MS-related Fatigue can:

 

1.   negatively affect your mood and ability to cope with other symptoms.

2.   change your perception of your own health

3.   make you feel that you can no longer look after yourself

4.   decrease memory, concentration, and attention, particularly with repeated or prolonged demands on these skills

5.   produce a constant overall lack of energy

6.   reduce physical endurance in daily activities such as walking

7.   cause you to avoid physical activity, thus (over time) increase muscle weakness and decrease your body’s ability to use oxygen for energy.

8.   impair your ability to work.

 

 

If you have severe fatigue, tell your doctor and have him / her carry out a thorough examination to rule out conditions that might cause or contribute to your fatigue. 

 

Medications that can be used to treat fatigue are:

 

1.   Amantadine (Symmetrel)

2.   Modafinil (Provigil)

3.   Various types of antidepressants

4.   Pemoline

5.   Methyphenidate

 

 

Identify and avoid factors that trigger your fatigue and practice energy conservation strategies.

 

With fast passed busyness of our society, just about everybody have suffered from fatigue now and then.  It’s that tired feeling most people get after a long days work.

 

MS related fatigue is different.  It interferes with physical and mental functioning as well as daily activities. It made worse by heat.  It is not relieved by rest or sleep.

 

 

There are three types of MS related fatigue.

 

  1. Lassitude   – overwhelming tiredness.
  2. Muscle fatigue – it seems like someone has injected lead into your limbs, making them too heavy to move.
  3. Mental fatigue – even the simplest mental tasks are hard to do, because you are simply too tired to do them.

 

 

There are things that can be done to help lessen MS related fatigue.

 

  1. Sleep well – lack of sleep can make fatigue worse, or even cause fatigue.  You may need a sleep aid.
  2. Avoid heat – People with MS often get more tired with heat.
  3. Pace yourself – don’t try to do more than you physically do.
  4. Keep a diary – Keep a fatigue diary.  You can use the MS fatigue scale posted the other day or you can keep your own diary.  This can be shared with your medical practitioner.
  5. Only do what is absolutely necessary.
  6. While preparing a meal fill a sink with hot, soapy water.  As each pot is emptied place it in the sink.  Don’t wash the pots until the you feel rested after eating.  Clean up after the meal when you feel rested.  Do what you can, then rest.

 

Bonnie