Severe Fatigue - Does anyone know how to improve it?

[tiggersorensen]

Hi all. This is my first posting. I was diagnosed last summer with IC after many so-called UTI's. I also have IBS, I'm lactose intolerant, bipolar and have OCD as well. I have had joint and muscle aches since I was a kid, but a brand new addition to all of my "issues" is a severe debilitating fatigue. This started when my "UTI's" started and continues to be horribly debilitating even when I'm not experiencing bladder pain or flaring. I'm no longer able to work because of the fatigue. Does anyone know how to combat this? Is there anything I can do to keep it from happening? Or even make it go away? Today I'm supposed to go pay my car insurance, and I don't even feel I should be driving. Help!

[Betsie]

I guess my only response to this would be a good chat with your Dr, as well as a good lab workup to rule out anything obvious. You may be having issues with meds, hard to say and I think you and your Dr need to discuss it.

IC by itself doesn't cause fatigue...the pain of it and frequency issues sure can wear one down, as can sleeping problems...but they are all peripheral contributors. Go get your blood check and bring a list of meds and anything that might help determine the cause.

[Katrina]

:welcome: to the ICN!

What is OCD?
Not that pain can cause fatigue. So with that doing fun things of fucussing on happy things is good for energy.

Ofcourse make sure you get enough protein, vitamins, and minerals.

One good thing is to make sure you get enough restful sleep, and not too much sleep.

Eating a balanced diet and getting adequate rest
Exercising regularly but without causing more fatigue
Pacing yourself-physically, emotionally, and intellectually-because too much stress can aggravate your symptoms
Are you aware of an association of fatigue with IC? I have just been diagnosed with IC but have had symptoms for years. I have had fatigue symptoms for years as well and am currently awaiting further investigation. I did see a specialist for fatigue before with no results. It is sudden, more of a "zombie like fatigue" than a tired yawning type of fatigue. It is not the type of fatigue that you get after a hectic day. I did notice an association with bladder symptoms and this zombie fatigue. The fatigue is relieved with a short nap when I can get it. For eight years I have been trying to sort this out. I also wonder if there is a chance than there can be any association with IC and excess stomach acid. I take Losec and also noticed that this worsens when I have both the IC and fatigue symptoms.

A: IC can be associated with other medical conditions. The most common are migraine headache, irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia and Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is typically associated with muscle and skeletal aches and pain and chronic fatigue. There are a host of other illnesses that can produce fatigue. A partial list includes metabolic disease such as diabetes or liver disease, depression and anxiety disorders, renal disease, anemia, and sleep disorders. Patients with prolonged symptoms of fatigue who have minimal findings on medical examination should be evaluated for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. You need a complete medical evaluation to find the cause.


If medications are the cause talk to your doctor.

[tiggersorensen]

OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I know it's not medications, because there are no medications that I take that I have been taking the whole time I've had problems with this. I've done some research on CFS and most of the problems I have that are associated with this illness (joint and muscle aches) have been around my whole life. The only things that are new and have come with the IC are severe fatigue along with concentration and memory problems.

I'm very lucky in that I don't frequently have bad flares. Sometimes there's a low level pain and burning feeling, but I'm able to keep most of it under control.

I still have pain during intercourse, is it possible that there's more going on with my bladder than I feel? Could it be flaring and causing the fatigue, but I'm not aware of it?

I'm so confused!

[Katrina]

I know the I can't win kind of fautigue...with no new cause really. I researched the CFS for some helpful things on on Cronich Fatigue...because they just work on treating symptoms the best they can too. Sorry...I hope you feel better

[Eccles]

Chronic fatigue & Fibromyalgia can be associated conditions with IC; I have all three. Hope you receive a diagnosis for the fatigue & pain soon. lol

[ICNDonna]

Don't immediately rule out medications as a potential problem, even if you've been taking them for a long time. I have developed problems with several medications after taking them for many months. I urge you to see your doctor.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[applebetty]

I use to be so tired I didn't have the strength to be tired. Would ache all over too. Felt like I was having the flu 24/7. It started the 2nd year when I came down with the IC. The only thing that has helped me so far is the cystopake pills and I take ibuprofen once in a while. Other wise when that feeling happens again I just have to wait it out. None of the pills I took caused it too.

[tiggersorensen]

Applebetty,

That's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. It's better now because I'm not working, but it'll hit for no reason I can figure out and I just have to ride it out. It's not cool at all!!

[applebetty]

Sorry Sarah that you have this on top of the IC. I do know when it first started with me I thought maybe I was just sitting around to long or maybe not eating right. Sometimes I think when this happens it is worse then the bladder pain. Many nights I lay in bed crying wanting to go to the emergency room it's that bad but then what could they do? It's just the pits having it.

[tiggersorensen]

I'll agree with that! It's so overwhelming.