This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I am very interested to hear from everyone what their experience with fatigue and general tiredness is. I seem to be struggling with being tired more and more as time goes on with MS. I want to know if what I am experiencing is normal for most of us or not.

To be more specific, here is my experience:

For the past 6 mos - 1 year (I have been diagnosed for 3 years) I seem to be growing increasingly tired daily, regardless of the amount of sleep I get. I feel more tired in the mornings than afternoon. Sitting here now in my office at the computer, I just feel sapped of energy. I sometimes feel so tired that I feel pressure behind my eyes, like the feeling you get when you have not slept well for days or stayed up all night. This seems to be happening more frequently. Lately it has been daily.

Also, I sometimes feel fatigued, more than just tired. This is especially bad if I spend much time outside in the heat. Texas summers are not helping me much

My neurologist has me taking amantadine 3 times daily. I don't feel that it is helping much.

So, is this consistent with how you feel? Are you taking any medicines or supplements that seem to have significantly helped you? I am very interested to hear your personal stories about this. Thanks.

EyeDoc,
I would suggest taking a look at this thread that discusses Neurodegenration from Mitochondrial Insufficiency. As you may know, our mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of our cells. My guess is that MS fatigue is largely a result of this deficient process in MS patients.

Personally, I take a cocktail of 1200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid, 1200 mg of combined EPA + DHA, 1200 mg of combined Acetyl L-Carnitine HCL/Acetyl L-Carnitine Arginate, 300 mg of GLA, and 600 mg of N-Acetyl Cystein. I take it all at once as these are synergistic, along with a good multivitamin that is high in the B vitamins. I take this combination in the evening. I have been taking this for the last 3 months (was diagnosed about 10 months ago, have had MS for about 6 years) and have noticed some improvement in symptoms as well as fatigue. I also try to eat 5 grams of Lecithin granules a day.

You may also want to try taking Rhodiola Rosea or Panax Ginseng (also known as Asian Ginseng). The NMSS has listed that there is a clinical trial underway looking at Ginseng for the treatment of fatiigue. I personally also take both of these herbals in the morning to get my day started. Rhodiola Rosea has some research (done in Russia and some of it done on mice, but hey isn't most MS research done on mice) supporting its use to combat fatigue and suggesting that it works by enhancing the efficiency of mitochndria. You can also read about people's experience with it on Remedyfind.

Finally, I try to exercise as much as I can and generally do some form of activity 4-5 times a week. I find that cardio exercise and doing something like Yoga or Tai Chi Chuan all help. I try my best to stick to my lifestyle regimen of running 2 x a week, doing weights 2 x a week, and doing Yoga/Tai Chi Chuan 2 x a week. I find that when I stick to it, my energy levels are pretty normal. When I slack off some, my energy drops a bit. Overall though, I'd say that my experience with fatigue is minimal. It has never been too bothersome (more like annoying), and since I have been taking all these supplements/herbs and following my lifestyle plan my energy levels have improved.

VS

the following thread on fatgue may be worth a read.
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopicp-12604.html

here's an interesting list.

Some Mitochondrial Bio-Energetic Enhancers

Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
EDTA
Coenzyme Q10
Idebenone
Succinates
Dichloroacetate
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
L-Carnitine
PBN
N-Acetyl-Cysteine
Lipoic Acid
Exercise
Ginkgo Biloba
D-Ribose
Creatine
Taurine
Omega-3 fatty acids

got the list from this site:
http://www.vrp.com/art/868.asp?c=1156196686375&k=/det/1790.asp&m=/&p=no&s=0

it also talks about how the mitochondria get messed up due to free radicals, so bring on the antioxidants! i found a great one recently - olive leaf extract. it rocks.

I have a problem with fatigue - i was diagnosed only in november last year but my neurologist thinks i may have had it for up to 13. fatigue is a major problem for me... i am also on amantadine (3 a day), i completely understand how you feel, it feels like i have not slept... the amantadine helps a little - well enough to get me through the day without falling asleep at my work computer.

i can't really tell you what will help, i think after 13 years of fatigue i have just got used to living with it...

i just wanted to say that your not alone with this sympton. i relaly hope you can find something that will help you

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Mags

oh and the site is selling vitamin products so if anyone objects i can go and search on pubmed too, i had just put "mitochondrial insufficiency" and nutrition in regular google.

Fatigue.

I've been on a variety of meds. over the last several years.

I was on Amantadine (3xday) and that worked well for awhile.

Then, Provigil (1xday) plus Amantadine (2xday) and that helped for about a year.

Now, the combination of those two have not helped me out in the afternoon/ evening.

Recently, my neuro. changed the plan and I'm now on a very small dosage of Ridalin-SR. Once a day.

I think it's working. But I know that it's one of those many meds that lose effectiveness over time.

My fatigue has always been worse in the later hours. Everyone is diffent and reacts differently to the meds.

I hope that one day, a definitive cause of MS will be found and then all of the symptoms will be better addressed.

Cheers --

Niko

_________________
"Avoid making irrevocable decisions when tired or hungry." -- Robert Heinlein

Fatigue (Pardon the pun) does my head in.

When i am fatigued i should rest but because i am pi$$ed off with it i become subversive and want to do more.

I know i should rest but it takes me until i am severely knackered...i will never learn.

I guess it is my way of sticking two fingers up at MS.

Lee

www.ms-chat.co.uk