Author Topic: Bone tired.. (Read 6714 times)

tigger2376 · « **on:** February 28, 2007, 07:19:07 pm »

Over last week have got intimately involved with my duvet as everythings a REAL effort. Went to theatre last nite and its wiped me out. Have slept almost all day and am crawling back in my pit as soon as I've posted this. I've heard other people talk about how tired they get and I'll usualy nap in the afternoons but this feels like I've moved house EVERY day for last month. Everything aches. Viral load only up by 15 (not 15,000) just 15 and cd4 ok.Any ideas on how to cope or make it easier? My doc just says its something I have to deal with but I feel 100!

koi1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2007, 08:14:36 pm »

I feel very tired as well. I usually come home at about 5 or 6:00 in the evening and I am super tired. My cd4s are low though, and I don't know if this fatigue will get better as that improves. However I can totally identify with you, how tired you feel, how you feel like you have been doin' hard labor. I am a lower grade teacher
and it gets exhausting, even though I love my job. I have noticed the tiredness for about two years now, but I always thought, oh well I am not in my twenties anymore, but it has been getting worse. I hope people chime in with good news about this. But my friend has told me that this a comon symptom of fighting the virus, and of course the meds.

rob

Robert · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2007, 08:47:38 pm »

Hi tigger.

I can't remember. Are you on meds now? And for how long? In addition to low t-cells, I think meds contribute a lot to fatigue. Sure, there are the initial side effects of nausea, dreams, skin discoloration, etc but these are relatively short-lived. But I found the fatigue factor doesn't peak for another 18 months or so. I remember it had been a year and a half and I was in the back yard working and I was so tired I didn't even have the energy to walk inside and lay down on the sofa. I got as far as the sidewalk, laid down on the warm cement, closed my eyes and fell asleep. Scared the bejesus out of my partner. He thought I had gone to see the big kahuna in the sky.

I've been on meds a little over 3 years now and I still have to take my naps everyday.

robert

koi1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2007, 09:00:36 pm »

Yeah Robert,

I have never been a napper. But my best sleep is achieved with a nap, right before I have to take my meds. I think it is at this point that the lowest concentration of drugs is in my system. I love my naps.

rob

tigger2376 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2007, 09:09:30 pm »

Its only been 6 months and I've changed meds 3 times,had PCP and stephens-johnsons so its probably no real surprise that my body has screamed for mercy! Its really screwing with my sleep patterns too. The doc offered me sleeping pills but think quite enough toxins floating about right now! Does forcing yourself to do more exercise help? i'm also getting real chocolate cravings...not just the usual greed but reall 'must have ems'
My Cd4 is 347 and VL 65,perfectly Ok so maybe its just a culmination of all thats happened. Could it also be that I've really cut down on a bottle of wine a night habit? sorry,after 5 years I feel I should be more informed but all comments gratefully accepted.
HIV is just like Santa..it keeps on giving

ndrew · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2007, 12:25:27 am »

Hi there,

Yeah it sounds like yer body is in recovery mode. I think chocolate is part of a healthy diet and a little caffeine in it or green tea might perk you up in the morning. Dark chocolate has antioxidative things like flavonoids.

Excercise definately gives me energy as well.

In fact... I am going to make some hot chocolate right now! http://www.chocolate.org/health/antioxidants.html

Get yer rest, eat well and I hope you feel better soon!

Cheers,
Drew

DanielMark · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2007, 05:33:51 am »

Tigger,

Over the past 18 years since my diagnosis, I've learned the importance of "listening" to messages my body sends me at any given time.

In addition to the workload of the medical changes your body is handling, cutting down on your nightly wine intake is probably / definitely linked to your cravings for chocolate too.

Chocolate and Craving
There May Be a Relation with Alcohol

For years people have claimed to be addicted to chocolate and now there is new scientific evidence that reveals some addictive qualities in the tasty treat. The same alkaloid compounds found in alcohol are also present in chocolate, researchers say. (see: tetrahydro-beta-carbolines)

Exercise might help get you get back on an even keel. I usually find walking beneficial for most any ailment - it's easy to do and releases those feel-good endorphins without any harmful side effects.

Daniel

mjmel · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2007, 06:24:56 am »

Quote from: ndrew on March 01, 2007, 12:25:27 am

Hi there,...
Exercise definitely gives me energy as well.
...
Cheers,
Drew

I want to make a comment or two on advice in ndrews' post. This is surprising but working out in a gym or an at-home routine is excellent energy restorer. Join a gym if you can afford the expense and can find the time. It will give you more energy. Doesn't seem like it would work since that tired and fatigue feeling lurks around you like a somber shadow. But time and time again the following method has worked for me, as well. If you push past "tired" with physical activity it will lessen considerably or go away completely. If you work out after a 9-5 job hours you will find yourself going home with more energy than you previously felt. Of course I am suggesting something reasonable to your own body conditions and using some good ole common sense in your workouts.
My job is to take care of a few animals we have and do outside and inside maintenance on our small farm. I am not young; neither very old...at 56, and HIV+ for 17 yrs. Sometimes it's tough getting out the door into the active mode especially when I'm having a particular bad episode of fatigue. (Two hours after I awake on some days!) I found exercises/physical activity does restore my endurance level and sense of well-being.
Day nap (or two) helps me too. I do one daily......around midday.

Hope all who experience it find some relief from this fatigueness. Likewise, hope my post has been a bit helpful.

tigger2376 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2007, 06:41:11 am »

Am trying to stay awake all day today to force my body back into a routine
If I'm still online in an hour I'll be the one glued to her keyboard by drool, snoring, (in a ladylike fashion,of course)

Thanks guys, It all helps
x

rick21007 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2007, 07:38:43 am »

I gotta agree with mjmel and drew that daily exercise can lessen fatigue. After a nasty bout with acute hep B last spring I got into hiking last summer to get my energy and stamina back and it made a big difference. In November I came down with an OI that knocked me down again for a couple of months. Since Januarys here are not conducive to outdoor activity unless you are up on the ski slopes I started going to the gym every morning. Am finally enjoying being healthy again and having plenty of energy. It also makes a big difference in how I handle stress too.

Rick

tigger2376 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2007, 06:30:22 pm »

House now in a fit state for the queen to eat off the floor! Really made me feel better, probably emotionally too coz I been kind of neglecting things. Only had an hour nap and don't feel so muzzy. Still like a truck has hit me physically but realise its going to take time.
I appreciate all the help guys
One more thing, (sorry) does anyone else get quite wide ranging weight gain/loss very suddenly on meds? Am carrying a bit more than I should right now,(cookie addiction doesn't help), but seriously I can gain/lose 8 pounds in a 2-3 week period without altering my diet or lifestyle.

red_Dragon888 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2007, 07:23:17 pm »

I have been tired lately since I had started Atripla. My afternoon blabs have gotten worst and only at near bed time do I feel awake. But I heard that naps can be good for the heart. Take that what you may.
Brod

BKNYLivin · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2007, 09:41:22 pm »

Thanks for this thread. Been really tired since diagnosis, also had chocolate cravings like crazy, and I was never a chocolate person, but I had cut out the wine. Now that the Atripla side effects are settling down after 2 weeks, I have been exhausted all this week(which is a disappointment 'coz I got an energy boost the first couple of days) and have to take naps. Little things like grocery shopping seem to wipe me out. I've also lost 5 pounds this week - I figured it had to be related to the meds somehow.

Life · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2007, 09:51:18 pm »

I listen and I learn. So far I have been lucky I guess. I hold down two jobs, work 80+ hours a week. Sleep 8 hours a night and have been doing this for about six years now... I figure, if I rest, I rust. The doctor knows what I am doing and he makes no big deal about it. I figure when my second mortgage is done in a year, I will slow it down a bit... But when you see the interest rates those bastards are charging me, I want it done. I also find if I have to much down time, I tend to think a bit to much of doom and gloom. I wonder where my cd4 count would be if I worked like a normal human being... Ill never know... Not for awhile... A fear of not being able to do what I do is always a lurker in the back of my mind...

Rightbrain · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2007, 02:17:20 am »

Tigger, I'm taking Atripla. About a year ago I started feeling bone tired too. My numbers were very close to yours. I knew they were too healthy for the fatigue to be an infection and I had no other symptoms other than having turned into a zombie. Turns out that my testosterone level had plummeted. Now I replace it and feel well again. If I forget the Androgel for a few days I start feeling tired again. I think you should have yours checked. It doesn't sound like the kind of fatigue caused by a glass of wine or lack of exercise to me.

Yours,

brother joe

gardner · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2007, 09:12:22 am »

I don't think winter helps much. When it's warm and the sun is up early and goes down late there is more opportunity to take advantage of my "up time".

tigger2376 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2007, 08:52:20 am »

Have had my hormone levels checked JIC it was the menopause but no,not that easy.
Couldn't sleep til 3.30am today despite body screaming at me, flesh is willing, mind running like a hamster on a wheel!
Going to try to get in touch with a shiatsu practioner who I used to get courses of 6 weekly treatments from free on NHS, but its now going to cost me £40 a throw and can only afford this very rarely.
I think everyone can see from my posts, I've got myself into a bit of a vicious circle. Tired, so sleep, sleep too much in day, can't sleep at night. Stay awake all day and feel like shit, STILL can't sleep at night because I'm worrying!
Know I'm doing it, but how do you break it?
At this rate I'm going to turn into a new species,with a bed surgically attatched to my ass!

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Author Topic: Bone tired.. (Read 6714 times)