Guest guest Posted June 17, 2003 Report Share Posted June 17, 2003 Hi Pat, You are not alone! LOL Most of us here complain about fatigue being an issue. I know it is for me. For me it has a lot to do with the fact that I really have not been eating very much. Especially days when I feel a flare-up coming on, I stop eating. How is my body supposed to get the fuel it needs? I try snacking on things but I am afraid to eat, I would rather feel hunger pains then the pain of an attack. I also feel that our bodies have to get tired from the pain. It may not be horrible pain, but for most it is always there. Nagging at us all day. The body has to get tired from that. Most chronic pain suffers complain of fatigue. As far as your emotional state, well I feel that is all normal also. Are you on any kind of antidepressant? You should consult your doctor, it may help you feel better emotionally. There are antidepressants that are used for both depression and pain management. I take one that is used for both called Elavil. Something to think about. I hope I have been of some help. Sending lots of happy thoughts your way...... Marisa~San Diego, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2003 Report Share Posted June 17, 2003 I have come to the point that if I have anything planned to do in the near future I always tell everyone that I will not be available for the following couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2003 Report Share Posted June 17, 2003 Hi Pat, I know that all you have asked about, I have experienced too. Sometimes the fatigue is REALLY bad. I wish I had a cure for it all, for all of us. But I haven't. Do what you can, with the time you feel energized. The rest will take care of itself. And if it doesn't, you can be assured that the housework and laundry and weeding of the garden will still be there tomorrow! :-) Best to you, Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2003 Report Share Posted June 17, 2003 Pat, Previously being a high energy person myself, my lack of energy was one of the very first things I noticed when I first developed CP and it was horribly discouraging. I had gotten to the point where I had to nap every day, and by noon or one in the afternoon felt completely drained. Our chronic pancreatitis causes us to have severely diminished absorbtion of all the necessary vitamins and minerals from food that help keep our body running on all cylinders. I was prescribed several vitamin supplements by my doctor, and then started taking the specific antioxidants for pancreatitis therapy, and immediately noticed an improvement in my energy levels, and also felt less depression. My GI fully approves of my adding these to my daily regimen. I've been taking all these antioxidants, vitamins and minerals on a daily basis for two years now. I'm convinced that they are helping me, and know that now they are especially important because I have such severe malabsorption problems. I'd be happy to share the list of what I take if you're interested. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SE & SW Regional Representative PAI, Intl. Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. > Lately, I've noticed a decline in my energy level. Is this normal with CP? I guess I wasn't expecting this. I have always been a high energy person so this has been an adjustment and a little depressing. Pat German Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2003 Report Share Posted June 18, 2003 Pat Welocme, Sorry you had to find us, but I glad you did. Please feel free to jump in any time with your questions or reply to any posted. From my expereince with myself and Cassie the fatiigue is normal. As many have already said the lack of food has something to do with it. But I also think that even when you are not having an attack that the way we absorb when we can eat plays a role also. Many people find it very hard to believe that at 13 Cassie still goes to bed at 8:00 most nights, This is her choice, not mine. If she doesn't she just does not have the energy to make it through her day. Occassionaly she gets enough courage to sleep at a friends house. For days afterwards she sleeps extra. She's been like this for as long as we can remember so it has been no adjustment for us. I saw in another post where someone mentioned they are afraid to make plans for anything. We are like that at times, it's much easier to get beyond that with family. When we make plans we always let whoever know " provided Cassie feels OK. " So far we have not had any problems with anyone accepting this. The range of emotions you are experiencing IMO are normal for anyone experiencing a chronic illness. You may also find that those close to you who are also affected are expereincing the same thing as you are. It's part of the greiving process. You are greiving for your healthy pre pancreatitis self. It is a constant ongoing process for those with chronic illness. You will find yourself revisting the different stages many times. Anger, denial, accpetance. Over and over again. It's been almost 3 years now since we start our journey with pancreatitis and we still find ourselves going threw this process. It was mentioned that maybe you should be on an antidepressant, might not be a bad idea. Talk to your dr and see what they say. It also may be a good idea to find someone you can talk about what your feeling. Cassie, me and my husband are all on antidepressants. Something that was not neccassary 3 years ago, prior to Cassie 1st getting diagnosed with pancreatitis. Something that has helped me alot is this board. Everyone else seems to get tired of hearing about our trials and tribulations with this disease. Here I can shout out my frustrations and disapointments as well as our triumphs and noone rolls their eyes or tries to change the subject on me. This site has also brought us hope where non existed before. When Cassie was 1st dx we were told what she has, told it was painfull and that it greatly diminished her life expectancy. We where not told anything about any treatment options for her. We've learned alot here, if nothing else, that there is hope. Cassie's motto " tomorrow will be better " keeps her going. Take care and god bless Patty Hurst Bangor, ME Maine State Rep PAI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2003 Report Share Posted June 18, 2003 > Do what you can, with the time you feel energized. > The rest will take care of itself. And if it doesn't, you can be > assured that the housework and laundry and weeding of the garden > will still be there tomorrow! :-) > > Best to you, > Sandy Sandy, This has been one of the hardest things for me to learn. My first experience with this was being so wore out, I had to take a break between unloading my laundry and folding & putting it away. I grew up being taught that once you start something, you keep at it until its done. And now my family is finally starting to realize that I can't plan weeks ahead for something,(or even for the same evening). People told me to ignore what my body was saying and push myself or I would get lazy. HOGWASH!!! We need to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us or be prepared to pay for it when we don't. Be Blessed, Diane H TN State Rep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2003 Report Share Posted June 19, 2003 > > >Diane, > I agreee that our bodys should dictate to us on our level of activity and what we can and should do. I also agree that over doing is worse on us that it is on other people. I push myself on the excersize because I am so afraid of being terribly overweight. I do feel better when I get on my treadmill. I was doing 5 miles a day on it and think I finally burnt myself out on it. I am taking a small break from it for now. But I still walk outside with my dog. I was brought up with the same thought...always finish what you start. But I have learned that it really will still be there tomorrow if I don't finish it today. And my feeling well means more to me than finishing the laundry. Fortunatly I have been feeling " well " lately and I am able to do much more than I could a few months back or even last year. I do feel the pain creeping back everyday and have had to take pain pills the last 2 nights to help control it. It kinda concerns me as I leave for my cruise on saturday. But perhaps it's just stress and things will be better when I get on the ship. I know that my body doesn't know the difference between good or bad stress. It reacts the same to either one. I hope you start to feel better and get some of that energy back that we all need. Best Wishes to you, Sandy > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2003 Report Share Posted June 20, 2003 I too suffer from fatigue. I thought it was just me being lazy and have tried to " force " myself to do things. I finally had to give up doing my lawn work since the last time I cut my grass I landed in the emergency room for the pain I was in. It took me 5 days of shear agony before I was able to return to my more normal level of pain. Just vacuuming my carpet (only one room but a fairly large family room)causes me to have to take several days to recuperate. Andre' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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