Re: Any way to treat my fatigue?

October 20, 2005

I know how you feel. I used to " bounce " off the walls so to speak.

But over the last few years I have slowed down alot. I also spoke to

my neph about it and he insists it has nothing to do with IGAn. He

thinks its just how my body reacts to the BP meds he has me on

" Vasotec " or Enelapril (one of the generics for vasotec). I take

approximatell 20mg a day. As my kidney fuction has decreased over the

years I do feel " more tired " , and it takes me alot longer to recover

from a long night. It seems to take a week before I feel better. My

meds havnt changed in a while so I can only attribute the increase

fatige to the disease.

I try to work with it. Go to bed early and try to rest during the

day. It does change your life, but look at it this way. We or you

could have something alot worse, I count my blessings I dont suffer

from another more debilitating disease.

>

> Hello all. From reading some of the posts here, I see that many of

> you seem to suffer from fatigue, and while I don't wish it on anyone,

> I'm glad I'm not alone in this. The fatigue is particularly awful for

> me, because I'm 24 years old and it has put my life on hold. I've

> stopped attending college because I cannot get out of bed to make it

> to class, and I begin to feel very sleepy within 10 minutes of opening

> a book. I have a small business selling things on eBay, but am only

> just able to pay my rent each month because I've lost the energy to

> work. I was supplementing my income well playing poker, but am no

> longer able to focus and I lose money almost every time I play. I

> have also been something of a chess enthusiast, but now find the game

> draining. When I used to talk to people, I was told that I was very

> articulate, and I always felt able to communicate what I was feeling

> perfectly. Now, I will regularly be in the middle of a sentence and

> forget what I was saying. Every day I find my thinking more and more

> dull, which makes me feel stupid and is very depressing. I've been

> struggling to get ahead in life, and now I find it impossible.

>

> So, sorry for that rant. I'm wondering what ways you have found (if

> any) of coping with fatigue. As I understand it, I am to avoid all

> stimulants? My doctor is apparently one of Stanford's top

> nephrologists, but he says he has never heard of fatigue being related

> to IgA. Any help is appreciated. My GFR is 27 and dropping fast.

>

> Oh, by the way, can anyone describe " flank pain " to me? I have some

> pain in my right lower-back about where I think my kidney should be,

> but I also have lower back problems, so I'm not sure.

>

October 20, 2005

yep the fatigue is definately a part of it. it sucks and there isn't

really much you can do that i have discovered except staying on iron

supplements and eating right and being determined. A vegetarian diet

when done right helps give a lot more energy. The only real thing

that I use to combat fatigue is determination and strength of will

power. i am a college student taking 20 hours so i have to make

myself go to class and get my work done. i can't afford to fall

behind. i'd never catch back up. having a routine makes things easier

as i'm stubbornly habitual. but yeah, i've found that all we can do is

accept it and do our best to work through it.

October 20, 2005

I'm sorry you are having to fight with your fatigue, it is the pits. (says one

who has spent roughly 14 of the last 72 hours upright...mainly due to a migraine

knocking me down for the count) Some ideas:

--With a GFR of 27, fatigue is common but....

--How do your blood values look?

--Are you anemic?

--Other things can compound fatigue, depression is a big one here. You end up

fatigued, become depressed due to the fatigue, and the depression makes the

fatigue worse. It's a hard cycle to break but it can be done. Perhaps a

therapist might be in order...I have gone to one in the past and he worked some

wonders.

--Medications you are on can compound the fatigue. Check into side effects and

see if your neph can try other meds that may not cause fatigue on such a large

scale.

As for how to combat fatigue:

--Exercise....you say " Ya right!? " but seriously if you get out and exercise

just 30 minutes a day it will do wonders for your fatigue. I find I sleep

better, sweating helps take some pressure off the kidneys by removing some

toxins thru the skin, and the endorphins released help give you a natural boost.

--Stick to your diet to help ease some of the strain on the kidneys. When I eat

horridly I pay for it big time over about a 3 day period until my body can catch

up with what I ate....then it takes a few weeks of being vigilant about the

foods I put in my mouth to really feel o.k. again.

--Nap or rest when you can.

--I also am an eBayer and I find if I work for 30 minutes and rest for 30 I get

more done during the day than if I just try to plug thru it all at once. Get

yourself a kitchen timer and set it for 30 minutes, when it goes off take a

break. Lay on the bed, rest, get some water, etc. set the timer for your 30

minute break and when it goes off continue working for another 30 minutes. It

sounds odd but I get more work done each day I do this than the days I don't.

I'm sure I'll come up with more but that's all my fuzzy brain can think of right

now....darn migraines....

Amy G.

Any way to treat my fatigue?

Hello all. From reading some of the posts here, I see that many of

you seem to suffer from fatigue, and while I don't wish it on anyone,

I'm glad I'm not alone in this. The fatigue is particularly awful for

me, because I'm 24 years old and it has put my life on hold. I've

stopped attending college because I cannot get out of bed to make it

to class, and I begin to feel very sleepy within 10 minutes of opening

a book. I have a small business selling things on eBay, but am only

just able to pay my rent each month because I've lost the energy to

work. I was supplementing my income well playing poker, but am no

longer able to focus and I lose money almost every time I play. I

have also been something of a chess enthusiast, but now find the game

draining. When I used to talk to people, I was told that I was very

articulate, and I always felt able to communicate what I was feeling

perfectly. Now, I will regularly be in the middle of a sentence and

forget what I was saying. Every day I find my thinking more and more

dull, which makes me feel stupid and is very depressing. I've been

struggling to get ahead in life, and now I find it impossible.

So, sorry for that rant. I'm wondering what ways you have found (if

any) of coping with fatigue. As I understand it, I am to avoid all

stimulants? My doctor is apparently one of Stanford's top

nephrologists, but he says he has never heard of fatigue being related

to IgA. Any help is appreciated. My GFR is 27 and dropping fast.

Oh, by the way, can anyone describe " flank pain " to me? I have some

pain in my right lower-back about where I think my kidney should be,

but I also have lower back problems, so I'm not sure.

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Thank you

October 20, 2005

Hi Lain,

Fatigue is a hard thing to cope with. Amy has already given you

excellent advice, and I want echo her comments. Exercise honestly does

help so much, but first check with your Neph on your blood levels to

make sure anemia is not contributing to the fatigue. It is possible

that you have renal induced anemia since you are below 30%.

Do allow your body to get the rest it needs even if it means you need

to let go of some things to get to bed earlier. Make sure you tell

your Nephrologist that you are struggling with fatigue.

On the flank pain question, it is a discomfort, either mild or more

pronounced in the lower back about just below the ribs where your

kidneys are located.

I think it was Cy who responded to your fish oil question and I wanted

to add that once you have the correct levels, good places to go to buy

it at a good price are Costco and Sam's Club.

Hope this helps.