Tired? No, exhausted...........

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

I have been suffering really badly with exhaustion, I often have to put my head on my desk and have a 5 min snooze. Its not a gradual tirdness, its like being knocked with a sledgehammer. And as for my yawning, I sound like an old man (Im 55, female) Its noisy, long and multiple, yawn going into another going into another. I swear My jaw is going to break shortle.

My OH amd I love dancing, I just cant do it anymore, 2 mins and I have to sit down, : (

I had a 90 min drive yesterday that took me nearly 3 hours, I had to stop twice and sleep at the side of the road.

Today I went to work and drove one street away and phoned in sick, I am just soo tired. I was in the big smoke last week and instead of shopping (which used to be my dearest obsession) I had breakfast in the hotel and went back to bed till lunchtime till I could leave for my train.

I went to see my GP this afternoon and he said I have to take my meds (Diclofenac and co-codamol) regularly , not just when I feel I need them, and he also prescribed amitriptyline to try and allow me some sleep.

He was trying to get me to say Im stressed at work (very stressful occupation), but Im sure thats not the reason for this feeling.

The only stress I have is getting a diagnosis, and treatment.

My latest ‘symptom’ is itching palms, its driving me nuts, my feet and elbows are itching too but not as bad as my hands. I have scratched between two toes so badly that there is no skin left and its very painful, Im scared that the same thing happenes with my palms.

Oh and my typing is getting really bad just as an added extra ;- )

I have my Neuro appointment on the 14th of Dec, it would be great if he/she could give me some ideas before xmas. I have only told my husband so far about what I am going through, everyone else has just seen me getting more and more cripple and dont ask about it.

God I sound really depressing, Im not really, its just hard going though this with no support.

Thanks for listening to my moans.

2

Sounds like you should be home resting and not working! Pushing yourself isn’t going to do you any favours :frowning:

I’m wondering how much of your fatigue is due to not sleeping? I guess you’ll find that out after a few nights of amitriptyline though :slight_smile:

Why not take a week off while you get into a better sleep routine?

Hopefully the amitriptyline will also help with the itching. If it doesn’t, then please remember that it’s not a proper itch, so it’s not going to be relieved by scratching. I know it’s almost impossible to resist so please protect your skin - gloves are required! And rub, don’t scratch!

Karen x

3

Hi Rhony,

Its pointless trying to resist these neurological symptoms (if they are). There nasty and will not relent; you must obey (sounds a bit melodramatic) or otherwise it will make you suffer.

Don’t worry about the job or you wifely duties; rest when you need to and concentrate on getting better that will happen when it decides. You can help by altering your life so you can cope.

Sounds like I’m being horrible but believe me in my 40 years with MS I’ve been there; done it and got the T shirt.

If you force yourself to work perhaps ‘Access to Work’ can save some of your fatigue by getting taxis to and from https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Sounds like it’s your first Neuro appointment? If so this article was written by a doctor about his diagnosis. Karen will say the McDonald Criteria is wrong so please disregard this bit; http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html

Good luck

George

4

Karen and George,

Thank you both for your replys, I think I may have to tell my supervisor at work, she will be understanding, I hope : )

It is my first appointment, Im nervous, but looking forward (in a strange kind of way) to it as a first step, I feel in limbo just now.

I work in the disability field and know from a professional perspective that people need a diagnosis to ‘hang their hat on’, this is where I am at, if its not MS then what is it and how can I make it better.

BTW have either of you come accross a symptom of pain and swelling in the top three vertabre of the spine?

Thanks again.

5

Karen and George,

Thank you both for your replys, I think I may have to tell my supervisor at work, she will be understanding, I hope : )

It is my first appointment, Im nervous, but looking forward (in a strange kind of way) to it as a first step, I feel in limbo just now.

I work in the disability field and know from a professional perspective that people need a diagnosis to ‘hang their hat on’, this is where I am at, if its not MS then what is it and how can I make it better.

BTW have either of you come accross a symptom of pain and swelling in the top three vertabre of the spine?

Thanks again.

6

MS doesn’t cause physical changes in the spine. It can cause something indirectly (e.g. a lot of MSers have lower back pain because they walk badly because of their MS), but I can’t think of what might inflame the neck vertebrae - doesn’t mean it isn’t possible though!

Kx

7

Well good morning : )

What a sleep, the amitriptyline really worked, I slept, or at least was in bed for 12 1/2 hours, woke at 1 30pm with a phone call.

Thats great for resting my body, but not great for getting back to work.

I am off sick today (and yesterday) and have Thurs & Fri booked of anyway so that should help.