[Saffy]

Why am I so tired all the time? I got up this morning, hoovered downstairs with my little hoover, washed the pots, and had to go back to bed and slept till now .. so that's three hours !

I'm not going to bed late .. In fact .. my husband might aswell be single he sees so little of me because I'm always in bed with pain and tiredness.

It's getting me down a little now and I don't know what to do. My Mum came racing over this morning thinking there was something wrong, because she kept phoning and didnt get an answer .. I heard the phone, I just couldnt wake up to answer it.

Are we all like this? Is it the pain and the meds?

I should say .. sometimes even breathing just takes an effort. I feel too daft to mention this to a doctor as it's not an illness as such, just total weariness.

[Mark56]

Hi Saffy- The tiredness can surely be the function of the meds you are prescribed, for I have been there. Such a question becomes one of those "check with your doc questions" just to ensure there is not something medicinally awry, but, while on SO MUCH MED, I did feel drugged into a fog much more often than not.

Another possibility rears its ugly head in the context of depression, common in a situation where there is a patient who has tried the road less travelled as it is the last of the treatments available to folks like us, and when there is a feeling that all may have been for naught and pain continues unabated, depression can be a result. This, too, is a "check with your doc" imperative, for its work on the self can be devastating untreated. Did I experience depressoin? Most assuredly, as is chronicled in my thread last autumn when after going through the surgery, and just after all of the withdrawal from meds it seemed as though I was a nothing, a healed nobody in whom no one had interest regarding the potentiality for re-employment. Actually, it was likely the combination of so soon after complete withdrawal and experiencing some rejection that I fell deeply into the wicked embrace of depression, something to sit up and take immediately to your doc.

One question, two answers. Hope these possibilities may be of help to you dear friend.
Caring Loads,
Mark56ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

[Rrae]

Ah yes, I remember oh so well, Mark. You were hit pretty hard. I recall checking on here every day to see if you'd logged on. Finally the day came when you did.
Even those with the greatest of faith can find themselves at the bottom of this dark abyss. Several great men of the Bible faced this uphill battle, even to the point of thinking that God had forsaken them.
But, alas, you are here to tell the tale, and I am ever grateful that you talk so openly about this.

Most people with chronic pain issues deal with depression. It's a circle of madness. The depression feeds into the pain and vice versa.

This may seem a bit off the wall, but you'd be amazed to know how much an underactive thyroid can contribute to something like this. If you haven't had your thyroid checked (simple blood test), I'd highly recommend it.
I was diagnosed with hyPOthyroid and did some research, only to find out that if our thyroid is underactive, it can lead to alot of symptoms, both physically and mentally. The thyroid is like the body's 'throttle', and if it isn't running up to par it slows down our entire system. Being fatigued is one of the biggest symptoms, depression closely behind.
Once diagnosed and prescribed the proper dose of medication (ex: Synthroid, the synthetic, or 'Armour' the natural) a noticable difference will be made. .....anyway blah blah diddle dee dee This sure was a revelation to me and things really started turning around.
I think we've hit on this subject before and if memory serves me, you said you did have yours checked. Sometimes it takes some prodding to get a Dr to dig into this deeper, but it may sure be worth it.

Something's gonna give, Saffy. Please don't think that this issue isn't worth bringing up to your doc. It has EVERYthing to do with it!

I completely understand what you are feeling right now. It seems no one around us has a clue, but it is a HUGE issue. And once you can get your ship turned around, you'll see that the future is indeed rather bright...

Rae

Saffy ...Im not surprised that you are feeling so tired and weary, because this pain is tiresom and wearisome too. There are days when I feel 'full of life' and days where I just want to lie down and die!

I too would say that the cocktail of medication that you are on isnt helping the situation. Are you on Lyrica or Neurontin? just a thought because when I was on them I was zonked zzzzzzzz most of the time. I felt 'drunk' and soooo sooooo tired. I had no energy at all.

I agree with Mark and Rae as regards depression. Something like chronic pain can bring us so down. I remember a few years ago I was feeling down, now I thought it was just bad moody days, but they just wouldnt lift whatsoever. I couldnt function. I was in and out of hospital and having lots of surgery and then having to deal with all that pain as well as the actual chronic pain. I just thought there was no end to it. Maybe have a chat with your GP.....you know they have seen it all before. And he/she would be able to talk with you and see exactly how you are.

Another thing I found too was that the exhaustion and tiredness I had would often come in 'waves' . I had a few blood tests done and lo and behold I was told Im anaemic!! My blood is quite low (8) as opposed to the normal range of 11 to 16. So Ive had to have iron and also 3 monthly B12 injections to boost my engine so to speak

So Saffy I hope you get some answers here but I would definitely recommend speaking with your Dr and take it from there!

Take care

Jackie

[Sophie_]

You know I feel the same as you alot. I've discovered from talking to my Dr's and just self deduction.

The meds can make me really, really tired

Depression can make me/anyone really tired

Another thing i've noticed is that I move around an awful lot when i'm sleeping, my legs and arms are getting a great workout, (pity I couldn't lose a few pounds!!) this is worse than restless legs and I reckon that too isn't helping me get a good nights sleep.

Chronic pain without relief like what i'm feeling right now and i think you are too can cause depression and for me that depression will knock me for 6. All I want is to sleep, the only time I feel comfortable is when I'm asleep or lying down, mostly when I get depressed, i'm not one to cry alot but this time round I could cry for Ireland, I can't see my way pass today, I can't see a future where i'll feel better, where I know that i'll have a resonable lifestyle and this is really getting me down, not to mention the pain
Since the revision surgery it hasn't made much or any difference in terms of pain and this is just awful and I mean awful! I can't even walk properly but I am trying because I know walking helps get rid of depression but then this is catch22.

I went to see my GP two weeks ago about trying to get some help with the pain becuase I couldn't get an appointment with my Consultant and he god love him couldn't help me, he wanted to, he desperately wanted to, he could see how much pain I was in and how down I was. He gave me something extra to help with the depression because when my head is in a better place I feel I can cope better. I'm not doing too well on that front either.

Gee, I didn't expect this to be so long or such a moan about me when you're suffering just as much but I hope you know what I mean,

I hope we get some relief soon, the pair of us!!!

Chat soon hun,

Sinéad

[Rrae]

I am sooo sorry you are down also
This is so sad

(((HUGS))) to the both of you...

[Mark56]

But then how do I do it except with this icon which I wish I could swell to fill the screen.

Hugs around to all,
Mark56