[anon1028]

what are the best ways to combat the ever present fatigue. getting enough sleep, taking supplements. eating very well, losing weight. I know the medications can make you tired. it's hard to figure out.

[SnowWhite99]

I'd kind of like to know the answer to this... or at least some suggestions as to things that may help. I know no treatment is cookie cutter, or one size fits all... but I'm willing to try suggestions

["Starr"]

For me, fatigue has been a huge issue since my injury. I have no problems sleeping 8-12 hours a night plus 2 or more hours every day and still I'm dragging around exhausted all the rest of the hours I'm awake.

Clearly I'm getting lots of sleep, but it still doesn't seem like enough. I no longer remember what it feels like to be well rested.

I've worked with an OT for many hours on various pacing strategies. The doctors like to just tell me to "do less" but that never really helps. The only strategy that's really helped at all so far is a points based energy system similar to weight watchers, but for activities.

Basically you are allotted so many "points" per day of activities (as determined by my OT) and every activity is assigned a point value. Everything from getting dressed to doctors appointments to making meals to feeding my animals to getting groceries, etc.

Then its up to ME how I want (and need) to spend my allotted points each day. Some days you HAVE to go over because maybe a doctors appointment is worth almost your whole day's worth of points, so then you borrow from the next day and then you do less the next day.

Its common sense, obviously, but has been helpful to make sure I'm not over doing it too many days/weeks/etc in a row... as I am inclined to do.

As my OT has pointed out, I have 2 settings, asleep and full steam ahead.

My rehab doc also prescribed ritalin for me. It works and does make me less tired, but then I'm also more likely to overdo it. So I don't take the ritalin regularly. I use it occasionally if I know I have a day where I really need to be "on" and more awake and miss my nap. But if I use ritalin ONE day, I can count on needing 4-5 days to recover from it.

If it wasn't for the overwhelming fatigue and the headache that has been my constant companion for 2.5 years, I could probably deal with the other symptoms from my injury. But those two are the brutal ones that make me wonder how long I can do this.

Starr

[Hockey]

I wake up tired. sigh...

[anon1028]

it sounds like good advice and I will try it. I'm not sure how many points to apply to what but I guess i'll learn. I don't think I can take Ritalin because I take Xanax, but I don't know. you can keep going starr. you are strong. thanks for the advice.

[anon1028]

Originally Posted by Hockey

I wake up tired. sigh...

it seems like a distant memory waking up and darting out of bed.

[SnowWhite99]

Originally Posted by "Starr"

For me, fatigue has been a huge issue since my injury. I have no problems sleeping 8-12 hours a night plus 2 or more hours every day and still I'm dragging around exhausted all the rest of the hours I'm awake.

Clearly I'm getting lots of sleep, but it still doesn't seem like enough. I no longer remember what it feels like to be well rested.

What you describe is what my husband experiences.

[anon1028]

from what I understand, I big reason is the neurons that took over for the damaged ones have had to make new pathways which are longer than the original ones and even though one thinks "how much longer can it be" when it is millions of messages being sent, the energy used is significantly bigger than before and hence the fatigue. I just know it stinks.

[Mark in Idaho]

I find that my fatigue relates to the quality of sleep I get, not the quantity. I can get 6 hours of good sleep and wake up doing great. If I struggle to get good sleep, I can sleep for 10 hours and be fatigued all day.

If I am struggling to get good sleep, I do better getting up and changing my pace. Watch some TV or browse online. Then, when I am feeling dead sleepy, going back to bed. I also need to be very comfortable in bed. A good mattress and soft pajamas with no strange sensations make all the difference. I can go to sleep on my back and wake up in the morning in the same position. It takes discipline to learn these sleep disciplines but it is worth it.

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

I find that my fatigue relates to the quality of sleep I get, not the quantity. I can get 6 hours of good sleep and wake up doing great. If I struggle to get good sleep, I can sleep for 10 hours and be fatigued all day.

If I am struggling to get good sleep, I do better getting up and changing my pace. Watch some TV or browse online. Then, when I am feeling dead sleepy, going back to bed. I also need to be very comfortable in bed. A good mattress and soft pajamas with no strange sensations make all the difference. I can go to sleep on my back and wake up in the morning in the same position. It takes discipline to learn these sleep disciplines but it is worth it.

Do you use a special neck pillow?