get in this shape overnight and I'm not going to get out of it overnight either.

 

I'm dropping big hints about the Total Gym- my birthday and anniversery aren't too far off so maybe I'll get lucky. ;)

 

I haven't been taking any vitamins because I was thinking "multi" and they all have iron. I was not thinking about taking them individualy. I have to do some research and see what might work for me to take.

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I sympathize with you totally!!!

 

First of all if you don't feel like you are getting what you should from that Dr. find another one.

 

I have Fibromyalgia and I almost gave up before I was diagnosed. After 2 yrs of chronic pain I thought that maybe I had just flipped my lid since they couldn't find anything. Now that I have that pretty much under control I am having problems with complete exhaustion. Around 3 pm....I'm worthless....so I was pretty interested in this thread...I'm thinking it's another fibro symptom but i still wanted to let you know you ARE NOT alone.

 

Hang in there!

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I remember reading somewhere that fibro. and the chronic fatigue syndrome are closely related and can have the same cause. They're both auto-immune diseases where the body basically attacks itself. Is this correct?

 

My Mother has the fibro., and my brother seems to be displaying symptoms. They are two broken down miserable people with multiple medical problems.

 

This is why I have changed my diet in such an extreme and expensive way. I don't want to suffer as they do. Also, I would rather buy expensive organic food and supplements than spend that money, plus boatloads more, on future doctor and pharm. bills.

 

I made a list of the ailments my mother has, and put down the age I thought she was when she started having the problem. As I made that list, I saw that I had begun displaying some of the symptoms. I knew I needed to change my diet or I would eventually be able to put my name at the top of that list.

 

Since making the changes, I have seen my symptoms disappear. When I stray from my new healthy choices, they begin to return.

 

Now, I see my brother going down this same path as my Mom.

It's so sad. They want relief from the symptoms, but they were never really willing to do what was necessary to prevent it. Because they couldn't afford the expensive suppliments or organic fruits and vegetables, they had to continue eating at McDonalds and scarfing down sugary sweets and soda. Really, what it boils down to is, they weren't willing to give up the foods they loved in order to experience health.

 

Okay, I need to stop preaching and complaining here.

I just want to encourage everybody to look for the solutions to your health problems outside of the pill bottle. Search for the root cause of your problems and make the changes to correct them. You will have to give up a lot, but you have so much more to gain!

 

 

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I don't know if this will help anyone or not, but here's the story I have to share.

 

Several (5?) years ago I started drinking kefir on a daily basis. Every morning I pour off the day's kefir into a blender, add whatever fruit I have lying around, and whizz it, and that's breakfast. Anyhoo, about four years ago a friend offered me space in her yard for a garden. I went over there one fine spring day thinking that I would dig up a plot about 3' by 6'. Well, by the time I was tired enough to call it quits for the day, I had spaded up that plot, plus another that size, plus a foot-deep plot along both sides of a twelve-foot long fence! I must have looked like the Tasmanian Devil! And even then, I was pleasantly bushed, not flat-out exhausted. I know my capabilities, and I surprised myself that day. I honestly think it was the kefir that gave me so much energy. (Also, as I noticed later on that year, I no longer bruise. Again, I think it's the result of drinking kefir daily.)

 

Kefir, for those unfamiliar with it, is a cultured milk product. You take a couple of tablespoons of kefir grains, which look like little white blobs of cooked cauliflower, and you put it in about a pint and a half or so of milk. Then you just let it sit for a day on the counter -- no refrigeration, just let it do it's thing. Then like I said, pour it off (I just dump it through a strainer), use the kefir, and put more milk over the grains. Easy-peasy, and it's sooo good for you. It tastes like thin yoghurt, with just a wee tiny bit of fizz to it. I just LOVE the stuff.

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Sparrow, would the vitamins for seniors work? I don't know if they have iron in them or not. I mean, by the time folks are that age, women don't need the iron because they're stopped their menses. I don't know about the guys. It might be something to look into. Or they may have a very little. I don't know.

 

Urban, kefir, huh? hmmm... where would I be able to find some to try? Do you think the grocery store's organic section would have it? My store has a pretty good section. Would it be in the grains, or the yogurts? It sounds very interesting. Anything shmushed with fruit sounds good to me! LOL

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I don't know if this will help anyone or not, but here's the story I have to share.

 

Several (5?) years ago I started drinking kefir on a daily basis. Every morning I pour off the day's kefir into a blender, add whatever fruit I have lying around, and whizz it, and that's breakfast. Anyhoo, about four years ago a friend offered me space in her yard for a garden. I went over there one fine spring day thinking that I would dig up a plot about 3' by 6'. Well, by the time I was tired enough to call it quits for the day, I had spaded up that plot, plus another that size, plus a foot-deep plot along both sides of a twelve-foot long fence! I must have looked like the Tasmanian Devil! And even then, I was pleasantly bushed, not flat-out exhausted. I know my capabilities, and I surprised myself that day. I honestly think it was the kefir that gave me so much energy. (Also, as I noticed later on that year, I no longer bruise. Again, I think it's the result of drinking kefir daily.)

 

Kefir, for those unfamiliar with it, is a cultured milk product. You take a couple of tablespoons of kefir grains, which look like little white blobs of cooked cauliflower, and you put it in about a pint and a half or so of milk. Then you just let it sit for a day on the counter -- no refrigeration, just let it do it's thing. Then like I said, pour it off (I just dump it through a strainer), use the kefir, and put more milk over the grains. Easy-peasy, and it's sooo good for you. It tastes like thin yoghurt, with just a wee tiny bit of fizz to it. I just LOVE the stuff.

 

 

afternoonmouse.jpg

 

Kefir, is something new to me, so this is my 'something new' that I have learned today. :)

 

That is very interesting.

 

THANKSFORSHARINGGIRLS.gif

 

 

I do take a multi vite. and I think that sometimes just getting up and doing some exercising helps too, it sort of wakes me up. :)

 

HUGS4-1.gifhaveanicedaydogandflowers.gif

 

 

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I agree with the others in the forum, if you still feeling poorly keep going back to your Doctor. They had me down as a depressive anxiety ridden person, but it was symptoms of my illness, which was not correctly diagnosed for ten years.

 

Fatigue, can be the result simply of a disturbed sleeping pattern, too much caffeine, poor diet, depression or loads more.

 

I would make sure you eat correctly, with plenty of meat and fresh vegetables. Cut down on your caffeine in take, and make sure you drink enough water (not including any caffeine). Get gentle exercise and relax well. Try and de-stress as much as you can.

 

I would keep a journal of your sleep patterns, food and drink intake, and how you relax before bed. This may help you see a pattern.

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Urban, kefir, huh? hmmm... where would I be able to find some to try? Do you think the grocery store's organic section would have it? My store has a pretty good section. Would it be in the grains, or the yogurts? It sounds very interesting. Anything shmushed with fruit sounds good to me! LOL

 

You can buy kefir in the store. It would be in the health food section; it'll come in a bottle or carton, like drinkable yoghurt. The taste is going to be milder, I think, than homemade kefir.

 

OTOH, the homemade stuff is better for you, IMHO. And I forgot to add (so this saves me an edit) that the "grains" will grow and reproduce themselves, so you can share them once you get enough. The grains themselves are very healthy to eat whizzed in the blender too. For a good source for both grains and information, go onto Google and look up "Dom's Kefir In-site". Dom is from Australia, and he is THE kefir guru.

 

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

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I have to add this to what urban said: I love kefir! I don't make my own (although I wish I did), but I do buy it regularly from the health food store. It's about $2.50-$3.00 a quart or so. My DS really needs it a lot, so I make sure I have it on hand. It's full of probiotics, even more so than any yogurt! IF your fatigue is caused by bad bacteria, kefir may be for you. I know I feel better when I drink it regularly.

 

OTOH, I feel tired quite often, too. Sometimes it doesn't matter how much sleep I get, if it's 5-10 hours (ok, I never actually get 10 hours!), but I still feel tired all the time. One thing I have found that helps big time is B vitamins. If I take an Emergen-C packet in water, I feel so much more awake. Emergen-C's have lots of C and B vitamins. Or if I take a B-complex vitamin, I have way more energy. Just a thought. HTH!!

 

G&V

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  • 3 weeks later...
IMO ( and I've been there) sounds like the thyroid. a simple blood test could tell you. don't get why the doc's won't test ya tho.

 

 

This is what I was thinking too.

I have been trying to cope with the same symptoms that you mentioned and have finally made an appointment to go have some bloodwork done today, as a matter of fact.

 

I've tried everything, vitamins, no sugar, no caffiene, more excercise, more sleep, more 'me' time, more fruits & veggies, etc. and nothing has worked.

This has been going on for almost 5 years now and I'm tired of being tired all the time, so I really sympathize with you.

So I'm hoping I'll be able to find out something from the work-up today.

 

 

Michelle in middle Tennessee

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