I get sooooo tired during the day and when I wake up from a full nights sleep I feel as tired as I was when I went to bed! I feel like my life is centered around when I can catch a nap or sleep for hours. Usually this rest time is spent on a heating pad due to the pain in my lower back/hip area. I am so tired of being tired and really afraid to go to my doctor because all he is going to want to do is say i'm depressed and put me back on antidepressants (i quit them a long time ago). I have been through this before and I know that's what he'll do!
Anyone experience this continual tiredness? Is it because I am a wrecking ball of nerves and stress or is it possible to be linked directly back to the Fibro? Will it ever lessen? Will everyone continue to think I am just depressed and need psychological help?
Sorry for all the questions but I am so tired and it is starting to interfere with work and that's not good! I am hoping to seek advice and experiences.
Medications:
I am currently taking Lyrica and Klonopin twice daily. The Klonopin I have been on for years, the Lyrica about 5-6 weeks now.
Perhaps you might look into getting a doctor who understands and treats syndromes thar deal with severe pain and fatigue . In my case being ill for thirty years with severe case of cfs and all the rest that came after it has long been established that I am not suffering from depression and don’t wish to take drugs for that . I know those family of drugs are also used to treat pain conditions but I think it would be best if you could be seen as you are and treated accordingly . All the best !!!
HUGGGGGGS
Suzie
Ps Many people I know who take klonipin say that it is very sedating. A relative of mine said she was yawning too much at work and took half the dose because of it.
Continual tiredness or more like pure exhaustion is related to fibromyalgia. It is a fatigue that is so hard to explain to others who do not have fibromyalgia, or some other chronic pain condition. It is different than just the normal fatigue a person without fibromyalgia gets when they have not slept enough. I have been dealing with fibromyalgia for over 20 years, and I am very fatigued everyday no matter how much sleep I get. When I do not get enough sleep, my symptoms are worse. I have heard that medications can add to the fatigue as well.
Foe me personally, I can handle the pain, which is good because I cannot tolerate medications, but I cannot handle dealing with the exhaustion, and the other symptoms like dizziness and weakness everyday. I am so grateful I have a doctor who knows a lot about fibromyalgia. This fatigue is the same for me everyday, and at times it can be hard to deal with. I am sorry you are going through this.
Hello! I've not been on here much lately but as I was looking through I noticed your thread. I have continuous fatigue. I have the pain too but it seems that my fatigue is worse. I've been on Provigil for long time which helps w/ the fatigue but over the past few years I've noticed that I'm getting more tired by mid afternoon. I finally talked w/ my doctor this past appointment and she put me on a very low dose of Ritalin. At first, I was shocked because it's usually given for ADHD people. I decided to give it a try. It has helped. I've been on it for alittle over a month & so far so good. I still am a bit tired and motivation can be an issue but this is the best I've felt in awhile. I hope this helps. Good luck!
I totally understand what you are going thru. Donor tired is like no other tired. I take at least one nap a day because it just gets overwhelming. The fatigue has always been an issue for me no matter what medication I have been on. My doctor has always known that I am not depressed so that has not been a problem I have had to deal with. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Hi James, I try to stay really well hydrated by drinking a lot of water, this seems to help with the fatigue a little. I also make sure I eat protein thru the day (nuts are good snacks) and try not to eat too much sugar (I am not always successful at that), this also helps a little with the fatigue. I agree, fatigue is one of the most challenging things about Fibro but I have decided I am not going to let it run my life. I do try to take breaks and rest when absolutely needed and work to pace myself but I also feel I live a full life and enjoy many things. I am sending positive thoughts your way that you will be feeling more energetic soon.
As others have said, chronic fatigue is one of the major symptoms of fibromyalgia. It is a feeling of utter exhaustion. Fibromyalgia also affects our sleep, we don’t go into the deep, restorative stage of sleep like non-Fibro people, so sleep is not refreshing to us. We wake up feeling like a truck hit us. There are some meds that can help with our sleep, like Elavil or Ambien, talk to your doctor about this.
I see you have been on Lyrica for the past 5 or 6 weeks. That might help with your Fibro symptoms, sometimes it can take 3 months for full effect.
If the Lyrica doesn’t help, you should talk with your doctor about trying Savella or Cymbalta. Both of these meds are Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which increase the level of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Savella has been approved by the FDA specifically to treat fibromyalgia. Cymbalta is in the same class of drugs; even though it is sometimes prescribed for depression, it is also used for fibromyalgia even when depression is not present. These SNRI’s often help with the fatigue as they increase the level of Norepinephrine in your brain.
Good luck, if your doc is a GP perhaps he can refer you to a specialist like a rheumatologist or neurologist to help with the Fibro.
It's frustrating to always feel tired. If you feel as tired when you wake up as when you went to sleep then it is fatigue and that is connected to fibro.......and to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Tired is the feeling after you have worked hard, fatigue is the feeling after a sleep. That's the difference between tired and fatigue. I have been dealing with this fatigue for quite some time now. I don't know if it will improve. I hope so. We just have to keep living each day hoping that the fatigue will improve. If you want to talk I am available.
I am SO glad you brought this up because it is the story of my life! I feel like Sleeping Beauty. It seems like as my pain has gradually increased, so too has my sleepiness. Maybe I am just imagining it, but I don't think so.
Maybe it's the lyrica in your case but I don't think that sleepiness is s side effect of the medicine. I hate to even say it but I think it's a side effect of the fibro. I hate uttering those words. I used to hear people with fibro say that the fatigue was worse than the pain andvI thought, "naaaaaaaaah!" Well, two or three years on and I have to agree. Sometimes I can barely stay awake. I have to be sure that I am feeling well before I drive. You might want to try 20 mins of ice, then 20 of rest, then 20 of ice. I personally find ice more useful in treating inflammation/sore joints.
I honestly don't know if this is how it is in the future. And no, it's not just depression that is causing your problems. You can BECOME depressed from the pain, though. Big difference, I think. At least to me it is. It shows that depression DID NOT cause the fibro; fibro caused the depression.
Also, I do suggest that you try a pain management doctor and ask if radio ablation to the nerve might help. I am like you with pain from the butt area over to the hip. The cause is arthritis in the lower back that radiates down to the butt and hip area. I have had it done with some success. Otherwise you cou try cortisone shots there if your doctor recommends them. I also.slather the atea with over the counter pain patches called Salon Pas and t ::) ey are good for temporary relief.
I hope you.get some much needed help because this isva heavy burden to carry.
Wow, Rachel, I haven't seen you here in years!!! How the heck are you doing? Why don't you send me a message here and catch me up on things. It's really good to see.you hanging in here.
I do hope to hear from you!
Petunia
Rachel Pronyshyn said:
Hello James
It's frustrating to always feel tired. If you feel as tired when you wake up as when you went to sleep then it is fatigue and that is connected to fibro.......and to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Tired is the feeling after you have worked hard, fatigue is the feeling after a sleep. That's the difference between tired and fatigue. I have been dealing with this fatigue for quite some time now. I don't know if it will improve. I hope so. We just have to keep living each day hoping that the fatigue will improve. If you want to talk I am available.
I just wrote you a long message James, and it says "saving" but some times the message seems to get stuck there and never shows up, so I apologize if my message gets eaten up by Ben's Friends.
It did, it did eat my message to you!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrr!!!!!
Petunia Girl said:
I just wrote you a long message James, and it says "saving" but some times the message seems to get stuck there and never shows up, so I apologize if my message gets eaten up by Ben's Friends.
Hey everyone.....thanks for all the replies. The doctor just increased my Lyrica to 3 times a day and follow up in a month (while waiting to get into rheumatologist). He tells me narcotics doesn't work for our pain and I'm like..."I didn't ask for narcotics, I dislike them! Geez. Why do so many people have to ruin for true pain sufferers!? That's a different soapbox lecture.
Pain subsides some, but when I start walking, shopping, climbing stairs or anything else mildly stimulating, my knees/legs and body ache so badly I start limping within an hour or so! Each night I have intentions on going to the gym before work the next day, but every time I wake up, I am so stiff and sore that exercise is the last thing I want to do and holding my coffee cup is sometimes a struggle in itself!
I am currently waiting to see a rheumatologist because it takes soooo long to get in to see one! The area I am in they told me new patients are booking 2 years out!!!! I found one an hour away that can possibly get me in to see them hopefully in a few weeks.
In all reality I have still not gotten an official "diagnosis" from any doctor that it is Fibro, I guess this is just the next thing to eliminate. I am hanging in there and keeping the best positive face I can! Sometimes its exhausting hiding how you really feel.
Glad everyone is here to share support and guide each other through I appreciate all of you!
Hey everyone.....thanks for all the replies. The doctor just increased my Lyrica to 3 times a day and follow up in a month (while waiting to get into rheumatologist). He tells me narcotics doesn't work for our pain and I'm like..."I didn't ask for narcotics, I dislike them! Geez. Why do so many people have to ruin for true pain sufferers!? That's a different soapbox lecture.
Pain subsides some, but when I start walking, shopping, climbing stairs or anything else mildly stimulating, my knees/legs and body ache so badly I start limping within an hour or so! Each night I have intentions on going to the gym before work the next day, but every time I wake up, I am so stiff and sore that exercise is the last thing I want to do and holding my coffee cup is sometimes a struggle in itself!
I am currently waiting to see a rheumatologist because it takes soooo long to get in to see one! The area I am in they told me new patients are booking 2 years out!!!! I found one an hour away that can possibly get me in to see them hopefully in a few weeks.
In all reality I have still not gotten an official "diagnosis" from any doctor that it is Fibro, I guess this is just the next thing to eliminate. I am hanging in there and keeping the best positive face I can! Sometimes its exhausting hiding how you really feel.
Glad everyone is here to share support and guide each other through I appreciate all of you!
Hey James, it's good to hear that your doctor has upped your Lyrica dose. That stuff is worth its weight in gold! I mean, it doesn't take all of the pain away but it makes it somewhat more manageable. And I suspect that you will feel less tired with some pain reduction.
My fibro pain has increased over the past 6 months and I am on the highest dose of Lyrics. I find the fatigue more annoying than the pain. I am so darned glad you started this discussion! It came just when I needed it! So thank you ever so much! And I am happy to hear that you now have a higher dose of Lyrica. Hopefully that'll help some.
