Help with fatigue?

[dizzy dame]

Have any of you found anything that helps with the fatigue, or as I call it lack of energy. If you have please share!

I am having to force myself to do the simplest of chores lately. Just want to sit down and forget about the cleaning, cooking and all other mundane things.

DD

[tcmgpt13]

Hi dd.

In my case testing for some viral herpes infections and then taking some acyclovir for a period of time (he wanted two years, but the side effects saw me quit after 18 months) helped me. Anyway I am not saying everyone will have reactivated viral infections but these types of infections may be good to rule in or rule out. Epstein Barr is a biggie for some with chronic fatigue symptoms.

Next the fact is that the majority Morgellons patients who have been tested by those practitioners conducting small studies of Morgellons have tested positive for lyme. Lyme is known to have accompanying symptoms of chronic fatigue and so looking into how people are treating chronic fatigue and chronic lyme fatigue may also be useful. At the end of this post is a short article which discusses very briefly the issues which should be investigated when experiencing fatigue symptoms along with some links which lead to more information about chronic fatigue.

Personally I find daily use of a good b multiple vitamin with 100mg extra of niacin (I use regular niacin as specified by my doctor, not the no flush kind) helps with the fatigue symptoms.

Also as already mentioned the acyclovir did help some of my fatigue symptoms as well. Fatigue just hit me over the head when I had the violent onset of my Morgellons symptoms. I had already had some fatigue issues, but this was much, much worse.

Aceytl-L-carnitine is another supplement which may help. Some information from a source which does NOT sell this supplement.

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD

If you have health insurance I suggest seeing an infectious disease doctor about possible infections you may have in addition to whatever Morgellons may be. If you test positive you can at least be treated for those. IMHO any improvement is welcome. While it may not be the total answer it could be a place to start to feel better.

Also I would check thyroid function. Finding a doctor who uses other thyroid medications besides just synthroid is helpful, as regular doctors who think synthroid is THE answer often miss cases of borderline hypothyroidism. Here's a source for searching for more alternative doctors along with comments from patients who have gone to them:

Thyroid Top Doctors -- Best Thyroid Doctors in the World as Nominated by Patients, from Mary Shomon


Lyme Disease Symptoms - Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by Lyme disease patients, and it can be prolonged and very debilitating. This fatigue can be accompanied by either excessive sleeping or insomnia. Some patients may experience the fatigue intermittently or after exertion, while others may be bedridden. Lyme disease fatigue is NOT the same as simply being tired from overwork or stress. Much like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme often causes a profound exhaustion that is significantly worse than what is seen in other illnesses.

Fatigue is common in Lyme disease because energy is being used to battle the systemic infection. Therefore, antibiotics can play an important role in the treatment. Other causes of fatigue, such as anemia, sleep apnea, hormonal disturbances and lifestyle factors should also be evaluated.
Links:

Provigil Found To Relieve Fatigue
Antidepressants for chronic fatigue
Fatigue & NSAIDS
Activene
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Intro
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
Ideas on Minimizing Fatigue
Sleep Disorders
Fatigue Overview
Cordyceps
Chi Vitalizer
Physical Therapy for Lyme
Fatigue Abstracts
Aspartame is toxic
Nutritional Immune Modulations
Fatigue Lab Assessments
Sleep Disorder Lab Assessments
L-Carnitine
Amazon Thunder Acai
Xango Juice
CoQ10 for Fatigue
More on CoQ10
DHEA, Melatonin & Fatigue
Understanding B-12
Superfood
Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs
The B Vitamins
Fatigue Illness Research
Fatigue and Household Chemicals

[dizzy dame]

Thank for the info TC. I am reading. DD

[jonsi]

Hi dd,

I still struggle when it come to getting my chores done. Something simple that might help is to turn on some music you enjoy...

Part of my treatment was figuring our what foods I was allergic to.

Good luck! tcm gave you a lot of information & I hope you find something there.

In the white light,
~jonsi

[tcmgpt13]

Here's an interesting article about fatigue by a doctor who is also on the board of the Morgellons Research Foundation. If you live in Santa Barbara where he practices he may be someone to contact for help:

A List of Diagnoses for Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Pain

This is a Partial List of Potential Causes of Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Pain

Bradley Hope,

Nov 17, 2008 "Contribute content like this.This article is a general list about some causes or differential diagnoses of chronic fatigue with chronic pain. It was compiled by myself over time taking care of patients over the years and I simply wanted to share it
with others. I wish I had access to this type of list list when I started practicing medicine. It is not meant to be an all inclusive list. It was written in outline and fragmented phrasing to minimize the verbage to make it easier to read and to be more efficient for people looking for answers quickly. The list states a specific diagnosis with some diagnostic tests related to it and selected basic information and selected online references. Medical abbreviations are used to minimize text and can be looked up on the internet easily. This information is general information and not specific medical information for any individual. Please look more into these ideas if you need to find answers and please account for the fact that some of this information may change over time or be wrong. Also, please see your medical provider for specific individualized medical care. 1. Celiac disease: (celiac comprehensive panel and HLA (HLA DQ2 and DQ Celiac typing- 30% general population have this HLA type, but 97% of people with celiac have it-so lack of HLA type mainly helps with ruling it out/negative predictive value, GI biopsy?, more false negatives if patient not actively on gluten free diet , may get elevated LFTs with celiac too, Celiac Sprue: eMedicine Gastroenterology, Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common than You Think - December 15, 2002 - American Family Physician , HLA typing and Celiac Disease

2. Sarcoidosis: (CXR-adenopathy, angiotensin converting enzyme level-60% positive), Sarcoidosis: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

3. Lupus (ANA, DsDNA), RA (RF), scleroderma (panel), autoimmune diseases (CRP,ESR), Sjogrens antibodies,

4. Hemochromatosis: (transferrin saturation= iron/TIBC) >60% male, >50% females, ferritin, genetic marker (C282Y homozygotes and, possibly, C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes, appear to be at risk for clinical iron
overload). http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic975.html

5.Mycotoxicosis:mold toxin gases causing illness (false pos. ANA more likely, often transient), blood and urine for mycotoxins are available but not reliable/ expensive), most basic labs normal, Basics About Mold Illness and Mycotoxicosis - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com, http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001201...0/d001270.html,

6. Medication/herbal reaction/drug abuse

7. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: (Hep BsAg, Hep B sAb IgG, HepBcoreAb IgG, and Hepatitis C Ab). If the Hepatitis C antibody is positive, you need to confirm the diagnosis with a Hepatitis C RNA level. The antibody test alone can not let you diagnoses Hepatitis C infection definitively.

8. Hypothyroidism TSH, Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3-which competes with T3 but not do anything-one type called Wilson's syndrome)

9. Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) level (Vitamin D deficiency can cause pains/myalgias, weakness, and depression, associated with schizophrenia, cancers, MS, autoimmune disease, weakened immunity), http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSC...tamin.htm#vitd

10. Lyme disease: lyme panel, Elisa with western blot reflex or just western blot done by some, 50% do not remember being bitten by tick. This testing is not very accurate and you can get false positives and false negatives.

11. Depression: may be result of frustration of chronic undiagnosed medical problems too.

12. Vitamin A toxicity http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSC...tamin.htm#vitd

13. B12 deficiency: (B12, folate, methylmalonic acid-high in B12 def., nutritional homocysteine level)-neuropathic pain, but not assoc. with joint pain but nerve pains), http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSC...tamin.htm#vitd

14. Mg deficiency:, check RBC Mg (99% of Mg is in cells and only 1% in blood), Mg serum

15. Polymyalgia rheumatica: ESR

16. MVP (mitral valve prolapse): echocardiogram

17. Withdrawal from certain medications

18. Addison's disease: (ACTH stimulation, aldosterone level, free cortisol level/urine, C-17 hydroxylase deficiency usually presents by adolescents and delayed maturity

19. TB- tuberculosis

20. VINDICATEM is a mnemonic for differential diagnosis of any problem ( Vascular, Inflammatory/Idiopathic, Neoplasm, Degenerative/Drugs, Infection, Congenital, Allergy/Autoimmune, Tumor/Trauma, Environmental, Metabolic)

21. Food allergies or sensitivityies: (check both IgE and IgG). For example, wheat, dairy, and eggs are relatively common (IgG elevated) and may result in fatigue and pains. Elimination diet should be done over 4-6 weeks. In 6-9 months after abstaining from the specific food, IgG intolerated foods may be introduced again without problems for some and IgG can be rechecked serially too. IgE elevations can cause allergy symptoms and abdominal pains. IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA What Do They Really Tell Us, Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial

22. Xenobiotic or biotoxin exposures: for example pesticides, formaldehyde, medications, solvents, chlorox, Pollutants/Toxics > Soil Contaminants > Arsenic | Browse EPA Topics | US EPA, Pesticides | US EPA, Where to find MSDS on the Internet

23. Ankylosing spondylitis (HLA-B27)

24. Sleep Apnea

25. Multiple Sclerosis (muscle pains or spasms are possible)

26. Infections: EBV, CMV, HIV, Babesiosis, Trichinosis, Ehrlichiosis, serum sickness, Brucellosis
27. Heavy metals-blood, urine 24 hour collection, hair (limited accuracy), stool, (lead, arsenic, and chronic mercury poisoning can present with chronic fatigue and pain), need to consider chelation challenge if high
risk to rule out heavy metal toxicity , remember the non-excretors will need chelation challenge to mobilize metals Heavy Metal Toxicity: eMedicine Emergency Medicine, ATSDR - Redirect - Toxicological Profile Information Sheet, TOXLINE Search, http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/poison/P...y%20Metals.pdf, http://www.heavymetaldetox.net/Explo...20on%20HMD.pdf, Heavy Metal Detox - Mecury Detox, Research Articles, http://www.detoxamin.com/heavymetalsources.html,

28.Special Diet for pain: Consider no nightshade plants (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, spices, etc) diet and less carbohydrates for better pain control. Nightshade Vegetables: Should People With Arthritis Avoid Nightshade Foods?. I have not personally had much success with this diet and my patients.

29. Hypogonadism , Free testosterone level is more accurate than total level in overweight people, consider routinely checking free testosterone (not total only), specifically between 8-9am when testosterone is supposed to be at its peak. Chronic pain patients on narcotics can develop low testosterone which increase fatigue, need to check free testosterone at peak 8-9am. I usually do a randomly timed test due to convenience and if it is low or borderline will get 8-9am am level again and to confirm with LH and FSH.

30. Panhypopituitary

31. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

32. Hormonal inbalances: Consider checking estradiol, progesterone, DHEA-S, pregnenolone, free testosteronne, LH, FSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 ratio, TSH, Free cortisol or 24 hour urine cortisol, Aldosterone, other pituitary hormones, and others

33. Get detailed occupational (lead, arsenic, formaldehyde, mold, computer ink or carbonless paper, hobby), home, medication, herbal, and exposure history. Do problems correlate with starting new job or moving to new home. Are symptoms better on non-work days? Do symptoms start every afternoon at work? What was different when the problem started? New furniture, new appliances, new carpet, new painting, etc.?, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/535428, US Environmental Protection Agency, http://npic.orst.edu/RMPP/rmpp_ch3.pdf, http://www.echt.chm.msu.edu/BlockIII...ExpHistory.pdf,

A List of Diagnoses for Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Pain
This is a Partial List of Potential Causes of Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Pain
Bradley Hope
Bradley Hope, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Nov 17, 2008 "Contribute content like this. Start Here."

* More:
* Diagnoses
* Polymyalgia Rheumatica
* Morgellons
* Morgellons Disease

34. Morgellon's Disease: This disorder involves rashes and fibers that come out of skin, and is also associated with fatigue, arthritis or pains, psychiatric diseases
(depression, bipolar, anxiety), and other symptoms. It is currently being investigated by CDC. Home - Morgellons Research Foundation

35. Consider referring to environmental medicine specialist, The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) and holistic medicine specialist, American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist and herbalist, etc

36. Useful websites: emedicine, wrongdiagnosis.com- allows you to enter multiple symptoms and get a differential diagnosis from it, Symptom Checker - check medical symptoms at WrongDiagnosis, AAFP, http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSC...tamin.htm#vitd, Disease Information from NORD, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

If you had to read this list, then that means you or someone you care about needs help. I hope you find that help and never give up hope.

Please post comments about other diagnoses to "complete" the list.

Aloha, Bradley E. Hope MD

[Doc Holliday]

WHOA TC!!,. lots of good information,.Thanks,.I am Gluten-Sensitive,.what a pain,.not easy to find things Gluten free that taste good,.I keep trying tho Hi Dizzy

[tcmgpt13]

Doc have you been to the health food stores lately? There's a lot of decent GF foods available these days. Udi and Rudi's breads for one. It's also a matter of developing a taste for these foods. After you are off wheat for a time it starts to taste better. Tinkyada pasta is good. And if you are in a large city there may be a GF bakery near you which will have even better selections. I do not live in a big area but there is an organic (she really cares) GF bakery nearby with bread which even those who are not GF love to eat. Ditto muffins and other pastries, pies and cheesecake. Look around. You may be surprised by what you find. If you are really lucky there may even be a GF restaurant in your area. Some of the chains do have GF menus, though I wouldn't make a habit of that. Still there are times you have to travel and you have to eat as well, even if it's not always the best organic foods.

Originally Posted by Doc Holliday

WHOA TC!!,. lots of good information,.Thanks,.I am Gluten-Sensitive,.what a pain,.not easy to find things Gluten free that taste good,.I keep trying tho Hi Dizzy

[tcmgpt13]

Oops, I forgot to link to the source for that long article originally posted by Dr. Bradley Hope. I tried to go back and highlight the 33 diagnoses he listed, but it told me I couldn't post an article that long. Decided to leave well enough alone as it's evidently quite a few words longer than allowed in most posts. Ditto I had to leave out the link which I am now posting here, to give credit where credit is due:

A List of Diagnoses for Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Pain , Page 5 of 5 - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

[cynical]

Giving up Gluten is one of the hardess things ever..but every time I do I feel better and have more energy. Wish I could afford to get an affirmative test done but can not at the moment and to have to eat it again to prove it is most likely not worth it. I already have a genetic tie to countries of origin that are prone to it and a sister that can not consume as well as daughter that is symptomatic. I wish I never tasted wheat LOL or any other gluten containing grain. Maybe then I would not be missing it so much.
DD you may want to rule this out or just try an elimination test to see if it helps.

I feel like I have to stick to it this time.

Lots of good info TCM

Cyn

[posey]

It's a drug but it is not an amphetamine.

I take Provigil or I would be in bed all the time, or falling asleep all over.

The only problem with it is it is enormously expensive

When Provigils patent was up, the company paid other drug companys NOT to make a generic form. Isn't that caring and compassionate?

Now, on my slip from the pharmacy it says the retail price is over $1100. That is for 60 200 mg tablets. But I'm not in my donut hole yet so it is covered for a few months.

It is a teriffic drug for fatigue. They give it to cancer patients, MS, and the like.

Doctors are more readily to prescribe it because it isn't an amphetamine.

Due to its cost and if you do not have ins., pm me and I will help you with what I do when I hit my donut hole. There is a generic form, just need to know where to get it and it is not illegal.

posey