Translate

Oliver

Oliver
My therapy dog

Welcome to The MS Chronicles!

Thank you for visiting. This blog was created by me, Cristen Salter, for other MS patients and their families in order to help them and myself cope with and face this disease. All information that are not personal experiences are thoroughly researched and cites are created in link or reference form. If you have a burning desire to ask me a question, please do so at cristen.salter@gmail.com. Enjoy and I hope you glean comfort, education and room for compassion for all those who suffer from this disease.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Fatigue *sigh*

Good afternoon, fellow MS er's and family members of the same:

Before I was diagnosed I used to be known to sigh quite frequently, and most people thought I was bored or being rude. Now I know why.
I am sure after your diagnosis you got all those "aha" moments when you remembered all the symptoms in a vacuum that got diagnosed as other issues. I got diagnosed with migraines for blindness in my right eye in 2003, stress for right side numbness in 1996, severe emotional problems for emotional lability, anxiety for bladder urgency, and the list goes on. 
I have the worst fatigue known to MS called "lassitude fatigue". Basically, you are sleepy (you feel drugged) and can fall asleep anywhere. Until recently, I had no idea I had this. I thought fatigue was muscle related. There is the type that makes you feel drained, which I also get, and you want to fall over like a tree, but I always thought it was my menses that caused it. I also have a "short circuiting " fatigue that causes limb weakness. This is why I got a small dog as a service dog; I am unable to handle dogs over 10 lbs - and working out does not make the limb stronger, but helps with balance and falling. 
Here are a few examples: I went to Florida for Christmas. I stayed at my father's and we got up and ready around noon on Christmas day to go to Palm Beach to meet with mother and one of my brothers. The trip took an hour and my father and I were talking and he looked over and I was asleep. Concerned, he said he allowed me to sleep till noon. I told him I was exhausted. 
Throughout the day and night, I was fighting my eyelids, even with caffeine (which I drank 5-7 cups of espresso type coffee per day). We went home, I slept, and the next day felt well rested. 
I took the LSAT on February 5th. With coffee I fell asleep. I would wake up when my pencil fell. I even went to bubble in answers and would fall asleep as my pencil hit the paper. Lucky for me the test was administered incorrectly, so I get another shot. 
I went to the nurse practitioner, who I have already gleamed about her awesomeness, and she said I had a few choices, but we started on adderol. 20 mg did not do the trick, but I have been doing better with 30-40. The irony is that she told me not to take it after 1 pm and I do, and still fall asleep by 10 pm!
There are other treatments as well. Pilots take Provigil, but when you have only generic drugs on your insurance plan, it is a very expensive drug. From what I hear, it is great, though. 

The scoop
Non-stimulant meds:
Symmetrel - has anti-viral effects and may turn skin blue;
Antidepressants for those who may or may not be depressed: Prozac, Paxil (which I take for fatigue and anxiety) and Zoloft (highly recommended by my docs);
Moldafini (Provigil): Used by pilots on long flights, non narcotic but VERY expensive. It is a neurochemical which has a unique mode of action shown to decrease fatigue and is the most popularly used. 
Stimulant meds:
Can be habit forming, which you would need to speak with your doc about:

Adderol or generically Amphetamine salts combo:
Used mainly for focus in ADD in teens and adults;
Cylert: aka Pemoline;
Ritalin: Used for ADD in younger children;
Dexadrine: aka Dextroamphetamine.
Again, these should be used with caution as they can be habit forming. My doctors advise rest (well timed naps), antidepressant meds and stimulants as needed. 
I have learned ways to conserve energy by taking breaks and doing NOTHING, meditation, yoga and low impact exercise. 
Also, anytime you see your nurse practitioner, remeber to ask her for books and other materials on MS. They usually get these to give to patients as support materials. Copaxone offers a doctor visit checklist (as well as a travel one) to bring to the doc. They will often take it from me and read down the list and answer line by line. You can use it to document falls, fatigue or any other symptoms that are bothersome.
Good luck and remember to visit the sites above; they have an avalanche of info just for you!
Cristen 





No comments:

Post a Comment