Author Topic: Fatigue; non-med related. (Read 5078 times)

Tar Heel · « **on:** December 23, 2006, 09:23:54 am »

I've been poz for a year and a half and over the last few weeks have been totally wiped out. I'm not on meds and my last blood work looked good with no signs of anemia. I go back for a re-check in 3 weeks.

But is it normal to have such fatigue if your numbers look good (CD4 was 696, VL was 27K) and if you are not on meds?

I'm not really stressed about the holidays or my job.

Ideas/suggestions??

skeebo1969 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:45:36 am »

My Cd4's were around the same ballpark that yours are in, but my viral load was quite high. I felt fatigue practically all the time since seroconverting. I actually thought something else was wrong with me since April 30, 2005. I had no idea I was positive til September 2005. Your fatigue might just be due to the HIV. Could also be stress related caused by just knowing your pos.. Are you getting a full nights sleep? Have you discussed this with your doctor?

Thomas

skeebo1969 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:49:12 am »

Ooops sorry I just reread your post and saw it has just been occuring the last few weeks.. When were your last labs done? It might just be possible that your Vl is increasing.. I know for me I felt fatigued even when my VL hit an all time low of 8,000. It's incredible how much better I have been feeling this last month since starting meds.

Thomas

Tar Heel · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2006, 10:13:32 am »

I sleep like a baby, my appetite is great. I just feel wiped out at the end of every day and want to stay in bed all the time. i don't think it's depression (Prozac is a wonder drug.)

I go to my ID doc every 4 months and go back the 2nd week of Jan.

I'm just wondering if I need to think about starting meds.

skeebo1969 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2006, 11:12:21 am »

As long as your numbers stay where they are I wouldn't. Generally the norm to start meds is when your Cd4 repeatedly is in the 300-350 range and your Vl is constantly above 100,000... Not just meaning one set of labs either... right now your numbers are great! Take your vitamins! Also just curious did you just recently start the Prozac. I know when I started taking Paxil it kind of screwed with my energy levels in the beginning and then everything just leveled off back to normal.

Ultimately the choice is yours... make sure to tell your doctor about the fatigue at your next visit.

Thomas

Tar Heel · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2006, 11:14:46 am »

Quote from: skeebo1969 on December 23, 2006, 11:12:21 am

Also just curious did you just recently start the Prozac. I know when I started taking Paxil it kind of screwed with my energy levels in the beginning and then everything just leveled off back to normal.

Nah, I've been on the Prozac for 10+ years. I've tried to go off it a few times but was so ill, I couldn't stand myself.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2006, 01:37:28 pm »

I'm glad you're having a checkup. There has to be an explanation. Why not call your doctor now and just discuss it, instead of waiting another couple of weeks?

What are your eating habits like? Good nutrition or what? There might be some very simple explanation and just for your own peace of mind I say give Dr. Feelgood a call and tell him what's up.

And in any case, if you need the rest, get it. It's good to listen to your body.

Keep us posted.

Cheers,

PositivelyYours · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2006, 02:46:09 pm »

Hello,

I have experience some fatigue and I think it just goes along with being HIV Positive. You know this virus is working 24/7, so it drains the body. Some days I feel like I have been hit by two dump trucks. During your next visit with your doctor just let him or her know. Try to hang in there and think positive - You will be just fine.

PositivelyYours

Quote from: Tar Heel on December 23, 2006, 09:23:54 am

I've been poz for a year and a half and over the last few weeks have been totally wiped out. I'm not on meds and my last blood work looked good with no signs of anemia. I go back for a re-check in 3 weeks.

But is it normal to have such fatigue if your numbers look good (CD4 was 696, VL was 27K) and if you are not on meds?

I'm not really stressed about the holidays or my job.

Ideas/suggestions??

Queen Tokelove · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2006, 03:12:19 pm »

Hmmm, I would talk to your doc like Andy suggested and see what he says. I know I'm usually tired all day everyday but I guess it's due to being anemic, diabetic, and poz...Go figure but there are times when I have to motivate myself to do things. But things affect us all differently.

poet · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2006, 05:12:58 pm »

I'm looking at a checklist, if you will. You are sleeping as needed. You have a good appetite and I assume that you are eating what you need to give you energy? You don't think that it's S.A.D. You did say, though:

I just feel wiped out at the end of every day and want to stay in bed all the time. i don't think it's depression

Is your workload overwhelming at the moment? Too much work after too many years of the same? The 'want to stay in bed all the time' of course triggers the depression question. Since you are the expert on this via work (and I work with the mentally challenged, but...) do you like your work still? Time for a change? Or could your meds. have reached the point we see in our patients that it's no longer working at the current dose? Win

Robert · « **Reply #10 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:48:42 pm »

Have you had your thyroid checked lately? The thyroid produces hormones that affect your body's metabolism and energy level. It's easy to check and easy to fix. When you see your Dr. next time ask him to check your TSH. A high number indicates an underactive thyroid. A low number indicates an overactive thyroid. Either way, the symptoms are chronic fatigue and anxiety.

robert

Rightbrain · « **Reply #11 on:** December 23, 2006, 11:42:56 pm »

Hi, I agree with Robert. Have your thyroid checked. Also have your testosterone checked. I have had fatigue from both, and it can be nasty.

Best wishes,

brother joe

sdcabincrew74 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:28:17 am »

Um, depression? It is that time of year.....maybe just too busy and stressed?

Eldon · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2006, 02:53:04 am »

Yes, I AM Supporting You!

Hey Tar Heel...

It is GOOD to hear from you! As for your situation, stress and anxiety does play a role with your energy levels. However, as you have mentioned your stress levels are really low. In this case, you may want to consider taking notes of when you are fatigued and if it is after some form of activity that you are doing.

When you go back to your Doctor you may want to discuss with him/her any other symptoms that may present this to you. There was a topic that was discussed in the earlier months concerning fatigue and testosterone. You may want to read up on this as well as there were a number of replies there.

"Don't You Dare Give Up, Don't You Dare Give In...Because It Is ALL Within YOU to WIN!!!"

Tar Heel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2006, 07:02:26 am »

I've worked in mental health- it's not depression.

Thyroid is fine. I had a TSH done 3 months ago. I have not have a testosterone level done tho. That might be on the agenda for my upcoming visit.

Boo Radley · « **Reply #15 on:** December 24, 2006, 11:52:07 am »

In 1994 I started feeling wiped out all the time even though my CD4 was in the 500 - 600 range. I asked for an accommodation at work and worked at home several hours each week and fewer hours on the job. This seemed to help until I contracted chronic Hepatitis B in November, 2001. I left my job on January 29, 2002 and spent the next 2 - 3 years sleeping 12 - 18 hours every day.

In January my hep test came back negative (the 3TC in Trizivir also works against hep) and for a while I psyched myself up into thinking I had more energy. By the end of May I was so exhausted it took a couple of months to get back to "normal." My psychiatrist (not my ID doc) prescribed Adderall and without it I can't make it through an entire day.

I see my ID doc next week and am asking for thyroid and testosterone tests since I haven't had either checked in about 10 years. I woke up at 7AM and it's only 11AM now and I could easily plop into bed and sleep.

Good luck!

Boo

lonbjny · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:33:17 pm »

Hey,

we have been positive for a similar amount of time (under 3 years). I experienced fatigue from months 12-24 and have recently come out of it in the past 4 months. I used to just want to sleep all the time. Even eating made me tired.

I thought it would never end. But it did. I paid more attention to my diet, gave up coffee, cut out a lot of sugar. I am not convinced that was what improved things. Overall I feel like I have just entered a different cycle of the illness. I just wanted you to know that things may just get better as your body learns to deal with the disease. So still look for a reason for the fatigue, but if you can just hold out for a while you might be pleasantly surprised.

Best of luck,

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Author Topic: Fatigue; non-med related. (Read 5078 times)