Anyone else get testy when they are tired?

[SjoGirl]

It's definitely a low spoons day today. I don't know if it's because I'm trying to kick carbs or because I'm doing it gradually and ate some last night or is just SjS at work (I am also healing from carpal tunnel surgery).

What I do know is when I am this kind of tired I get testy, sometimes very testy. I snapped at someone at a coffee bar this morning who jumped in front of me (oh, I said I'm in YOUR way). I've also had the occasional meltdown where I complain about everything from doing the laundry to making dinner to much more.

I'm trying to get to the bottom of what's driving this behavior which is all too much like that of a petulant 5 year-old sometimes.  I just feel out of sorts, fatigued, low energy, and grumpy.

If you experience this have you found a reason and/or good coping mechanisms? FYI not going to work and just resting is not an option, I have two jobs and multiple clients for one of my jobs so have to keep on plugging.

[Judie P]

We are both Primary SJS and have stenosis and degenerative disc disease.  I get that way when I begin to feel like I can't keep up with everyone elses demands or needs.  I, too, have a demanding clientele and am self employed.  Work all the time.  I believe my testiness (or anger) is just a coverup for being depressed and a little helpless.

I usually remind myself of all the good I have been doing and find something that makes me happy.

[irish]

This testiness of ornerness can related to overwork and a feeling of losing control of our workload or life in general. A sign of the times these days for sure.

Something else that happens is a screw up in our brain chemicals. This is what happens when we suffer from a depression. One of the more common symptoms of a depression is finding it hard to control emotions and reactions to things that occur in our lives. We can be short tempered and so crabby that our family wants to lock us in the attic.

I have seen this a lot in my nursing career. Sometimes a person can take an antidepressant for a fairly short period of time.....like in months or a year or so and then stop and see how it goes. Often when the med is stopped life gets out of hand again as the adequate brain chemicals evens our temperament out and
also increases our coping and organizational skills. Good luck. Irish

[vrystaat]

I think that many of us are frequently testy. After all we have a serious chronic disease, and the fatigue associated with SS doesn't help.
I don't know the incidence of depression in SS, but one of the symptoms of depression is irritability and anger (see https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/810872).
I myself have noticed this in me, and if one is not careful, your family members can be impacted.
If this becomes burdensome for you, a visit to your friendly psychologist could help.

A helpful article is at the Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation: http://www.sjogrens.org/home/get-connected/faces-of-sjogrens

[SjoGirl]

Thanks everyone. Those if you who mentioned depression hit the nail on the head. I had been doing very well on Gabapentin and had to go off of it due to side effects. Since then my pain levels have continued to increase.

As well I had hand surgery about 1.5 weeks ago. That set me back in many ways and added to the pain to the point where it became intolerable (10 is not nearly a high enough number on the scale). I also was sleeping, but not getting rested.

As I said to my husband over dinner, I hate what is happening to my body, frankly I hate my body (and I am oh so tired of being told how great I look yet feeling so horrible).  I was given a muscle relaxer for the pain (neck and shoulders, which actually proceeded the hand surgery, but got much worse after that and attempts at starting yoga again).

I realized when I was talking this evening that I need to separate my anger about my body and pain from other feelings and try to see what is good while I deal with the bad. Thank you for your support, it means a great, great deal.

[warmwaters]

Just another voice here. Yup - definitely get cranky when tired/in pain/ both!  Sometimes there's also the depression mixed in, which leads to self-pity.

My coping strategies -
Do the things that improve my chances of not getting tired/in pain. Sure not a 100% solution, as I've got limited control over that.

Send myself to my room!  Honest - if I know I'm about to yell at people for doing ordinary things (chewing too loudly!!!) I'm better off staying away from people for a bit. Plus I usually lie down and rest a bit, which may help.

Apologize - luckily my family is very forgiving. My partner will say "It's ok, I heard the pain talking". If I've just gone ballistic on someone because they screwed up t , if I can, I'll try to calm down and explain that they didn't deserve it. Explain I'm having a very bad day, but that I'm sorry I yelled.  I avoid calling to sort out medical bills and insurance when I'm in a lot of pain.

Manage pain intentionally.  I have some serious back pain. If I know there's something I want to do, I take the meds that will help, though I prefer not to take them. But what's the point of going to an event and being miserable?

[SjoGirl]

Thanks warm waters, I have done my share of apologizing, I'm trying to move past it to learn self control. For example I am learning to give myself a time out. I watched our grandson do this for himself when he was younger and was angry or getting overwhelmed with attention (he's the only grandchild and has lots of grand parents). I find it quite beneficial to put myself in a quiet place and let everything fall away, quite calming.

I tend to too much in general, but also to prove that I'm not a feeble sick woman. In reality I probably accomplish a lot more than many "average" people, but no that's not enough. I am learning to say no and to give myself permission to unplug.

Thanks again, great to hear how other cope.

[Carolina]

Testy!  Moi??   Never.

Well, of course.   But now I don't do half the things, heck, MOST of the things, that you are doing when you are testy, SjoGirl.

I am taking LDN, and at the highest dose (4 mg) I tried, I became irritable, testy and down right outraged.  So I dropped back to 3 mg, which helps my pain, and the irritability slowed down.  And the reduced anger is saving my marriage.

By the way, I have zero responsibilities, and can sleep all I want.  Sometimes I am irritable because I am so 'useless'.   So I think there may be a neurological component, and I'm sure the large number of medications I take isn't helping my 'mood'.

I became subject to serious side effects from all of the SSRI's, which I took primarily for pain management, but certainly helped with mood, as well.  Now I am no longer taking any anti-depressant and I'm sure that is part of my testiness.

First and foremost:  be kind to and forgiving of YOURSELF, SjoGirl.  Mindfulness and meditation and relaxation, time out, is first on the list.   A shower, a bath, music you like, a cup of tea, escape, talk therapy with a professional. 

Hugs,  Elaine

[SjoGirl]

Thanks Elaine, despite your numerous and significant challenges you are a warm, caring and supportive fellow Sjoggie.

[trejonina]

Hi, SJ is a very difficult condition to live with.Lots of rare and weird things happen to us, that doctors don't understand, unless they have SJ themselves.There are constellations of diseases, symptoms and syndromes with SJ.Maybe only faithfully reading this forum can we begin to see and try to understand the scope of all that can and does happen to all of us. And so get comforted in this , because we are warriors.This really helps , google youtube+ Super Brain Yoga by Renewing all things. Its a very simple breathing technique, and you bend your knees as best you can. Or even just sitting down. You can investigate on youtube many brain yoga exercises that may may be suitable for you. Also on youtube: Women's Health Mandy Ingber Yoga for Happiness. the breath starts in 0:22 second of video.Greetings and Good luck to all!!!

[Deb 27]

What do you think about the  connection of mood and the lower carb diet? I know if my blood sugar gets low, I am very cranky!!!! Or if I am too hungry!!!

[SjoGirl]

Trejonina thanks for the yoga recommendation, breathing is good and about what I can do at the moment for exercise.

Deb, yes, the more sugar I eat the worse I get. The biggest factor is lack of sleep, which is an all too common occurrence with SjS. FYI in my family we call it the hangries when you are hungry and angry as a result. I tend to eat smaller meals and snack often to avoid ending up with this issue.