Fatique in Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia/Arthritis/Lupus Support Group

[Sandy Medine]

Fatique in Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia/Arthritis/Lupus Support Group

Fatique means different things to different people. Some use the term to describe a feeling of extreme tiredness or exhaustion, some use it to describe physical weakness, and others use it to indicate sleepiness. Any of these types of fatique can make it difficult for you to perform daily tasks. In contrast to the fatique that you may have with the flu, which usually goes away after a few days, fatique associated with arthritis can last longer and be more severe. It often does not completely go away with rest and may interfere with your ability to carry out activities of daily living, both at home and in the workplace. Fatique is a frequent and troubling symptom of many types of arthritis and related diseases, including * rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus for short). Knowing the causes of fatique and how fatique affects you will help you manage it better.
HOW DOES FATIQUE MAKE YOU FEEL?
Fatique can affect people differently. You may have different symptoms of fatique at different times and it can be worse during disease flares. For instance, fatique may make you feel some of the things listed below:

~ Very tired with no energy
~Increased pain
~A loss of control
~A loss of concentration
~Irritable

Above information provided by The Arthritis Foundation

[Melinda Tucker]

When I am fatigued..i come home from work eat and laydown..then im am asleep within mins..also when I am cleaning the house my arms and legs just give completely out.. and the burn and hurt and I swaet and feel faint..then I have to set down put my legs up and restwhen its really bad i dont feel like doing anything at all..All I manage to do now is work my job..Im completely spent after that..and over the years it has gotten worse and worse.,. but thats what faitgue does to me ..Hugs Mel

[Sandy Medine]

I fully understan what you are saying. At 42 years of age I have to give up a good paying managenment job because I had gone for the 2 years befor going to work and bed then I couldn't get up to get dressed to go to work. I was so weak I couldn't hold my arms up to fix my hair. The sleep was not refreshing and a friend of mind used to cover for me during the last year an we would put chairs together and I would sleep on them behing the heavy long draps. Luckly I was never caught and fired but I could not drive and got to sick to bath or do anything that is needed to keep personal hygeine up. Finally I had to tell my boss and I was laid off instead of the sick leave I asked for I lost my job. It took a year to get assistance from the state because I had to be disabled for a year befor disability would kick in and I had to see their doctors. Luckly I had a doctor that believed me and I did get SSD Socicial Secuiety disability..A long way from my salary but an income of some king. I am still tired, weak, in pain. The meds I am given just don't help. I pray for us all.

[Debra Highberger]

Fatigue....It is with me all the time. I can't remember the last time I was able to sleep and wake up rested. When I'm working it feels like me legs have weights on them ( kind of like walking with a toddler on each foot :) My brain gets fuzzy and when my husband asks me a question or opinion I have a hard time responding. I'm an artist and used to be able to paint for 8 hours at a time. Now I'm lucky if I can last 1 hour. I own a school and work with kids. Fortunately they are adaptable and helpful, they get me through.

Debra