What causes the fatigue?

[flipflopper]

Marie,


In the articles that I have just posted, it was found that NAA/Cr was significantly lower in the high-fatigue group as compared with the low-fatigue group.

It says “Compared with the low-fatigue group, the high-fatigue group had a significantly lower brain NAA/Cr ratio (P = .003). The NAA/Cr ratio was directly correlated with Fatigue Severity Scale Scores (P = .02), disease duration, and T2 lesion volume. Because of the known sensitivity of NAA levels to demyelinating injury, the authors attribute the lower NAA/Cr ratio to a lower NAA and not to a higher Cr.”

[Karazhan]

Thanks for the input, all! I was hoping for a more simplistic answer but it seems that there aren't many of those in the world of MS.

Bubba, you mention quick onset, massive, whole body fatigue. Mine is more like borderline narcolepsy. It's not that my body feels all that tired but I can now fall asleep in the most ridiculous places. Last time was on a bench in the front of Walmart and I may as well start taking a pillow and blanket to doctor visits....Ohhhh, I just remembered....My neuro's waiting room has couches!

[Bubba]

Yeah... Mine is more like a complete loss of energy. Like, I dont have the strength to stand if I am sitting down, ect... But, I just miserably pull through it and drive on.

[ursula]

Hi Karazhan,

I don´t know where fatigue comes from.
I am often tired because lack of sleep but once I had enough sleep I am very fit.
I only had a bad time with Rebif:
Fatigued, bad mood (and some other side effects).

Since I have switched I´ve felt a lot better.
In my case it wasn´t the MS.
Did you feel better before Rebif?

Ursula

[gainsbourg]

My 2 cents...MS fatigue is usually intermittant - this makes me think that whatever is causing the nerve damage may also be causing the fatigue (not the fatigue resulting from nerve damage).

I often wonder if somehow hypoxia or some kind of specific metabolic flaw (iron, glucose, oxygen, insulin) at a cellular level is responsible for MS. Perhaps histamine somehow helps remedy this situation in some cases. I've always been suspicious that circulation is a factor in MS and am amazed by the recent findings about compromised blood circulation to the CNS.

Many MSrs also get heat and humidity fatigue. The interesting thing here is that there is usually more oxygen available in fresher cooler, less humid atmospheres. Before MRIs one of the standard tests for MS was Urtoff's test. Patients were put into a hot tub to see if they suffered from fatigue and optical neuritis symptoms as a result.



gainsbourg

[ssmme]

For about seven years I've been saying to my husband..."If I don't go to sleep right now I will throw up." That is the overwhelming feeling of fatigue that I deal with. I was dx'd about 2.5 years ago so the fatigue was really related to the ms even though I just thought I was overdoing stuff.

The fatigue sucks but my use of campath has reduced it. I can only hope it continues to stay down.

Marcia

[jimmylegs]

i just ran across an interesting discussion looking at fatigue, depression etc outside the MS context, but the connections are glaringly obvious! i particularly enjoy the discussion between clem and marie (big surprise).
virus induced depression: http://tinyurl.com/yh6jqx5

[Rebecca]

Exercise helps with both fatigue and cognitive functioning in MS. The research shows this. So, I walk and job and hour five days a week and lift weights 3 days each week.

This exercise keeps my bod in decent condition. Also, I notice that sitting on my duff results in sore legs. So, if I keep a move on myself, I'm much better off and my legs do not hurt.

Some of the fatigue I think comes from depression. When I am feeling upbeat, I am much less fatigued.

Hope these comments help.

[jimmylegs]

exercise absolutely, rebecca. when i spend a whole day in front of a computer my walking is noticeably wonky. when i spend the day at work hiking or skiing, i don't notice anything except the good ol' stocking and glove.

when i was going through a rough patch in 2007 i explained my plans to my doc for this and that and she said, i was going to ask if you thought you might be depressed, but exercise is as good for depression as medication, so i think you'll be all right.

also, a friend of mine went to a naturopath earlier this year, about problems sleeping. he gave her a series of recommendations and when she was relaying them back to me, i said did he make any suggestions about daily exercise? and she said no, and right after that she went on a one hour a day routine.

i always sleep better at night after an active day outside, no question.