In my 20 years with an MS dx, I have never dealt with what I'd call fatigue. But I'm PP, and very often Primary Progressive just doesn't mimic RR or SP symptoms.

I've had long, often eventually permanent, tiredness or weakness in my extremeties in the months prior to the eventual loss of the use of them. But I never felt overall fatigued with the necessity to actually go to bed or to sleep.

I'd love to hear from other PP folks to learn of their experiences regarding fatigue. For you others, how bad has your fatigue affected your daily activities?

MsBluIs

Great idea, Trish...

Fatigue...I've experienced it for many years. It was my major sx with fibromyalgia (wonder if that was early MS fatigue?)

I've not been experiencing fatigue as much as in the past...don't know why either. I hate this sx...it's so debilitating...

Sally - I've LDN can help with the fatigue we experience. I'm glad that it helped you.

Barb & Doydie - I have found that using the store scooters to be so helpful. My body doesn't give out within 10 minutes of shopping. I can now complete the entire shopping trip. If they don't have a scooter, using the cart is helpful. Most of the places I go to have a scooter though.

Msbluis - For me, the fatigue can make me stop in my tracks. It doesn't matter where I am, when my body says stop it means stop or I'll make you stop. It's like moving along happily and then hitting a brick wall. Then I have to spend some time resting to recup. I can longer do the things I used to do. A shower alone can be so tiring. There have been times that I've showered and have to rest with my towel on until I have the energy to finish getting dressed. It's not all the time that that happens but sometimes. Like I mentioned, brushing my hair can be tiring too. Making meals is a chore. Since I am only cooking for myself, it makes it much easier and I make quick meals, ones that don't require a lot of energy.

Yes! Yes! Yes! The shower is a big one sometimes. I have been much better since I have been on Tysabri, but there have been many, many times when I have wrapped up in a towel and had to lay down.

Fatigue was the symptom that sent me to the doctor in the first place, figuring I was just low on something.

There is just no word to describe the feeling. It's more/different than tired or sleepy, or even exhausted. Even the word "fatigue" somehow conveys the idea that it's the RESULT of something--hard work, no sleep, a bout with the flu, etc. MS fatigue is it's own bird--most of the time, there IS no such cause. You just hit the wall. Or wake up in the morning already flat-faced against the wall.

When you add body fatigue to brain fatigue, it something bigger than the sum of its parts. I'm going to have to invent my own word for when I'm too "tired" to think, too " tired" to care, too "tired" to care that I don't care, too "tired" to concentrate, too "tired" for fun not to seem like too much trouble. I'm just thankful that it still waxes and wanes.