Crushing fatigue... help!

[bananana]

Hi there,

It's been a while since I've posted here. I've been struggling with extreme fatigue for a while now. My neuro put me on modafinil, but I did not react well to it at all. It gave me severe headaches, as well as sensitivity to light and inability to focus. Although it did help with the lassitude, I decided that debilitating fatigue is far better than debilitating headaches, and I stopped taking it. The neuro offered to put me on amantadine, but after researching it thoroughly I came to the conclusion that it's probably not right for me either.

So I'm still struggling with the fatigue. It's crushing. I'm totally incapable of getting anything done. It's a struggle to get out of bed, let alone do everyday tasks such as buy groceries, cook, keep my house clean, etc.

Exercise only makes things worse. I eat a very healthy diet, and drink coffee/tea around the clock just to get through the day. I'm currently on Plegridy, and take 5000 IU D3 daily, as per neuro's orders.

I know it's kind of a long shot, but has anyone here tried anything that helps?
Appreciate your replies!

[ElliotB]

"I eat a very healthy diet, and drink coffee/tea around the clock"

What do you consider a very healthy diet?

What kind of coffee and tea are you drinking?

[bananana]

Healthy diet as in lots of fresh fruits and veggies, seafood (lots of fish!), occasional hormone/antibiotic free chicken and red meat. Nothing fried, ever. Minimal dairy, minimal fats. Minimal starches, mostly rice and potatoes when I do eat them. Almost never eat refined grains or processed foods. Very little sodium (salt). I stay away from sugary junk. I try to eat locally grown & seasonal produce whenever possible.

I drink black and green tea for a mild caffeine boost (after 7pm or so), and I've recently switched to espresso for a stronger effect so I don't have to spend 30 min drinking my coffee. All of it is high quality, chemical & additive free, etc. I also drink lots and lots of water, as caffeine can have a dehydrating effect.

Thanks

[Scott1]

Hi,

This might help. The reason I say might is we are not going to discuss if you have any infection that can cause inflammation, any deficiencies in vitamins or amino acids or any medications such as statins that directly attack energy pools in the cell. We can discuss that if you wish. Any issues in those areas will impact on trying this.

The driving force to make energy is a substance called adenosine triphosphate(ATP). It is formed the cell, spent in the cell and renewed in the cell. If the process is working properly there is a rapid exchange of processes in the cell to create and renew ATP when demand increases. If it is not working properly the ATP is spent and breaks down into purines that stay unused in the cell. If the situation persists that degradation reaches a point where two things happen; the purines wash from the cell and the ATP still created is less than the amount demanded. This leaves you very fatigued and unable to feel energetic. An objective measure of how advanced this has become is a blood test of your uric acid level. That measures the final stage in the metabolism of purines.

What to do about it - 1) improve the restoration of ATP. This means improving a series of reactions called the electron transport chain. To do that buy a very good brand of coenzyeme Q10 that is in a gel capsule ideally with d-tocopherol (Vit. E). Take 150mg the first night and add 150mg every second night till you get to 600mg per night and stay at that level.
The second thing is to take 1000mg of aceytl-l-carnitine morning and night. This substance helps to acts as a shuttle to transport ATP and its spent version in and out of the mitochondria. That will speed up its availability.

Subject to my comments about infection and deficiencies this might help. The products are all available at a good supplements supplier. Go to the counter and ask what practitioner brands they have. They will be made with better laboratory practice.

Regards,

[ElliotB]

Forgot to ask, are you taking any supplements, in particular are you taking B vitamins?

When you had blood work, did you have your vitamin levels checked?

[NHE]

It's been a while since I've posted here. I've been struggling with extreme fatigue for a while now. My neuro put me on modafinil, but I did not react well to it at all. It gave me severe headaches, as well as sensitivity to light and inability to focus. Although it did help with the lassitude, I decided that debilitating fatigue is far better than debilitating headaches, and I stopped taking it. The neuro offered to put me on amantadine, but after researching it thoroughly I came to the conclusion that it's probably not right for me either.

So I'm still struggling with the fatigue. It's crushing. I'm totally incapable of getting anything done. It's a struggle to get out of bed, let alone do everyday tasks such as buy groceries, cook, keep my house clean, etc.

Exercise only makes things worse. I eat a very healthy diet, and drink coffee/tea around the clock just to get through the day. I'm currently on Plegridy, and take 5000 IU D3 daily, as per neuro's orders.

I know it's kind of a long shot, but has anyone here tried anything that helps?
Appreciate your replies!

A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue. Have you had your B12 level checked? It should be 500-1000 pg/mL. It's also good to check red blood cell folate, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid for a complete B12 analysis. Please see the following topic for more information.

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/natural-a ... 24857.html

[vesta]

Greetings:

Scott1 and NHE I want to thank you both for this very helpful advice. I meant to say something when this post appeared, but let it slip. So thanks again:

Regards, Vesta