Lupus

I am having a lot of problems with fatigue. I wake up tired and then feel alittle better than after my shower I am so tired again. By 3 in the afternoon I am so tired that I get light headed and have blurred vision. Some times I will crash for an hour and then wake up feeling hung over but then have a hard time going back to sleep at night. So sometimes I will sleep a lot and sometimes I have a hard time sleeping even though I feel exhausted. Does anyone deal with this? How do you cope?

Tina

The only thing that seems to help with the fatigue is when my dr. is able to come up with the right combo of meds which bring the Lupus under control. I've been very very fortunate these past few years that when I feel a flare coming on we can nip it in the bud with prednisone. Having said that I remember setting my alarm for 3am so that I could take my prednisone so it would kick in enough that I could get out of bed a few hours latter to get ready for work. I also used to get up early to take a lay-down after getting ready. .. then I'd take naps in the lunch room at break time.

I'm taking a low dose of pred. now which causes me to have difficulty staying asleep. I take a herb that is a combination of the following:

• valerian Root 97 mg
• passion flower herb 89 mg
• black cohosh root 78 mg
• hops flowers 72 mg
• catnip leaves & flowers 56 mg
• wood betony leaves 48 mg

I also put lavender on my pillow and in my bath water.

I share this information with my doctor who knows I also see a naturopath.He's never had a problem with me taking supplements or herbs. There is another doctor that I had to see when he was away and we just about came to blows. It wasn't that she took issue with on particular supplement or I was taking - she was very negative about complementary treatments and made a couple of comments that were very offensive to me and insulting to the naturopath. Our conversation wasn't pretty and I refuse to see her again (she likely feels the same about me!)

I hope you are able to get some quality sleep very soon,

Jo

I think it is sad when Dr.s are so closed to the idea of complementary medicines.Mine is very good about it and says that he personally does not believe in them but he believes strongly that relaxation/lessening of stress is real important too so, if the effect of using complementary methods is beneficial in obtaining this, then he is all for it.I tried reflexology the other day and it was wonderful.

Katie

I've been going for reflexology for close to a year and just love it. After a treatment I come home and sleep like a baby.  When my hands are feeling strong enough and I can reach my feet with comfort I will massage my own feet (although it isn't quite the same).

I've gone for body massages but no matter how gentle they are I always feel beat up for a few days after. I don't feel that way after reflexology.  When I first started to go he could barely touch my feet without me experiencing discomfort of some sort - as time passed they have loosened up and he can really work on them without having discomfort.

There are 2 reflexologists I see (depending on who is available when I can come in). One works on both hands and feet.

As a point of interest (nothing to do with Lupus) I broke my arm when I was 13. Since that time I've never been able to fully straighten my left arm. About a month ago I realized that I am able to straighten in completely. I'm positive it's to do with the reflexology - there is no other reason why, after 32 yrs the arm would suddenly straighten. And the funny thing is that I'd just adapted to it - it wasn't even a concern.

Jo