Mandy, THANK YOU so much for a wonderful article! The way you described your experience of MS fatigue is just perfect. When I tried to describe it to my doctors, I really wasn't able to put it into words. When I go back in a few weeks I may print your article and give it to them: "Here, this describes it much better than I can." Thank you also for being so open about sharing your personal medical battles. Your willingness to do this helps others.
My neurologist thinks it's MS, or at least she is very keen on ruling it out. Pretty much everything else has been ruled out at this point, with all the blood tests, etc, being normal. So, I go for the brain and spine MRI in a few weeks. I had a brain MRI several years ago, during my first attack, and there was one white spot on it...not enough to make the diagnosis. This latest attack, though, has been a doozy, so I'm guessing that the MRI will show more than 1 spot.
You and a reader had expressed interest in the fatigue symptoms of others. Well, I'm not technically diagnosed with MS at this point, but I'll describe what happens to me. A recent example was when I began to vacuum the house. I pushed the (light and easy to maneuver) vacuum into the den and then said to myself, "I'm a little tired, so I think I'll just sit here and rest for a couple of minutes." Well, within about 5 minutes I was unable to get off the couch and felt like I was being held down with lead weights. I wasn't asleep, but my eyes were closed and I did not have the energy to move. I stayed there for half an hour until my wife helped me to bed. Sometimes, as you described, I'll be sitting at work in front of the computer and it's like someone unplugged my power cord. I just sit and stare for a few minutes, and then struggle to keep awake...sometimes successfully, usually not. And, it's not just being sleepy but it also carries with it a mental fog with some confusion and a lot of trouble concentrating. As I also have issues with numbness and "pins and needles" sensations (along with awful coordination, difficulty walking, etc), my wife will ask me if I'm having a "numb and dumb" period when she notices me weaving up the hallway or sitting and staring into space.
Again, thank you so much, Mandy, for sharing this part of yourself with others and may God bless you!
Phil
Phil,
Wow -- your symptoms sound very familiar to me. I have found fatigue to be the most dibilitating of MS symptoms, as well as the most difficult to describe. Most people just don't understand the full extent of it.
You are going through what I consider to be the worst phase of MS -- the build up to diagnosis, and the fear that you might never get there. Obviously, I don't know if it is MS, for sure but your symptoms are dead on.
I sincerely hope that an answer is at hand for you. By all means, take my article if it helps to describe your symptoms. I think the best way to a diagnosis is to document symptoms on a daily basis and bring all prior test results.
I wish you the best of luck. Please... would you come back here (or send me an email -- mandycane@comcast.net) and let us know how you are doing. What helps one of us helps us all.
Happy new year to you.
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Hello Mandy. So sorry to here things are on a bit of a down-turn right now. I too will remain hopeful that your fatigue only sticks around for about 2 or 3 weeks. I suspect by now you have a bit of a rountine for living with MS and its symptoms. You know your limits and you only push so far. Seems logical. But as I typed my previous sentence I wonder if it feels different each time the fatigue takes over? I guess MS tired is MS tired - and there is just no getting around it.
Looking forward to hearing that you are on an up-swing and your energy is back on track soon.
All the best, sue
Sue, in my experience, the fatigue problem is a double-edged sword. There is the fatigue of body, which makes me feel as though I am morbidly obese and trying to get around. Mind you, I'm a fairly thin person, but everything about me feels so heavy that it is exhausting to move about.
Then there's the sleepiness, which sets in at the most inopportune times. It comes on so strongly that I am powerless in it's grasp. Sleep just has it's way.
It's always the same for me, but like I always say, my MS is not like anyone else's.
I'd love to hear from others regarding their particular fatigue. Readers?
I agree. I too would love to hear from some of our members on their symptoms.
All the best, s