Fatigue Info...
 

I know this has been discussed before, but I can't find the thread. I am suffering exstreme fatigue lately, and need some new ways to deal with it!

In January I went to my general practioner for fatigue, she did a bloodwork and results should low on B-12, vitamon D and inflamation.

Went back on B12 shots, and just this week was told to increase shots. Currently in exercise program in Vestibular/physical therapy and walking with hubby at home.

I am not overweight (although I should be with over 6 months of being sedentary). I know the lack of restful sleep and Beta-blocker I'm on for Migraines is a big factor.....but those are things that can't seem to be controlled right now.

Any ideas on ways to cope better with this fatigue? Thanks in advance :-)

I recently purchased a book called "Brainlash". It was written by a PHD who had to recover from a mTBI.

I just read yesterday that she felt that vision therapy helped eradicate a lot of fatigue she was experiencing as a result of the concussion she had sustained.

I have been experiencing a great deal of fatigue myself and I've also been trying to figure out a way to overcome it. So far, when I've attempted exercise, I've experienced setbacks. I'm working 20 hours a week and my job is physically demanding - I'm on medical limitations right now, but I want to do more than I'm able to - at work and at home.

I plan on scheduling vision therapy for myself as soon as I'm done with the Bowen Technique sessions.

I tend to see fatigue as my brain telling me that I'm asking too much of it, and that I need to slow down if it's going to heal.

So I would say I improved my fatigue by going with it as much as I could and resting whenever I was tired, which was most of the time, for months (yes I know it's frustrating and boring and depressing!).

I'm functioning pretty normally now but still notice that I need a bit more rest than other people. I would say that like so many other of our symptoms which we love to hate, the fatigue is really your brain trying to help you help yourself, by making appropriate demands of it so that it can get itself better.

Trying to fight these symptoms is essentially trying to fight your own brain and its defence mechanisms, which will ultimately make your problems last longer as the healing process is delayed. When your brain is ready for it your fatigue will lessen.

Try and work out a decent grading plan - so you do the things most important to you or most difficult first, before you get fatigued.

Remember to leave some energy for things you enjoy as well :)

Klaus! I'm so happy to read that you're basically functioning so close to normal now! I hope the fatigue you experience goes away in time too!!

Thanks EsthersDoll and Klaus! The Brainlash book sounds like a good reference EsterDoll....I haven't heard about vision therapy yet, but worth checking into.

Klaus, I hear what your saying about prioritizing during the day. I have really been trying to do that (one of the reasons I'm not on here everyday) but my type A personality seems to be getting the best of me. I'll try harder.

Thanks again:)

I'm "type-A" too... I didn't even realize it until after the concussion and a lot of the practitioners I was seeing kept telling me that... ;)

I need to remember Klaus's advice too.

That's funny you mention it, with me I actually think I have a little bit of all three types: :eek:

Type A.....I am a bit high-strung and, obsessed about time, and used to be a work-a-holic (at work and home).

Type B..... I care about and have empathy for others

Type C..... failing to cope successfully with stress

Heehee....I am definitely a Type A as well. I guess the PCS is helping me to learn that I need to slow down...it's hard to remember that, though when I want to push myself!!
:rolleyes:

Thanks - me too :D

Despite what health professionals sometimes suggest in an attempt to make us feel better, I don't think one needs to have been a particularly high achiever to be dissatisfied with the energy levels you have following a brain injury - everyone should be really, unless you were incredibly lazy before your injury!

But trying to 'beat' the fatigue is like trying to beat the pain from a broken leg - it's there for a reason (I know the OP wasn't talking about 'beating' fatigue, rather dealing/coping with it, I'm just making a general point).