Tired ALL THE TIME!

[Annig83]

No matter what solution I am using, I am exhausted all the time.  I sleep for hours in the morning, and then need another nap by the afternoon.  My hemoglobin and all the other levels are stable and great.  What's wrong with me? 

[deniferfer]

 I'm the same way. It seems no how much sleep I get, I will still being sleepy. Do you have the b12 shot? My dr started me on that about a year  It has made so it's not as bad.

[Grumpy-1]

OK I'm sure I'll get a bunch of you flaming me on not following Dr orders, BUT  I took myself OFF ALL THE DR. prescription drugs.  I did this about 4 months ago and have been monitoring my lab results closely.   When I started dialysis about 2 1/2 years ago, I took all the drugs the Dr prescribed - tried to be a good patient and not skip any or over dose.  Well I noticed that about 4 months into this life, I began to lose the strength in my legs.  I couldn't get up out of a chair without help, I couldn't climb the stairs without lifting myself using my arms.  I was tired all the time and some days sick and achy all over that I couldn't get out of bed.    Then over a holiday weekend where I have 4 days off work, I got to sleep in late and late and late so that I was out of my normal cycle and didn't take any meds.  Just keep telling myself that I would catch up tomorrow.  Well by the next work day I was back on schedule and notice that I didn't feel as tired, had more energy, could walk better.  So I decided to try an experiment. I stopped taking the Dr prescription drugs.  As I said that was four months ago.  And I'm feeling better every day.  I have more energy, more strength in my legs.  Rarely do I feel achy and sick as to have to stay in bed all day. 

WARNING !   I DO NOT say for anyone else to stop taking their meds, but it worked for me.  So far I haven't said anything to the nurses at the clinic or the Drs.  But at the next lab appointment, I'm going to spill the beans and let them know. 

Grumpy

[wbdoug]

WARNING !   I DO NOT say for anyone else to stop taking their meds, but it worked for me.  So far I haven't said anything to the nurses at the clinic or the Drs.  But at the next lab appointment, I'm going to spill the beans and let them know. 

Grumpy

Just two questions: Are you on PD and what specific drugs are we talking about?

Bill

[Grumpy-1]

Yes I'm on PD.

The stuff I quit are:
Rena Vite (that I may start back on as it is a vitamin)
KLOR CON (potassisum supplement)
Calcitriol (parathyroid)
Lecothroxine (thyroid)

[lmunchkin]

John sleeps all the time!  He is bored to tears, so what does he do, he sleeps.  He is inside all the time and watches tv and sleeps, wakes up watches more TV and sleeps more.  I don't know if he is tired due to boredom or the disease, but both can make you tired.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[wbdoug]

Yes I'm on PD.

The stuff I quit are:
Rena Vite (that I may start back on as it is a vitamin)
KLOR CON (potassisum supplement)
Calcitriol (parathyroid)
Lecothroxine (thyroid)

So your labs for the last three or four months have been comming out good? The only one of those I can relate to is calcitrol.

I have noticed that I am more tired than I used to be but not so bad it has taken me down.

Bill

[Desert Dancer]

Yes I'm on PD.

The stuff I quit are:
Rena Vite (that I may start back on as it is a vitamin)
KLOR CON (potassisum supplement)
Calcitriol (parathyroid)
Lecothroxine (thyroid)

Obviously it is your right to refuse medications but I do hope you're keeping an eye on your PTH (the calcitriol). Having more energy won't do you any good if your bones crumble out from underneath you.

[Grumpy-1]

to all - YES I've been watching all the lab reports.  My clinic nurses are VERY good about calling me with the results about 2-3 days after they are taken.  All labs result haven't changed much or have improved.  The only one that everyone focuses on are the potassium (at bit low) - so I get to eat more steak, chicken, fish etc.  LOVE that  Grumpy 

[Annig83]

I've been on medication since I was 13, most are the same.  There's something definitely not right with me... I'm thinking I may be depressed

[smcd23]

I was going to suggest talking to someone about mental health - dialysis and the toxins in the body can mess up the brain chemistry. I was also going to ask how your PTH, calcium and phosphorus are?

[highway61]

For the short time I was on PD I was more energetic than before. Not in a normal amount just as a comparison to how I was before dialysis.

Prior to dialysis I was pretty much in denial that this was going to kill me until my neph, and primary care doctor both told me I was heading towards being past tense. I got worse and worse and got to a point where I was falling asleep at the wheel driving too and from work. That convinced me that they were on the level. Plus my legs were about 21 inches around.

Once I started PD the swelling went down, the falling asleep went down. and other things improved. I did feel tired a lot, but not as bad as before. I didn't fall asleep while driving anymore.

If you are still feeling tired, talk to your neph about it.

[austinsoul2011]

My goodness it's so interesting to see all these comments that relate to my father's constant fatigue since he started PD, cuz he is ALWAYS tired.  I see him sleeping and snoring during the evenings, but he still wakes up in the morning feeling beaten up and short of sleep.  He can't get off his couch on some days, and it's a struggle just to sit up or stand at times.  His protein levels always measure a bit low in his labs, so that probably has a lot to do with it.  But everything else -- hemoglobin, iron, phosporus, BP, temperature, et al -- are fine.  Glad to hear about the vitamin B shot; that might be an option.  We encourage him to exercise for more energy, but how can he exercise if he's always so weak and tired? 

Yes, he sleeps constantly throughout the day, and still complains of weakness and lack of sleep.  Oddly enough, hemodialysis seemed to keep him more energetic, as he would sleep for a few hours after each session and then would be fine and lively up until the next hemo appointment.  I know PD means more frequent dialysis than hemo, as he is clearing more toxins regularly, but for some reason he seemed more "alive" with hemo -- even though he hated the difficult sticks and depressing crowd... sigh.

[Bill Peckham]

Sleep apnea need to be considered too. People who use dialysis are prone to a variety of sleep disorders and they are under treated/diagnosed.

[highway61]

I agree with Bill.

I was already diagnosed with sleep apnea before going on PD. I have been using a CPAP mask for quite awhile. THis started before  dialysis. I would certainly that the time to check it out.

[billybags]

My husband took his self off cholesterol tablets after 3 years, he suffered with aches and pains in his legs and arms. Been off it for about 8 months, legs a lot better and cholesterol is good at 4.20. So why take this crap.

[theone]

I suggested you talk to nurse/doctor about your problem.

I was in similar situation couple months ago (Tired, falling assleep, leg clamp) and it turned out that I didn't have enough dialysis.
So, I was told to do around the clock dialysis. I told 3 weeks off, stayed home and just focused on doing dialysis.
Now, I am feeling much better.

Theone.

[JLM]

My husband took his self off cholesterol tablets after 3 years, he suffered with aches and pains in his legs and arms. Been off it for about 8 months, legs a lot better and cholesterol is good at 4.20. So why take this crap.

I, too, have a bad reaction to every cholesterol medication I had been put on.  My neph had me take Red Yeast Rice (600 mg) capsules and my cholesterol is good without those nasty side effects.