Help with Fatigue

[emlepage1]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if there are any suggestions about how to cope with exhaustion when you still have to manage to work full time at a computer and really can't stop to take a nap. I so often feel really tired and the only thing that sometimes helps is coffee which for me I honestly think I would be better off without for my healing ( I realize that many folks do well with coffee). I don't tolerate caffeinated tea at all.

I do exercise at least 30 minutes a day and try to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night and try to incorporate other things to help me recharge but I am still usually tired most days. Could it be a vitamin deficiency ? My symptoms are pretty well managed at this point however I do know that even though I am following a very strict diet my body still is sometimes reacting to foods that are supposed to be safe and it is random, some days those foods are fine and some days they are not.

Sorry I guess there probably is no definite answer but any tips people have found to help would be great.

Thank you,
Elaine

[tex]

Hi Elaine,

I see that no one has responded to your question. That's probably because, like me, no one has a really good answer. We all have to deal with fatigue due to our immune system using most of our energy to try to heal the damage done by the inflammation. And unfortunately, it usually takes about a year and 1/2 to 2 years after we reach remission for the fatigue to fade away. Brain fog tends to fade away within the same time schedule.

Trying to hold down a full-time job, while recovering from microscopic colitis, is a challenging task, to say the least. You have to cut yourself some slack and shaft down a gear. You must accept the fact that you have a debilitating disease that requires a few concessions in your schedule. I can recall that when I was recovering, about 20 years ago, I had to take frequent breaks from work during the day and just lean back in a recliner, or on a cot, and either snooze, or just relax for a while in order to gain enough energy to continue. My job was physically demanding, but I have little doubt that a job that's mentally demanding would require those occasional breaks, also.

You're correct that there is no simple answer, due to the fact that when we're dealing with active MC, there are more demands within our bodies for our energy, than we have available. Because fighting the inflammation requires most of our energy, our ability to handle either physical or mental work is going to be compromised, whether we are willing to admit it, or not. And if we don't accept that reality, and incorporate it into our schedule, the added stress caused by trying to accomplish the impossible is just going to add to the MC symptoms, and make the situation even more challenging.

It is what it is, and once we develop MC, it will be with us forever. We can control the symptoms, and when we do, we can regain most of our previous abilities. But overall, our life will never be the same, for better or for worse, and we have to accept that fact, and embrace it, or the stress caused by denying it will trigger the disease, and continue to make our lives miserable. At least that's the way I see it.

Tex

[Erica P-G]

Hi Elaine,

A couple thoughts I had are do you know if you have the MTHFR gene, do you have insulin resistance, what are your VitD levels?

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/mthfr/

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/ins ... tance.html

https://waynepersky.com/tag/vitamin-d/ This is from our very own Tex

These are just ideas.....but they affect each other so is worth to check on them all.

Cheers
Erica

[emlepage1]

Thank you Tex for the reminder that it is ok and helpful to take rest breaks, I really hate to do it but it probably would help.

Thank you Erica for the other possibilities to look into. I am taking a vitamin D supplement and when tested not too long ago my results were wnl. I am pretty sure that I do not have insulin resistance but will read the information and I am not familiar with the gene , I will definitely check it out.

I really can't say how wonderful it has been to have this forum and to have people who care enough to answer all of these questions we have. It is a true blessing, thank you very much.

Elaine

[Gabes-Apg]

For me the resolution to fatigue / foggy brain isssues

sticking with the low inflammation eating plan
- small amt of ingredients
- well cooked
- small portions but protein with every snack / meal (i have 4-5 small meals a day)
- bigger portions early in the day , at least 3 hour gap between last meal and bedtime
has been my staple for 11 years

magnesium, Vit D3, active B12 and CoQ10 are also key nutrients for most of the 11 years

the other essential - i must get at least 8 hours good quality sleep a night. If there is any physical, mental or emotional stress going on, I need 1-2 nights of 10 hours sleep .
hence why I dont get on the board much, working full time, looking after a house and garden on my own, doing cook ups etc, i dont get alot of spare time

hope this helps

[emlepage1]

Thank you Gabes! Funny, I actually was just on the Newbies tab and read a post you wrote years ago to encourage new members, it really helped me. I was feeling pretty discouraged. My symptoms are so much better than they were a year ago but I still have a long way to go and wonder how did this get so bad and will I ever be able to go out to eat again, eat a salad again? I did read that some people have gotten to the point where they can eat a little salad. Right now I am only having well cooked foods and a very limited number of foods.

I appreciate the reminder about the vitamin D and other vitamins. I had stopped the vitamin d.

Thanks again, it really means so much.

Elaine

[Gabes-Apg]

your welcome

re the Vit D3 i have found I always need it, during the aussie summer i can reduce the dose down to 2000-3000iu but winter, i need at least 5000iu
i have had good remission of my multiple Auto Immune issues for a couple of years now but i have never stopped the Vit D3

11 years on - i still dont do fruit (i can do small small serves once very few months) and salad - again it is generally only if i eat out so once every few months

[emlepage1]

Thank you again Gabes, this is so helpful.

Can you tell me more about the magnesium, active B12 and CoQ10?

I was taking a B Complex but then I wasn't sure if it was making me feel worse ( it may have been additives in it). I tried oral magnesium but I did not tolerate it. I am supposed to take a Calcium supplement for osteopenia however when I took it I felt really drained so I stopped but I should look for an alternative since I probably am not getting much calcium in my diet.

Thank you,
Elaine

[Gabes-Apg]

calcium does not build bones - VitD3 and magnesium does
I have been dairy free for over 10 years and do not supplement any calcium

magnesium - topical magnesium works very well, what oral magnesium and and variants of topical magnesium are frequently discussed
there is a post at the top of the main message board about magnesium that has LOADS of key info
https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB/viewt ... =2&t=20099
to maintain my magnesium - i mostly use topical

active B12 - again this has been discussed lots previously - using the search function you can find these chats
not sure what you want to know - but it is best to take the active forms / bio available forms of nutrients
that way the body gets available form (the body doesnt have to convert inactive to active)

CoQ10
https://au.iherb.com/blog/9-health-bene ... lsrc=aw.ds


If you have the following, you may also benefit from Coenzyme Q10
Migraine Headaches
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Memory
Blood Pressure
Congestive Heart Failure
Metabolic disease
Facial Wrinkles
Tinnitus
Coenzyme Q10 is required for cells to generate energy. This is done primarily, in a part of the cell, doctors call mitochondria. The mitochondria are like a power plant which generates energy. If the power plant is not generating sufficient energy, one becomes fatigued and needs to preserve energy. Frequently, muscle aches can be a sign of low CoQ10 reserves.

Since the heart is the most active of all organs, it produces and requires the most CoQ10 in order to meet its metabolic demands. Further, those with cardiac disease, higher levels of CoQ10 are required.

When a supplement is taken, the body will convert 90% of CoQ10 into Ubiquinol, the active form. CoQ10 or Ubiquinol is used quite a bit amongst integrative and holistic medical practitioners for many of the health conditions listed above. However conventional medicine is now beginning to see the health benefits of supplementation.

A History of CoQ10
CoQ10 was discovered by Frederick Crane in 1957. In 1958, American biochemist Karl Folkers who worked with Merck pharmaceuticals discovered the structure of coenzyme Q10. He realized every cell in the body requires it in order to function appropriately. Specifically, is it utilized by the mitochondrial organelles, which are found in every cell in the body except the red blood cells. CoQ10 is one nutrient, amongst others, required to help ensure mitochondrial health is optimal.

[brandy]

Fatigue was really problematic for me during the first two years of MC.

What helped:

1. Having starchy foods (rice, potato, sweet potato 3:00 pm or later) If I ate something starchy in the a.m. the fatigue was mind numbing.

2. Thorne Methyl Guard Plus. These are the absorbable B vitamins. I take 1 daily now. If you are fatigued you can
take 2-3 daily. (I used to take 2 daily.) It took about 6 weeks for these to really help. We have not talked about
these in awhile on the forum but many members take these.

3. If you work out of your house take a 30 minute lunch break and lie down on your couch and rest. If you work out of an office/business do the same in your car.

4. Time.

[brandy]

Elaine I lift weights (started with baby weights but now lift heavy weights) for osteopenia. My dexa's have improved.

I get calcium from fortified almond milk only. I probably get a bit from broccoli when I eat it.

[brandy]

P.S. The Thorne Methyl Guard plus contains the active B12 that Gabes was talking about.

[emlepage1]

Brandy,

Thank you, this is so helpful. I am definitely going to be ordering the B vitamin you mention and I definitely need to actually rest when I am tired instead of turning to caffeine which then usually triggers more symptoms. I really appreciate the encouragement.

[emlepage1]

Thanks again Gabes for all of the super helpful information. I am going to order the topical magnesium, active B and look into the CoQ10.

Elaine