You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Fatigue
- Thread starter azqt27
- Start date
Stacy, it can very much be related to CF for a number of reasons. A good place to start is an overnight in-depth sleep study (there are a few different types of studies so be specific). That will identify a few things. #1, if you do or do not have sleep apnea. #2, if you don't have sleep apnea, it will identify the # of times you wake up completely during the night, as well as the number of times you come out of the REM level of sleep into one of the previous levels (i hope that makes sense). Even if you don't completely wake up, anytime you come out of the REM level (because you cough, have some chest congestion, delay in breathing but don't have sleep apnea...) it is disruptive to your sleep and can cause fatigue because although you may be in bed and "sleeping" for 8 hours, you may only be in the REM level for 4 of the 8 hours, whereas someone like me (I don't have CF so no congestion, no nighttime heavy cough...) is in that REM level for 7 of the 8 hours that I am in bed.
We discovered that was my husband's problem. He was in bed for 8-10 hours a night but his sleep study showed that he awoke completely about 5 times a night, and came out of REM about 30 times. When it was all added up, he was only getting about 3-5 hours of REM sleep-hence his fatigue and need to nap all day long. The doctor recommended treatment of sleeping pills (since it was not breathing related). Good luck with whatever you find works.
Julie (wife to mark 24 w/CF)
We discovered that was my husband's problem. He was in bed for 8-10 hours a night but his sleep study showed that he awoke completely about 5 times a night, and came out of REM about 30 times. When it was all added up, he was only getting about 3-5 hours of REM sleep-hence his fatigue and need to nap all day long. The doctor recommended treatment of sleeping pills (since it was not breathing related). Good luck with whatever you find works.
Julie (wife to mark 24 w/CF)
HollyCatheryn
New member
Fatigue can also be related to anemia. If you are iron-deficient, you can feel tired, weak, and/or have dizzy, feverish or clammy spells among other things. There are numerous things you can do to improve your anemia without taking iron (Fe) pills. One reason to avoid iron pills is that they tend to constipate and cause gut (gas) irritation. When I am anemic I am such a sloth! It does help to know that your fatigue is for a reason. A doctor or midwife can draw blood to determine if you are iron deficient. For recommendations on improving your iron levels check <A href="http://www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/wellness">www.geocities.com/MurrensNatureMama/wellness</A>.Fatigue can also be a result of dehydration. If you feel thirsty, you are probably slightly dehydrated. It's important for people with CF to get plenty of calories, but your body cannot use nutrients effectively if your cells are dehydrated. Drink plenty of water and then drink the rest of your fluids as juice or gatorade-type drinks. You should get a minimum of 8 8-ounce glasses of water or water-based drinks a day. Some people notice a BIG difference in their energy level when they increase their intake of water and decrease their intake of other drinks like coffee or soda. That's an easy thing to try. Let us know if you find something that helps you. OH and both anemia and dehydration can be CF-related.
Thank you Jason.
Hey, a question for you people who know a bit more about the CFRD. Mark has been doing finger pricks for about a month now and when we took the results into the doctor, he just stared in to space and said "this I have NEVER seen". Mark's sugars were all over the place, and very inconsistent. What I mean by that is like on monday, they would be high in the AM when he woke up (before he even eats) at about 125. Then after he eats (regardless of what he would eat) sometimes it would only go to about 150 and on other occasions it would go to about 220 about 1 hour after he ate. WE monitored to see if it had anything to do with what he was eating, at what time he was eating it...and we couldn't find a pattern. Then sometimes, about an hour after that last check (so now 2 hours after the meal) he would be down in the 50-60's. Sometimes it wouldn't even be an hour later, but like 20-40 minutes later. His doctor was very puzzled, and also glad he had us write down what he ate because he was going to "analyze" it-as he stated. He called the other day and told us he didnt have an answer. Usually people are either on the high side constantaly, or on the low side constantaly with an occasional change. But never had he seen someone so "all over the place" and no explanation as to why (basically because what he ate shouldn't have shot his sugars up so high, then he'd eat the same thing later and almost nothing would happen). CAn anybody shed some light.
Thanks,
Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
Hey, a question for you people who know a bit more about the CFRD. Mark has been doing finger pricks for about a month now and when we took the results into the doctor, he just stared in to space and said "this I have NEVER seen". Mark's sugars were all over the place, and very inconsistent. What I mean by that is like on monday, they would be high in the AM when he woke up (before he even eats) at about 125. Then after he eats (regardless of what he would eat) sometimes it would only go to about 150 and on other occasions it would go to about 220 about 1 hour after he ate. WE monitored to see if it had anything to do with what he was eating, at what time he was eating it...and we couldn't find a pattern. Then sometimes, about an hour after that last check (so now 2 hours after the meal) he would be down in the 50-60's. Sometimes it wouldn't even be an hour later, but like 20-40 minutes later. His doctor was very puzzled, and also glad he had us write down what he ate because he was going to "analyze" it-as he stated. He called the other day and told us he didnt have an answer. Usually people are either on the high side constantaly, or on the low side constantaly with an occasional change. But never had he seen someone so "all over the place" and no explanation as to why (basically because what he ate shouldn't have shot his sugars up so high, then he'd eat the same thing later and almost nothing would happen). CAn anybody shed some light.
Thanks,
Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
ClashPunk82
New member
Julie I have somewhat of the same prob. I am usually all over the place. Now I am insulin dependent and better controlled. Although I know that some foods will spike you up high quick but then you will crash from them later. Coke is one and usually OJ, spaghetti, white bread and other simple sugars. It's hard to figure out but hopefully this will get resolved! Good luck! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Julie, I just got diagnosed with CFRD and my sugars are kinda all over the place too. Is he on any meds? The doc did put me on Starlix even though pills do not typically help CF patients with Diabetes. He said since it was mild to try the less invasive approach. The only thing I would suggest is seeing a endocronologist that is also familiar with CF. From what I am learning CFRD is a mixture of TYPE 1 and TYPE 2 Diabetes and there is such a fine line cause CF people need high calorie diets and should not limit their food intake cause of the diabetes. I would also talk to the nutritionist at the CF clinic and they can help with diet choices too. My sugars are weird too. I have gone from 112 prior to breakfast to 220 after eating pizza and still taking the med. And then the next day I could be low. It is really weird how it jumps around. But I would get with a diabetes doc that also knows about CF and what that all entails.
Good Luck
Jennifer 33yrs old with CF and now CFRD
Good Luck
Jennifer 33yrs old with CF and now CFRD