Going back to school. Disability doesn't pay enough to survive and someday maybe I won't be sick so I want to get a degree before I'm old. But I'm so tired.sleeping 10 hours a day and still tired.there is 12 hours of homework a week with my classes. Is there something I can take to keep me awake and alert during the day? Coffee doesn't help all too much. I need stronger stuff
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Katrina,
In all kindness, (and haste due to lack of energy to say this just right, sorry)
I strongly - very strongly - suggest not taking any class that is on any kind of time line for getting assignments in or test taking.
talk to the special needs departments for accommodation.
I've been on both ends, a college & grad student very ill and also a college instructor so ill that the last class I was able to teach I could not even read the final term papers and just gave them each an "A" --
by then I had learned to have them each do a class presentation on their research so I did have a good idea of their work.
It took me 4 years to muddle through a one year master program and often had to take one class a semester -- on a special time line. But that was even before I knew what was wrong or knew about formally asking for accommodation.
I value education highly and admire your desire but I've been where you are and really urge you to consider special accommodations. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Back to your question: anything to keep you awake (coffee not enough).
I'm also sorry to rain on any hope of finding a perfect pill. It just does not work that way.
I assume you have tried various adrenal support supplements by now and are gluten-free (as that can often help give us back some energy) . . . . (?)
The only way I would suggest is
1. continue to address infection(s) as best possible &
2. through nutrition &
3. planning to get lots of rest - the rest you REQUIRE. Do not count that out.
If your body does not have the power, it simply does not have the power. What you seek, in effect, is speed - uppers - rocket fuel to boost your energy and brain power. That route can spell disaster.
When in college -- struggling to regain ground after "mono" I would take caffeine pills (NoDoz) they did fuel me enough to get some papers done but it was terrible for my body. Counterproductive.
Provigil, an Rx, might be one to consider as it helps some with the diagnosis of CFS (and we all know that can have various stealth infections as the cause). Still, anything you take to try to make your body create energy that is just not there is like beating a horse that just can't get up.
I don't want to see you give up school but if you take a course with a strict time-line, what you tell me now does not really allow you do it that way. Please contact the college for other options. -
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
I think the exhaustion comes from inflammation. Meriva (curcumin/turmeric); bromelain; and maybe just plain ibuprofen if it doesn't bother your stomach.
Also, consider making green smoothies in the blender. I make a blender-full every other day and put it in small thermos containers. I water it down a bit and drink it through a straw, 2-3 times a day. For me it really helps.
Another idea... some Lyme patients go on ADHD meds for awhile during the illness, to help with concentration and attention-- Provigil or Ritalin or Addrall in small doses.
Another idea is low-dose-naltrexone. It might help with the fatigue.
So sorry you are suffering.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Provigil and Adderall are EXTREMELY hard to get off of once you get on them. Nightmare.
You could try mangosteen juice... the best you can afford.
I agree that inflammation causes fatigue. Sure does for me.
and agree about trying curcumin
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Thank you, LymeToo, for that note. I did not know anything about Provigil and only suggested it as I'd read it somewhere as a possibility.
So glad you saw this and could comment that it's just not a magic wand at all. -
Posted by droid1226 (Member # 34930) on :
You guys, some of us have ourselves and others to support and are extremely sick and non functional. Sometimes, extreme measures must be taken in order to survive.
Don't mean to play devil's advocate, but I have Nuvigil and Adderall and have taken them everyday and stopped them both cold turkey at times after months of being on them. Both at high doses.
I still use them when I need to. Some of us have to live life. I got denied disability after 3 yrs and need to work to survive.
I will say that I feel they both irritate my CNS pretty bad and adderral increased pain a lot.
Other than that, I found that GREEN kratom is equivalent if not better than Nuvigil and it's an herb that's cheap and legal in most states.
I also found Nuvigil less taxing on the adrenals than adderall...or coffee for that matter.
Katrina, PLEASE try green kratom. It works.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
What has given me energy lately is L-glutamine powder.
A friend who saw an excellent LLMD suggested it for her leaky gut (I have not been diagnosed with that, but figured I had nothing to lose trying a some since it seems like the doctors are guessing too about supplements/drugs some of the time).
A lot of people with Lyme can't handle large doses or doses at all. It's too stimulating.
I started with 1/2 teaspoon about 20 minutes before breakfast. I noticed a difference the first day.
I tried doing it before every meal and it was too much.
Nothing else has even touched the energy problems. Green tea made me feel ill.
There are also some interactions that people should be aware of before taking l-glutamine:
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP & ADRENAL SUPPORT -
Posted by Pocono Lyme (Member # 5939) on :
For me, the exhaustion was due to adrenal fatigue. Replacing with hydrocortisone (cortef) has helped tremendously.
I did use Nuvigil in the past and it helped for a while but then stopped working. I stopped it cold turkey after months with no problem.
I also started treatment for hypothyroidism by a bio identical hormone replacement doctor and am sure that also helped with the extreme fatigue.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I tried modafinil for the longest time.
It did help, but I felt it was making me 'frazzled'.
I quit cold turkey no problem.
What's helped me more is iron supplementation because of the anemia babesia causes (get a ferritin test-if it is low, supplement) and iodine supplements taken in the morning.
Iodoral makes a 12.5 mg blend. I've tried the 50mg one also.
Currently I am taking 6.25mg in a compounded capsule form my lyme pharmacist makes.
The supplements above, and remaining gluten free sure kicks the stuffing out of the modafinil.