According to WebMD, "Medically speaking, fatigue is not the same thing as tiredness. Tiredness happens to everyone -- it is an expected feeling after certain activities or at the end of the day. Usually you know why you are tired and a good night's sleep solves the problem.
Fatigue is a daily lack of energy; unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness not relieved by sleep. It can be acute (lasting a month or less) or chronic (lasting from one to six months or longer). Fatigue can prevent a person from functioning normally and affects a person's quality of life."
The National MS Society says, "Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, occurring in about 80% of people. Fatigue can significantly interfere with a person's ability to function at home and at work, and may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations. Fatigue is one of the primary causes of early departure from the workforce.
What Makes MS Fatigue Different?- Generally occurs on a daily basis
- May occur early in the morning, even after a restful night’s sleep
- Tends to worsen as the day progresses
- Tends to be aggravated by heat and humidity
- Comes on easily and suddenly
- Is generally more severe than normal fatigue
- Is more likely to interfere with daily responsibilities
Several different kinds of fatigue occur in MS. For example, people who have bladder dysfunction (producing night-time awakenings) or nocturnal muscle spasms, may be sleep deprived and suffer from fatigue as a result. People who are depressed may also suffer fatigue. And anyone who needs to expend considerable effort just to accomplish daily tasks (e.g., dressing, brushing teeth, bathing, preparing meals) may suffer from additional fatigue as a result.
In addition to these sources of fatigue, there is another kind of fatigue—referred to as lassitude—that is unique to people with MS. Researchers are beginning to outline the characteristics of this so-called "MS fatigue" that make it different from fatigue experienced by persons without MS.
MS-related fatigue does not appear to be directly correlated with either depression or the degree of physical impairment."
To that list, Dr. Julie Stachowiak adds, "For some people, there are additional related symptoms, including:
- Feeling of heaviness in the arms and legs
- Worsening of other symptoms, such as problems with balance or vision, or slurring speech
- Difficulty concentrating
- Vertigo or dizziness"
So what is important here is that if you are experiencing fatigue on a regular basis, you really should talk to your doctor. If you would like to read the full articles that I pulled the info from you can find them here, here, and here. You can also find information about what medications your doctor might prescribe to help you cope.
I have been dealing with fatigue for a while now and have recently been missing more work and class because of it, so I called my doctor today. Frankly, I am tired of feeling exhausted. When it happened today, it felt like a vacuum was attached to me and it was sucking out my energy. Within 10 minutes, my arms and legs felt heavy and I was slurring my speech. I tried vitamins, caffeine, a snack and resting for a few minutes, but nothing gave me relief. Some people say that individuals with MS fatigue should treat their energy like a bank, saving energy during the day or over the course of a week so that they are more likely to have the energy to do something on the weekend. I've seen this work in reverse...after a fun, busy Thanksgiving (during which I had to go lie down :/) I needed a full day of rest on Saturday. The only problem with that is that life isn't predictable.
Tomorrow, provided I get some tips for coping with fatigue from my doctor, I will write about some of the things we fatigue sufferers can do to help. By all means, if you have a suggestion, please leave a comment. But for tonight, I am too frustrated with this topic to continue talking about it.
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