I was reading a book by Dr. Meghan MacLean Weir, "Between Expectations", about her experiences in pediatric residency. The following quote struck me, and I plan to share it with non-MS friends and family:

***"She likely thinks that paying attention, absorbing this careless narrative, is costing me nothing. She has no reason to know that there are depths of fatigue to which you can sink where even the act of processing sound is too much to ask."***

I especially agree with her insight that the person who was talking to her had "no reason to know" about that kind of fatigue.

OMG, thanks for this...put in the best words that I have ever heard. And yet, unless you experience it, you can't fathom what she means. A normal hypochondriac will still say, "yeah, me too"..

Interesting as I was reading an article posted ina medical journal today that stated depression causes fatigue.

In my own experieces, I have found that fatigue caused depression. On those rare days when I have the energy to get through the day without feeling weighed down by the inexplicable fatigue, I find less cause for depression; whereas on those days that fatigue is bogging my body down and rendering me incapable of enjoying life I find myself depressed beyond the normal limits.

i also found I have a lot of conversations with my children where they speak and ramble on and on for what seems like an eternity on subjects they find important where I am in a constant state of "uh-huh" and realize I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about because although my hearing is good, I cannot concentrate on what they are saying and my mind goes blank.

I never figured that to be an ms thing, just a mom thing. I mean if I had to pay attention to everything they say all of the time I would go nuts.

I have observed that the fatigue I experience with depression isn't nearly as draining as MS fatigue... I think MS fatigue was captured perfectly in the first thread.

After MS hit me in 2006, I couldn't do basic math in my head like I once did. Upped my testosterone & I can't say enough how it helped me. 1000mcg's of B12 as well. Adderall I hear gives the same busy as a bee energy Medrol does which i'll be asking for in a few weeks. 10mg's that's all I want.

Exercise helped/helps my whole body. Get a drug to help you in begining.

OMG! I have known and still currently experience this fatigue, or absolute exhaustion as I refer to it, yet have never heard of or seen anything written about it with this type of accuracy. I have difficulties trying to describe it, even to my doctor. This definitely falls in the category, if you haven't experienced it you have no concept.

There have been many times I have simply sat in my wheelchair and stared outside with no noise in the house at all. Any type of sound, as described here, becomes almost painful to experience. An auditory intrusion, if you will. All this time I thought it was just me.

What a relief to read this thread.

How could I forget to mention low Red Blood Count due to anemia or low iron levels. I sure hope all you with fatigue look at your blood work results...not just roll with what Dr tells you.