I have been experiencing a lot of general fatigue this summer, but for the last 2 weeks or so, I literally cannot wake myself up. I sleep til 12-1pm sometimes and never feel as though I am rested.
During the morning hours, I try to wake up several times, but it feels like only my thoughts are awake (and sometimes my extremities). My head and eyes are not awake and feel like they weigh a ton. I can flutter my eyes, but they won't focus. I sometimes go in and out of very vivid dreams and have to do a reality check when I finally do wake up.
Also when I wake up, my vision is very distorted for the next hour or so with shakiness and poor focus. I feel dizzy. I can't drive until I am 100% sure I can see straight and will not fall back to sleep.
This is very debilitating. I have read about adrenal fatigue. Maybe this is it? I've also had strep twice this summer and can't seem to get over that illness fatigue wall.
Anyone else experience this? Do I need to see a dr. about it or just wait til I see my LLMD in the next few weeks. (I'm also concerned about driving the long distance to see him with my fatigue as bad as it is.)
Posted by Ames777 (Member # 43190) on :
There were a few changes this month in my antibiotic type and dosage to fight the strep. I am now back to my normal dosages. That's the only thing else that has been different this month.
Posted by Maia_Azure (Member # 44330) on :
I have pretty bad neuro symptoms. I basically am awake, but not focused,. I have to ask people to repeat themselves 2-3x before I understand them. At work I just pretend I'm hard of hearing because it's frustrating.
I also have sleep issues, memory, concentration... And on my days off I get up, have breakfast, and oftentimes go back to bed till dinner.
I would suggest having someone else drive you. My attention span in the car is one hour. If it's further than that I get driven as I've actually fallen asleep several times while driving. It's not worth driving. Please consider being driven with symptoms such as yours! I
Posted by Ames777 (Member # 43190) on :
I'm trying to find someone who can bring me. I'm even willing to pay them. I won't drive if I can't, even if I have to cancel the appt. I wish airfare wasn't so expensive!!
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I've been that way for the past 15 years, even before Lyme. It happened after a toxic exposure.
When I was infected with Lyme, it made it worse.
I have some things coming up that I need to be ready for in the morning. I have no idea how I'm going to do it.
Babesia messes with sleep and gives vivid dreams. I'm sure that's part of it.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I know I'm not as fatigued as you are in the morn, but does drinking strong coffee help wake you up at all?
For good vision, ie no Lyme eye symptoms, I drink mangosteen juice, an anti-inflammatory juice that can be found in healthfood stores and online. I like the Mango-Xan version as it's the most tart. We're all different when it comes to how we respond to remedies.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
adrenals. you need salt, vit C, and adrenal support. why isn't your doctor looking at this?
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Be careful with salt. Not everyone reacts well to it if they have adrenal and kidney problems.
With my adrenal problems salt makes it worse. My blood pressure rockets and I gain 10-15 pounds of water weight by the end of each day if I even have a little salt.
Posted by Ames777 (Member # 43190) on :
I started treatment with an ID that treated me for 6 1/2 months. Since then, I've only seen my LLMD once, and he ran a bunch of tests at the first appointment. I see him again the end of this month to get the results and will ask him about the other stuff, too. I am just getting worried that the morni fatigue is getting so bad so quickly.
At the first appt, he gave me Armour Thyroid--for supposed low Thyroid---but I had a bad reaction to it (hot flashes, sweats, racing heart, dizziness, etc). I called him, and he told me to discontinue until I see him again.
He is 4 states away, so I see him quarterly. I will ask him about the fatigue, adrenals and thyroid if he doesn't address them on his own based on the test results. Something is out of whack, tho.
So far, I have tested and retested negative for Babs and Bart through the ID. But my RMSF is still positive. I know these tests aren't 100% accurate, so I will trust whatever the LLMD says later this month. He ran all the tests again.
And I gave up caffeine last month. I miss Coca-Cola terribly, but I am trying to stay as close to gluten, yeast, sugar and caffeine free as I can. In the last month, I've noticed a huge drop in my inflammation. (I can wear my wedding rings again!)
Posted by Ames777 (Member # 43190) on :
My body doesn't like much salt either, Jodie. I noticeably swell all over if I have more than a smidgen of it here and there.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
I'd be satisfied to get more than catnaps at night. I wake up exhausted.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
"My body doesn't like much salt either, Jodie. I noticeably swell all over if I have more than a smidgen of it here and there."
Yep, that's what happens to me. It has something to do with the kidneys not being able to process salt because of adrenal fatigue was my understanding.
My doc has me take holy basil and ashwaganda. I don't know if your doc does herbs. I honestly don't know if they're helping.
Malarone is the only thing I've taken so far that gives me energy and makes me sleep less. I'm pulsing it. On about the 2nd day all this energy comes back and the brain fog leaves for awhile.
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
It does sound like adrenals a possibility. Your body couldn't handle both strep and Lyme, and that may have overwhelmed your adrenals and probably other things as well.
But first, I'd make sure you're truly over strep. It can be hard for some people to kick.
And since you feel so much worse, you should definitely give him a call.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Im finding that circulation issue cause this horrible feeling during sleep and by the morning feeling way worse.!
Other things listed also are ideas of causes but I have ruled them out over time.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Amy-good for you for staying away from cola!
So glad you have LL now.
Yes morning fatigue is bad. Feel more tired when wake up that when I went to bed. Haha.
Doc gave me modafinil but I didn't like it. Then tried Alcar. It helped bit.
Springshowers-YES YES YES! Seems circulation issue also. When sleeping sometimes feels like not enough blood moving around-tissues organs brains not getting enough oxygen. Was going to ask about oxygen machine at night for sleeping.
Brain feels oxygen starved in am. Plus I get up at ungodly hour-4am. Barf gag yuck. Terrible time of day.
Also noticed I feel better when moving (not joint or muscle pain-wise) but oxygen/blood flow wise.