Does anyone want to talk about the fatigue part? I also have fibro, but with the right drugs I can sleep and that prevents most of the pain for me. But I am having tremendous trouble with managing my fatigue. How do you schedule yourself --match your activity to your energy budget, when the available energy isn't the same day to day? And how do you motivate yourself to not do things when the result of overdoing won't be felt until later in the week, maybe?

At its worst this is the kind of fatigue I'm talking about: I last about 2-4 hours after a sleep, my muscles can't sustain more than a few minutes of activity, then they start to quit on me --like when you've done the first 30 sit-ups and your belly muscles are shaking and begging you to stop. (Anyone remember being able to do that?) I find myself panting because my breathing muscles won't take a deep breath. I can't hold my head up, keep my eyelids up, etc. I lie down to rest, and 2 hours later I get up and I'm good again -- but only if I don't do too much and only for a few hours. Thank G-d it isn't like this all the time!

So, any suggestions? I am using provigil, and it helps some, but mostly with the mental fatigue. The muscles are something else.

Yes, the fatigue can be just as much a problem as the pain. I read awhile back that we fibros should rest and hour and a half every day. Sometimes you just can't do that.
Yesterday I had to get up at 6AM after having trouble going to sleep the night before. It hit me this morning when I couldn't get out of bed until 11AM.
You know, the sleep and pain are inter-related. Not enough sleep means more pain, and pain can interfere with sleep.
Both mean memory problems.

Unfortunately now that I started working again full time, the fatigue has also come back full force. I totally underestimated how tired I would feel today. But what can you do? Meds only work so much. Rest and sleep are the best solution. Janet is right though.....when do you have time to do that and live?
What I used to do is called pacing. Gauge what my fatigue level is that day and allow it to call the shots instead of me forcing myself to take that one last step.
Always remeber, you are waking up in the mornings with a deficit already. Let your life move you accordingly.

My sleep patterns are so off and on that it is hard for me to get adjusted. I have tried every sleep pill available and my mind just won't shut down. I have RLS and my legs move constantly. I wish I could tie them down. I have been taking Diazepam 20mg lately and that will get me about 3-31/2 hours of sleep. But yes the pain does feel a lot worse if I don't get sleep.

But then there are days, like this past Sunday, when I went to bed at 11:00pm Saturday night and didn't get up until 5:00pm Sunday evening. I did get up to go to the bathroom and take my morning meds, but other than that I was completely out of it. I do that every so often, which scares me. Because if something were to happen to my husband or son, I don't know that I would be able to get out of bed and actually help them or understand what is going on. That is how out of it I am during those times. Does anyone else have that problem.

I have been dx with CFS, Major Depressive Disorder, and Fibro, however my rheurmy and neuro are contemplating on whether I have Fibro or MS, but as or now my dx stands as Fibro. I have many other dx, but too many to go into right now.

M

I take trazedone, seroquel and tegretal at night as treatment for depression AND so I can sleep. Without meds, I don't sleep. Yes, the rls is a total drag. Drives me crazy.

Same here with the Trazodone. Without it, I would never sleep.

I'd like to know how people are dealing with their jobs and the fatigue. My boss is constantly coming to me at the end of the day and "pushing" me to stay and work longer or come in and work weekends. So far all I can do is say no and walk out. That's not a good alternative when their constantly looking for people to terminate.

Does your boss know you have FM? You might want to let him know you have an illness that does restrict your hours. If you are afraid of termination, I would have a doctor's note or letter of some kind saying you do have an illness (it doesn't have to be specified) and working beyond your "set" hours is something that can't be done.
Check the Americans with Disabilities Act also called the ADA, its been a while since I've seen it.

I've presented a letter from my doctor and my boss had me get a document from HR updated with my restrictions. In todays work environment though although they do is "harrass" people to get the work done yesterday. Although I understand it happening, getting passed by for raises and promotions because I can't work 6o hours a week makes me angry.

My doc had tests run, and found that I also have sleep apnea. I cannot take the breathing masks at night because it terrifies me that it is taking my breath away. Stupid, huh? So...the doc said for me to go to an ear nose and throat man. Haven't gone yet.

But, I keep noticing that everybody here takes different sleep medication. Oh, I have found a million that can knock me out!!! But, none allow me to get to the right level of sleep. I am afraid some of you might need to be checked for the sleep disorder too. The fatigue will not go away with sleep if the depth is not reached.

sally