posted 14 November 2004 01:13               

I'm really tired of being tired.

Supplements I take are B-complex, multivitamin, transfer factor plus,

acidolphilous, s. boulardii, potassium/magnesium, msm....

my suplements already cost like $200 a month so if something is real expensive I just cant afford it...

plus my stomach doesnt digest well so i get most supplements in liquid form...

if i take to many pills they dont break down right.

also I cant exercise due to severe pain and I already dont do much at all so limiting my activities isnt an option

If anyone has any sugestions that arent expensive even if they are pills I would really appreciate it.

I sleep a minimum of 12-18 hours and when I'm awake i'm half asleep ... I cant read big chunks of info and remember it...

actually my memory has been horrible but I think it is due to the fatigue.

so grateful for any responses.

posted 14 November 2004 14:38            

Best is if you can find a class to learn, but if not, Relax and Renew is an excellent guide. The advantage in a class is that all of the poses can be fully adapted for any limitations you have, but you may not know how to do it on your own.

Even doing just one of these poses each day can make a difference.

Some of our problem is disorder in the autonomic nervous system, which prevents deep rest. This kind of yoga helps balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, calming things down. I find it is also very helpful for pain.

posted 14 November 2004 14:47            

This is by far one of my worst symptoms next to pain. In my case I know it comes from three things 1) chronic lyme encephalophy-anyone with chronic brain inflammation gets very tired! 2) chronic pain and 3) pain medication.

I agree with riversinger below about restorative yoga. IT IS A WONDERFUL practice!! I was going to a class regularly and riversinger, you are reminding me that I need to start back at my studio . I also have the book she mentioned and there are also videos you can get at home. This yoga webpage has all the props for restorative yoga and some books and tapes too: http://www.huggermugger.com

There are other webpages as well if you do a search. I love this companys stuff though I must admit, though its pricey!

I am also going to start a trial of provigel soon. My fatigue is so bad now that it is almost like narcolepsy. It was very bad before I started this new pain medicine and now it is much worse. I can hardly stay awake, so I am going to try it and will report back.

posted 14 November 2004 15:50            

Bc

posted 14 November 2004 16:11            

I just want to say that although I really like Hugger Mugger's props, they are not essential. Anybody with blankets, towels, and pillows can do the poses in Relax and Renew.

So don't let cost stop you. The book is almost always available at the library, so you don't even have to buy that.

posted 14 November 2004 16:31               

I have been trying to work with the fatigue by trying to not over do it.

I am pretty low functioning. I was able to go to church this morning. But because I got up and walked to the bathroom, I had to leave before church was over.

This happened to me before. I was doing fine until I used up what strength I had to get up and walk over to the bathrooms.

I know that if I use my energy for one thing, it takes away from other things so I need to prioritize.

It is very difficult to accept. I have been dealing with this for 3 years now and still have a rough time of it.

Excedrin extra strength, caffeine and Provigil do help, but I pay for it later. And there are times when they don't help either.

posted 14 November 2004 17:06            

I am a sucker for their stuff though!! And I can't afford it anymore. BUT, I do have some things I bought and the last forever. I have a couple belts, sandbags. Blankets are cheap down in Arizona because they come from Mexico. I paid five bucks for mine. I would like some of their bolsters I admit, but pillows work just fine.

Riversinger I love the area you live in and it is my dream to live up there someday.

Kam, there are a million yoga places if you come here. But this can definitely be done at home.

Like right now it is 3 o'clock here and i feel I have to go back to sleep. I can hardly stay awake. And I didn't get up until 10:30. It is getting kind of old. I hope the provigel helps a little bit otherwise I won't stay on it because I am not a drug fan. But I have tried many many natural things for fatigue that did not help.

posted 14 November 2004 18:36               

I have found the older I get the harder it is to overcome the fatigue.

Used to be like a machine, could not understand why people took naps or slept over 7hr.

Now if I go out 1 day have to get all errands done because I know it will be atleast a week before can drive again.

It seems like if I use my energy on anything but what I need to do to keep place & myself up it is a no go. Couple yrs. ago if I did something 1 day would be down couple days. Now it is couple weeks. Quite frustrating.

Everything that used to revive me is not working, right down to dance & music.

The nausea 24/7 besides pain, then the pain from fatigue after yrs. of battling, using many types of therapy`s is not working as once did????

At 1 time I had all kinds of answers for you. Now not sure what to tell you. I worked with pain clinic for yrs. till I became too ill, (helping others with this very topic).

posted 14 November 2004 18:46               

There's tons of research about the positive benefits of this, including enhancing your immune sytem (which is why I'm trying it). But this weekend, I felt like Wonderwoman on this stuff.
http://www.nadh.com/

Here's the brand and dosage I used: http://vitaminshoppe.com/browse/sku_detail.jhtml;$sessionid$AU2C30S12UG10CQUAOWSM4QKCQB1AGXK?SkuID=27200&BreadCrumbType=SearchResult
------------------
Julie G.
___________
lymeinhell

posted 14 November 2004 18:57               

Unfortunately nothing helps me with spelling!

If you can get a copy of " Body Wisdom", a book explaining NFP at www.centerimt.com

posted 14 November 2004 19:58               

I'll look into the yoga....if poses are minimal I'll try.. Pain and atrophy have me really limited

I tried provigil it created insomnia.

I have been offered ritalin and other psychatric medications but I really want to stay away from that stuff.

I realize provigil is in this group as well but the dr that prescribed it to me told me it was not and stupid me believed him.

And thank you all for the links. I will definetely check them all out.

docdave: I cant really do any excersises... my pain is just too bad... its easy to say a little a day but its just not possible right now....

it just makes the pain unbearable... which is much worse than the fatigue.

also I cant drive and I already interupt peoples lives alot with dr appointment and stuff they gotta get for me.

But as soon as I'm well enough to drive I'll look into it.

Thank You all for your ideas they are greatly appreciated

posted 14 November 2004 23:23            

I do understand both the pain and fatigue.

I was unable to do yoga due to immobility.

A friend introduced me to Qi Gong. I find it very invigorating and it has great breathwork. You can do it in a chair if you cannot stand for starters.

It helped me with energy balancing and outlook.

Here are a few links:
http://www.qi.org/
http://www.learningstrategies.com/Qigong/
http://www.mysteries-megasite.com/main/bigsearch/chi.html

posted 15 November 2004 11:41            

Restorative yoga is all relaxation. It isn't anything like the yoga people think of when you hear the word yoga. You basically get into a very deep stretching type pose, totally 100% supported by props (blankets, pillows) and then completely 100% relax for 15 minutes. There is nothing hard about it. It is the most relaxing thing I have ever done and it is supposed to calm the autonomic nervous system as riversinger pointed out.

Take a look on the internet for it or get that book she recommended from the library. It is not at all like other yoga practices.

posted 15 November 2004 18:29            

Excercise can stimulate the body and mind, but proper rest can also rejuvenate.

Too much of either tips the scale.

Although "listening to the body" can be tricky. Sometimes it seems better to be active walking, other times a huge relief just to lay down.

Sometimes I feel terrible sitting in a room in a meeting, other times having to walk a certain distance can be very aggravating.

Hard to know what's best.

But early on in disease, in first 1-2 year, I hiked Pikes Peak 3 times and have no regret whatsoever.

Wonder if I'll ever be able to do it again...

posted 16 November 2004 08:59            

Don't wonder, make it a goal. I used to cycle from 7 to 20 miles a day in good weather. My bike was rusting for about a year. I pulled it out last Spring and decided to try to cycle. I did less that 2 miles and was exhausted! But, I was elated. 7 months later I am now up to almost 5 miles.

At first this was depressing and frustrating. Well, I changed my "stinkin thinkin" and decided to view this as progress. I am now very happy to have the wind in my face for those few miles and can visualize myself doing longer rides.

I think you will climb Pike's Peak again. You may net get to the top for a while but, it will feel sooooo good to try.

Oh, and yes, rest between the small victories. As others have said, rest is equally as important. My Dr. says I push the limits one day and pay for it the next two or three. I'll take that over not moving at all.

posted 16 November 2004 10:49               

I have been using a very effective product for my chronic fatigue syndrome and it works immediately. I had 2 corresponds with others about the benefits on the "DURAGESIC PATCH" from the Flash Discussion if you scroll down. I'm sure this will help you because it did for me and everyone I'd recommended to. I got this info from someone else on LymeNet and I'm glad I gave it a try. It's a drag for me to be tired and slept 12 - 15 hours a day also before until I use this. I'd put up with this fatigue for over 5 years with the "brain dead" too so I understand how you feel. Well, Check out the info I provided and decide for yourself. Good luck.

posted 16 November 2004 15:03            

Plan also to review everything else, ie supplements, water consumption, diet.
Again with moderation in mind.

Happily I can say I am in good spirits.

posted 16 November 2004 16:00            

quote:

---

Originally posted by beachcomber:
Rask:

Don't wonder, make it a goal. I used to cycle from 7 to 20 miles a day in good weather. My bike was rusting for about a year. I pulled it out last Spring and decided to try to cycle. I did less that 2 miles and was exhausted! But, I was elated. 7 months later I am now up to almost 5 miles.

At first this was depressing and frustrating. Well, I changed my "stinkin thinkin" and decided to view this as progress. I am now very happy to have the wind in my face for those few miles and can visualize myself doing longer rides.

I think you will climb Pike's Peak again. You may net get to the top for a while but, it will feel sooooo good to try.

Oh, and yes, rest between the small victories. As others have said, rest is equally as important. My Dr. says I push the limits one day and pay for it the next two or three. I'll take that over not moving at all.

Bc

---

" My Dr. says I push the limits one day and pay for it the next two or three. I'll take that over not moving at all.":

Really like that last quote. That's encouraging.

However, my joints (hips especially) have stiffened to point that last time tried riding bike can no longer do so.

But I did hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail this summer with my dog "Polenka".

A very small section but incredible. Desolation Wilderness is a must for those able (Lake Tahoe area).

Early July was excellent due to the high lakes/snow/glacial melt. Dicks Peak is highest point around 11,000'.

posted 16 November 2004 20:02            

Yoga Journal's Yoga Practice for Relaxation

Here's another good book I saw today: Yoga For Wimps
It has some pretty good adaptations of poses for people with limitations.

I'm guessing you could get some of these, maybe even the video, from the library to try them out.

posted 16 November 2004 21:32            

I read that exercise isn't an option right now..but there are many types of exercises you can do without even getting out of a chair...

I know it sounds odd to say that exercise will help fight fatigue, as if you are like I was, I was simply too tired to move yet alone exercise...

But for me, exercise played a key role in fighting my fatigue...

Deep breathing helped tremendously. There are many books and web sites dedicated to breathing exercise and they do seem to help many people with disabilities.

Also if you are able, you could do arm circles, leg lifts, ankle circles etc..while sitting in your chair or laying in bed.

Every little bit will help.

Hope you find something that will work for you!