Tire Easily And Family Members

[songbird7]

When my step mom asked how I was feeling yesterday I said "very tired" She knows I have IC for almost 20 years and said, "Did you overdo anything." I said, "no, I just walked to the store and took some things home." She said, "You shouldn't get tired from just doing that. She's in her 80's and I am almost 67, she has physical problems but I guess they don't act like IC. Sometimes my main symptom could be tiredness. I wound up feeling bad about myself and remembered the quote, "No one can make you feel bad without your permission." However I headed to the refrigerator for some comfort food and overdid on that. Can any one here relate to this?

[Braedley]

I'm 30 and was ALWAYS tired, before I was diagnosed especially...once I began treatment and had meds to help sleep AND keep my OAB under control, I could not believe the difference...I can sleep 6-9 hrs without getting up to pee, it's amazing..
today I am whipping around our house cleaning like a mad woman b/c my inlaws are coming to visit and I am pooped already and still have dishes to do...it doesn't take much sometimes...
I find when I'm flaring up I'm even more tired b/c my body is under such strain, esp muscles, I sleep a lot...when the flare is gone, it's almost like a bad hangover, lol...I feel like every muscle RELAXES and then I don't want to do anything for fear of setting it off again or tiring myself out when I feel so good!

[nottoc4]

I have experienced the same thing when I was flaring. I have been on Ambien for sleep almost 2 years. I still get up to pee but I am able to fall right back to sleep.

[maryla]

Songbird,

The fatigue is very debilitating for me. I have 24/7 pain for that last 5 yrs and don't have what most ICers call flares. I did have a short reprieve this past summer (5 wks with low pain)from using the Gaba-Ic protocol. It was Heaven!!!! I'm 53 and sometimes I wonder what it will be like when I'm 83, if I feel this tired now.

I hate this the worst!!!Yesterday I went with my friend and my daughter to paint pottery and I started hurting so bad and felt so tired by the time I got home I wanted to puck. But my hubby and I planned a date night last night and I thought NO this isn't going to stop me and went anyway hurting so bad. But we still had a good time. We went to dinner and to see the movie 2012. BUT today I'm sooooo pooped!!

So, yes, I TRUELY understand!!!!!

HUGS AND BLESSINGS

[Calinda]

Yes, I got really tired when I had my initial flare--I actually felt like I had the flu but only tiredness was the symptom. I've never had a lot of energy.
Personally, I think we all have different amounts of energy. However, don't let it get you down. Some people are just different. I find that I choose activities that aren't as energetic (I play piano, scrabble, and I like to read). So on the good side you can just say when you are resting that you are reflecting on life more. :) Just think too many people are so busy being busy and active they forget to stop and smell the roses along the way. When you don't have a lot of energy you stop and smell the roses. :)

[Hannah13]

When my step mom asked how I was feeling yesterday I said "very tired" She knows I have IC for almost 20 years and said, "Did you overdo anything." I said, "no, I just walked to the store and took some things home." She said, "You shouldn't get tired from just doing that. She's in her 80's and I am almost 67, she has physical problems but I guess they don't act like IC. Sometimes my main symptom could be tiredness. I wound up feeling bad about myself and remembered the quote, "No one can make you feel bad without your permission." However I headed to the refrigerator for some comfort food and overdid on that. Can any one here relate to this?

Right now my tailbone is giving me excrutiating pain to go with the ic symphony so yes, I understand getting tired easily.

[kadi]

Hi Songbird,

Yes, I get tired more easily than others my age. And it is frustrating to come home from work tired and just hang out with the cat because I don't have energy to go out. I usually plan only one "fun" event per weekend, because I know if I do something on both days, I'll not be rested enough to be ok for the next five day workweek.

I like what Calinda said about being able to appreciate things more when you're not running around. That has been true for me. Since I got IC, I've developed skills I would not have learned otherwise: crafts, jewelry making, experimenting with makeup, container gardening, cooking, journalling.

One thing a medical social worker taught me is to look for the "essence" of the things I used to love and find new ways that don't exhaust me to express those parts of my personality. I used to travel a lot & that's not so easy for me anymore, but I watch lots of foreign films, read National Geographic, look forward to the "Amazing Race" every Sunday night.

Learning a language & breaking the communication barrier was a key part of my love of travel, so I'm working on learning American Sign Language. I'm too tired to take the advanced courses at the local community colleges that offer them (40 min drive each way on two weeknights a week getting home at 10pm just ain't gonna happen), so I'm using an online program to continue learning & try to meet a Deaf friend at Starbucks for practice once or twice a month.

I know what you mean about the Eleanor Roosevelt quote, but when people say things like that to me, it gets to me also. I just try not to let it get to me for too long! And I come here where I know you guys will understand.

Thinking of you,

[nanawaggs]

Good Morning, Songbird...

I can understand how you feel. Just yesterday I told my husband that lately I just don't have that "get up and go" that I just to. I know part of the problem is that I get up so much during the night to "go" and all I can remember about the night is waking up to "go" so many times. Are you getting enough sleep? Is it good sleep?

We babysit our 5 YO grandson 5 days a week, picking him up to go to school, picking him up after, and keep him until 6 pm or so when either mom or dad get home. When my daughter asks for the occasional break so she can do housework, I feel guilty that I just don't have the energy to keep going. I know in a heartbeat we would raise that little guy 24/7 if something ever happened to his parents, but sometimes the energy just doesn't seem to be there as I would like it to be right now. Like Maryla, I wonder what I'm going to be like at 83??? I am now 60 and for the past 2 years dealing with these IC symptoms, but still in the process of diagnosis so am not taking meds....diet really seems to help a lot with pain, but the nighttime nightmare of no sleep is wearing me down.

Will keep you in my prayers for that extra boost of energy.:pray: and that you won't beat yourself up for feeling tired. Hope today is a good one.

Ginger

[suncaro23]

Hey Everyone,
I can so relate to the tiredness. Even just 4 months ago, I had a great deal more energy than I have now. Last year at this time, I was constantly making weekend plans, and now I just want to stay home. Up until the end of this summer, if I could choose something to do, it would have been to go for a long hike with my dogs and my family. Now, I don't want to travel too far from the car, because I know how exhausted I will be coming back. If we do venture out, I am shot for the rest of the day when I get home. My husband told me that he has seen a serious decline in my capabilities in the last few months, and I know he's right. However, I am looking at it as temporary. I am doing everything I can to get myself better, and I know it will start working at some point. I think too many years of getting up over and over and over is just really taking its toll for the time being.
We all just have to know that things can get better! And it is true that I actually feel less stressed in general now that I know that I simply cannot accomplish all that I used to. I do what I can, and someday I'll be able to do more.
dawnja

[statesboro]

I can relate. It can suck, too. Oh! I have been told CFS before. Yep! I still manage to work 40 hours, but I do take Provigil sometimes. Oh! I can usually stay asleep once I get to sleep, but I may feel like I slept 4 or 5 hours only. I am gonna try to nap now. I am supposed to be at work at 6:00.(until 2:00) Ok. I feel like I will be able to. I don't even travel much any longer. I happen to be a war veteran, but I did not know about IC back then. (and no need to) Ok. I better let that be all now.

[songbird7]

Thank you everyone for helping me not feel alone with this. I think a good way for me to look at this is respecting my limitations. If someone doesn't understand, well I can't control that especially if they know about IC. I am so sorry for those here in long term pain and wakefulness. Actually I don't get up to pee as much as I used to and nap during the day but not enough to spoil sleep.
Caring and blessings to everyone here. :pray:

[nottoc4]

Struggling with pain is tiring. It takes all our energy.