Ways to combat fatigue

[trinitygrace]

Like I've posted on here before, I am suffering from what I think is chronic fatique syndrome (CFS). I have no idea if is that or not or low blood sugar or an underactive throid or a low blood count. I am currently having my blood tested. The results are not back yet.

Is there anything you all do to combat fatigue, especially when you first wake up in the morning? When I first wake up, all I can think about is going back to sleep. Please let me know how you wake up and stay awake and get energized for you day. Thanks!

 

[youthwalk]

Honestly sometimes nothing works but I find that playing Gospel definitely gives me the lift I need to get out of bed. Once I'm out of bed I try to eat because for some reson that helps too...something sweet or liquid. Chewing makes me even more exhausted and sometimes it makes me feel like crying so I go with sweet, for the sugar and liquid so it goes down easy. But Sweetie, music does help me. Something that reminds me that God's there.

 

[praying_hoping]

Hi Trinitygrace-This is probably not the best advice but I start out with a big mug of coffee for a caffeine fix. Then I drink a whole bottle of water because coffee can dehydrate you and that can leave you feeling tired. I then usually have 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with peanut butter or a bowl of whole grain Cheerios for some energy producing good carbs. Then I take my vitamins. This almost always works for me. Blessings to you!

 

[inHisgripkim]

Like I've posted on here before, I am suffering from what I think is chronic fatique syndrome (CFS). I have no idea if is that or not or low blood sugar or an underactive throid or a low blood count. I am currently having my blood tested. The results are not back yet.

Is there anything you all do to combat fatigue, especially when you first wake up in the morning? When I first wake up, all I can think about is going back to sleep. Please let me know how you wake up and stay awake and get energized for you day. Thanks!

Trinity:

I'd like to see what the test results tell you before giving advice.

For a low thyroid, take Kelp tablets to increase iodine. We don't get enough iodine in our diets and iodine keeps the thyroid gland functioning. Use sea salt.

Low blood sugar. Take cinnamon caps with your meals. It helps regulate blood sugar. Eat smaller meals at night and try not to eat before you go to bed.

Ginko Tea is awesome for clear and cloudy head. Green tea also helpful.

For chronic fatique sydrome ( I believe that is attributed to a virus) take IP6 or an immune boosting herbal complex. Colostrum caps (goat milk derived) is on the market and is the first mother's milk full of antibodies needed to battle pathogens (virus and bacteria).

Eat more protien and less carbs. Carbs make you sleepy and cause spikes in blood glucose levels. When I eat sugar or anything high in carbs, I want to curl up and go to sleep.

I work a 10-hour shift and I have a four-hour round trip commute. I average maybe five hours of sleep until my days off. With the supplementation I take, I remain alert throughout the shift.

Worth a try.

lol kim

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

In the mornings, I open the blinds and let sunshine in, listen to upbeat music, and drink caffiene (but never more than 1-2 caffienated beverages). Taking a shower or working out also helps wake me up.

However, back when I was depressed, I would get exhausted and go right back to sleep after showering or working out. I don't know what happened to make things change but for whatever reason those things now energize me instead of draining away all of my energy.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Hi Trinitygrace-This is probably not the best advice but I start out with a big mug of coffee for a caffeine fix. Then I drink a whole bottle of water because coffee can dehydrate you and that can leave you feeling tired. I then usually have 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with peanut butter or a bowl of whole grain Cheerios for some energy producing good carbs. Then I take my vitamins. This almost always works for me. Blessings to you!

Haha I do the water with coffee thing, too. And I take vitamins as well.

 

[trinitygrace]

What awesome suggestions! Thanks you guys for all of your help. This morning when I woke up, I of course, slept in like I always do, but I took a shower and the warm water really woke me up. I'm thinking I should hop in the shower first and just let the water rinse me off, then work out, then shower. I know that sounds crazy, but the shower really gets me going. Working out actually doesn't to that extent.
Thanks again for all of your great tips. I will definitely keep those in mind by listening to upbeat Christian music, eating a good breakfast, taking a shower, working out, and taking vitamins. I think I do have a vitamin defiency in my body.

 

[newyorknewyork]

a huge big cup or coffee or tea

 

[bfly]

Trinity until the test come back, all we know is you are too tired to get up. What ever the reason, I think we should pray.

Lord, your child is sick, I ask you to touch her and give her strength to get out of bed and do her daily chores.

Lord, we don't what is wrong, but You know and we are believing that you will provide her the strength she is asking for. Lord, show her special favor during this time. Lift her spirit and give her freedom from whatever is sapping her strength. In Jesus' name , I pray. amen

 

[BearerBob]

Starting to exercise is the best thing you can do. Even if it is very little, but everyday, it can do wonders for your energy.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Starting to exercise is the best thing you can do. Even if it is very little, but everyday, it can do wonders for your energy.

I agree with this. There was one week this year where I did not exercise at all. By the end of that week, I felt SO bad - fatigued and just not myself. I started exercising like normal the next week and immediately started feeling better.

Hmm. I was just thinking... I joined my gym at the beginning of 2005, about two months before I was taken off of antidepressants. Going to the gym was basically the ONLY thing I would do back then... as in, 2-3 days a week, I would wake up and spend the whole day trying to get enough energy to get myself to the gym. The rest of the week I would just lay around and do nothing (I wasn't taking classes then). So I think that exercising helped me get out of my depression.. but it took a few months before I really started to notice a difference. I also remember that my joint pains stopped being so severe once I had been exercising regularly for a while. I still have pains from time to time, but nothing like I did in 2004.

 

[trinitygrace]

Yay!!! I'm sooo happy! Today, I actually got up BEFORE my alarm went off. I worked out, took a shower, ate breakfast, and got to work at 9 a.m.! That never happens! I know it was all because of your awesome prayers!! Thank you guys sooo much! I hope to continue this! I didn't even feel tired hardly at all today. Only after I ate fried bread and a salad for lunch. I heard carbs can make you tired. However, I got a lot done and got off early and feel great, not tired. That's the first time in like months I've felt not tired and exhausted. THANK YOU GUYS SOOO MUCH FOR YOUR AWESOME PRAYERS! PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD AND DOES ANSWER PRAYER AND GIVE STRENGTH TO THE WEAK!!

 

[snowy27]

I agree with this. There was one week this year where I did not exercise at all. By the end of that week, I felt SO bad - fatigued and just not myself. I started exercising like normal the next week and immediately started feeling better.

Hmm. I was just thinking... I joined my gym at the beginning of 2005, about two months before I was taken off of antidepressants. Going to the gym was basically the ONLY thing I would do back then... as in, 2-3 days a week, I would wake up and spend the whole day trying to get enough energy to get myself to the gym. The rest of the week I would just lay around and do nothing (I wasn't taking classes then). So I think that exercising helped me get out of my depression.. but it took a few months before I really started to notice a difference. I also remember that my joint pains stopped being so severe once I had been exercising regularly for a while. I still have pains from time to time, but nothing like I did in 2004.

Good onya Trinity Grace, sounds like you are doing great.
In reply to maycontainnuts I've noticed that getting into a routine of exercising helps heaps too. I was really interested in how you said your joint pains improved as your depression improved. I have found the same thing, but I didn't realise that joint pains could be related to depression. Can they?

 

[trinitygrace]

I even woke up today (Saturday) at like 6:30 after sleeping for like 10 hours. I exercised doing Core Secrets. It's pretty easy, but I do feel it is working. I hope to continue getting up early and doing my exercise plan to keep up my energy. Thank you all again for your great advice and prayers!

 

[trinitygrace]

I just wanted to add to my last post that I received my results back from my blood test. They tested my blood count and my thyroid. All came back normal. Thank God nothing is wrong there! It must just be me struggling with the depression. I read somewhere that springtime is the peak time for depression. I always thought it was fall, when things start to wither. Anyways, I'm thankful it's not anything in my blood. Thanks again guys for everything!

 

[maze77]

Spring always picks me up. Jan. Feb. are pretty depressing months.
I used to have problems with my energy level aswell.
What I did was...
Started running again on a regular basis, 3 to 4 times a week. its hard to get started, but it gets easier.
Started eating better, Eat your fruits and veggies.
Definatly avoid junk food whenever you can.
Pineapple seems to pick me up by leaps and bounds for some reason.
It takes motivation to get out of a funk, and its not always easy. Pray alot and try to be postive, no matter how hard it can be sometimes.
Like the nike ads say "Just Do It"
Lifes a Garden Dig it!
Good Luck

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I didn't realise that joint pains could be related to depression. Can they?

Yes, it has been suggested that real chronic pain, such as the joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, can contribute to or cause depression. The opposite can also be said; for example, psychosomatic disorders are real physical illnesses which are caused by psychological factors. A tension headache is an example of a real headache caused by muscle contractions brought on by stress. In addition, there are somatoform disorders, such as hypochondria, in which a patient experiences physical symtoms, but there is no evidence of a physical cause of those symtoms.

I was really interested in how you said your joint pains improved as your depression improved.

Exercise creates endorphins, which are the body's natural pain medicine. I do not think my joint pains were directly related to my depression because I've experienced joint pains since I was in first grade, long before I was depressed. My arthralgias began right after I had Lyme disease in first grade and they continue to this day, even though my depression is long gone. In the past, I noticed that whenever I had to go to physical therapy, it seemed like my depression always lifted a little, in addition to my joints feeling better. My physical therapist is actually the person who recommended the gym I go to now.

Anyway, exercise can help to relieve both pain and depression. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic about the relationship between exercise, anxiety, and depression:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043