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Posted 12/19/2009 11:53 AM (GMT -6)
i have had UC for a little over 2 yrs. now. i've been on many different things including alternative suggestions. currently i am on 75mg of 6mp, 2 lialda per day, fish oil, multi vit and iron (when i remember) and efexxor for my depression.

my question is that, geez i can't remember how long, but i am ALWAYS tired! i know there are many factors that play into this...meds, lack of nutrient absorbtion.....but i was just wondering if anyone has found something, ANYTHING, that helps with fatigue and lack of energy? any suggestions would b greatly appreciated as i am so very tired of being...well...so very tired!!

thanks,

Rachel

Posted 12/19/2009 12:11 PM (GMT -6)
Have you had your thyroid tested? If not, then you should. Before I went on meds for hashimotos disease, I was tired all the time as well. Thyroid plays a huge part.
Posted 12/19/2009 1:43 PM (GMT -6)
  Hi,  I have had uc for two years as well. I also feel very tired most of the time. I just had my thyroid checked in a recent blood test which came back negative. Being tired is an unfortunate side effect of uc, plus the meds make it worse. You may want to get it checked anyways. As far as increasing your energy i havent found much that works.  I do take protein shakes before the gym which seem to give me a boost, you may want to try that out. Coffee always helps but that will just make your uc worse shakehead.   Make sure you take a multi vitamin, i take one in the morining and one at night.

          Ben

 

Posted 12/19/2009 2:50 PM (GMT -6)
yes...thyroid has been checked a few times, and everything was fine there! i only take a muti once a day. i suppose i could try it twice. thanks for the advice.

Posted 12/19/2009 4:20 PM (GMT -6)
What brand multi you take?
Posted 12/19/2009 5:03 PM (GMT -6)
I just take the regular centrum multi's. I figure since UC'ers loose more nutritients than the average person, two a day should help out.
Posted 12/19/2009 5:37 PM (GMT -6)
Run this test on that your Centrum:

Drop it in a cup of vinegar and see how long it takes it to dissolve. You can swirl it around every 5 min or so.
Posted 12/19/2009 9:14 PM (GMT -6)
I have the same issue...it makes me so angry that I can't have coffee when I'm flaring because of this! I've been taking B12 but not sure how much it's been helping.
Posted 12/19/2009 9:23 PM (GMT -6)
Frankly, I hate. I went through uncountable difficulties before UC. I often ask why I can not have a period of 'smooth' life. For many times, I got tired out of my current life - always fighting against difficulties for a living life only. But, all of my doctors told me they ever met such patients who got 10-year-remission somehow. Hold on and keep hope.
Posted 12/20/2009 8:29 AM (GMT -6)
I'm tired all the time too.  I'm on remicade.  It has helped me alot and I thought maybe my fatigue would go away.  Not so.  I'm so tired I sleep about 10-12 hrs at night and I have to take a nap.  If I don't I can hardly function.  It is horrible.  My thyroid is out of wack(I'm on levothyroxine) and my vitamin D was low(so I'm on that) and I give myself monthly B12 shots.  I thought maybe with all this the fatigue would go away.  I was wrong.  I woke up about a half hour ago and I am already ready for bed.  I have three kids to take care of.  I really think it just comes with the UC but if you are like me it is hard to function day to day.  If you find something that works please let me know. 
Posted 12/20/2009 8:48 AM (GMT -6)
yah im always tired too, but i lose so much blood when i flare i become anaemic.

the only thing that helps me wtih fatigue is after i have an iron infusion. then im good for a few months as my iron is back up.

then, i slowly become anaemic again if im still flaring from losing so much blood and then i have another infustion and im good again.
Posted 12/20/2009 10:00 AM (GMT -6)
Tell your doctor. You may be anemic, it could be the 6MP or you could have a virus like mononuclesis. Mono will make you feel tired all the time like that.
Posted 12/20/2009 12:36 PM (GMT -6)
i also have 3 kids and i feel like i am not able to spend much time having fun with them i am so tired! my iron was low and i started on supplements, but ran out and have to go get my script. i am to start remicade on the 22nd and i sure hope it helps. hopefully it doesn't add to the exhaustion! i have heard that 6mp can do it.

Posted 12/20/2009 12:58 PM (GMT -6)
Your system is just always working to fight the inflammation. I am also tired ALL the time, I pretty much and then recover from working. I fall asleep on the couch in the early evening mjore often than not. I've been on Remicade for a couple of years now, I've had iron injections, I take multivitamins ... I am giving up on saving my colon because it's just pulling me down. I'm having the surgery Jan 12. I made the decision over the summer to have it done right after the holidays this year (my busy time).

My GI assures me that once I recover from the surgery I will feel better than I have in years and I believe him. Kind of wish I decided to do this earlier but I wasn't mentally ready. Now I am just so tired of being tired all the time.

Meesh
Posted 12/20/2009 3:27 PM (GMT -6)
     Rowana....6MP will do it!  I was on 100 mgm of 6MP for a short time in the summer and I was completely wiped out, but, I had insomnia because I also was on prednisone.  When my doctor found out it lowered my white count to 1.6 he immediately took me off it for a few weeks and when my white count increased, put me on 50 mgm.  I had been taking 50 mgm of 6MP for seven years prior.  The  6MP stopped working and I am now on Remicade and doing soooooo much better.  I do get tired from time to time, especially right after my infusions but then I only sleep about five or six hours.  Even though I feel tired, still have that dreaded insomnia.
Posted 12/21/2009 2:33 PM (GMT -6)
I am almost ALWAYS somewhat tired!  I feel that there is no easy fix for this.  I think even when we feel like we're in remission(normal/semi-normal bm's), there is always some level of inflammation going on. 

I have found that simple things like trying to go to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning helps...although this is difficult sometimes on the weekends!  smile   Also, I've noticed that we may just require a little more sleep than other people, maybe 9 hours a night.  Don't feel like you're being lazy if you require more sleep, it's better for your health!

Posted 12/21/2009 4:10 PM (GMT -6)
I'm so glad this topic came up.  I'm constantly tired and was starting to blame it on just being uninspired with work, being a new mom, the winter weather, and probably a little depression.  But I keep forgetting to give myself a break here that I have severe UC and on 6 MP again and 40 mg of prednisone for a flare I can't get under control.  I guess having UC almost every day you forget that it's not "normal" and there's valid medical reasons for being wiped out. 

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