Fatigue

[Patze]

I too feel the wall around 5 pm and it's all I can do some days to not fall asleep at my desk.  I used to go for the full caffeine drinks about that time, but then the reflux would just reek havoc...some days you just can't win.  Anyway, I just try to power my way through it and hope for the best.

I also use Provigil (and it does help), but it is a bit expensive and only use it when I need to be in meetings and don't want to do the "face meet desk" routine, not pretty (especially the snoring part  ).

Hang in there, and take it easy -


Patze

[Babs659]

Billydude, when I was first diagnosed I was in a bad way.  I was so tired and weak and light-headed.  If I did 30 minutes of yard work I had to rest on the couch (not sleepy though) for a good hour.  Any stress at work and I felt so sick I had to leave early, and wondered how I'd drive the 12 miles home.  It was touch and go.  Thanks to the Plaquenil and Medrol I have improved.  I still feel the underlying illness, and have rough patches, but at least I can function.    Take care!

[jordozmom]

Boy, isn't the fatigue just a killer?!  I was dx with Sjogrens around 10 years ago, though it took 2 years to get a dx, and I'm still not used to the fatigue.  I think about crawling up on my desk and resting at least 10 times a day at work, then I go home and I'm worthless - on the couch or in bed, getting nothing done.  If it wasn't for drive thru my son would probably starve to death.

[beverley]

I also find that any stress makes me feel exhausted and poorly.  I work full time as a teacher and I really struggle a lot of the time.  It's hard to know if its the work load or the illness or the combination.  I suspect the latter.  There is no easy way to deal with it but people do.  Good luck, hope the Plaq kicks in soon.

Beverley

[wandar]

I'm newly diagnosed but I would swear I've been dealing with sudden and fierce fatigue for years. It does feel like you hit a brick wall. I can be going along fine the all of a sudden I'm so horribly tired I need to sleep. I work about 45 hrs per week, and when it hits me at work I just have to fight through. I eat a light snack to help (fear of chocking keeps me awake haha) and try to move around a bit more. Then I make sure that I go to bed that night a bit earlier then normal. With me it's become this routine, and upping the sleep for a few days puts me back to rights again. At least until the next fatigue flare.

[Ballerina]

I am newly diagnosed and I am fighting.
Diet has been very helpful.
I jog before breakfast.
But I still can get drousy just after breakfast...
Squeeze half a lemon into a 1/2 glass of water.
Drinking this make the body react as if you have a strong cup of coffee!

Ami

[malew/sjogrens]

Ballerina:

Citrus fruits are acidic and dry out the mouth. I can no longer drink orange juice. I am sure the lemon water would have the same effect.

[Patze]

Hi MWS,

I don't drink fruit juices (other than a little slice of lemon in my water/tea) as they just burn the heck out of my throat, and let's not mention the havoc that they do to the stomach.


Patze

[Ballerina]

You may be right there.
I never drink juices because of the high sugar
and orange juice is too hard on belly.
I was just hoping the lemon thing would wake me up.

Do you drink coffee at all?

[Patze]

Hi Ballerina,

No, I don't drink regular coffee as I don't really like the taste of it.  Now if we're talking foo foo coffee's, I'm there! 


Patze

[Katybarstool]

Patze

That's interesting that you don't like regular coffee. I used to love coffee, but since the dry mouth came along, I can't bear the after taste. I stick to tea now.

Kathyx

[malew/sjogrens]

Ballerina: Caffeine is supposed to also cause dry mouth. I do not like coffee but like tea. I drink non-caf tea.

However, chocolate has caffeine. I will never give up chocolate!!!!! 

[lynnmarie219]

MWS,

I'm right with you on the chocolate....I don't drink coffee or tea and but love my diet pepsi (the decaffeinated type).....but will NOT give up my chocolate even though I try to keep it to a minimum!

[Patze]

Isn't chocolate supposed to be a food group? 


Patze

[RobinBat]

Chocolate is definitely a food group, I think diet Pepsi is too!
I never liked coffee but am a tea drinker..... RobinBat