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Fatigue In Lupus

© Karyn Moran Holton

Around this time of year, when just about everyone is gearing up for the holidays, the severe, debilitating fatigue that plagues most lupies becomes one of our biggest liabilities. Who wants to go shopping, decorate or wrap gifts when you feel like overcooked spaghetti and frequently choose napping over bathing or eating?

The fatigue that most of us feel on a daily basis isn't your run of the mill "Gee, I should turn in a little early tonight" sort of tired. It's more of a "Five whole feet to the bathroom? I guess I can hold it a little longer" tired. Getting enough rest isn't just difficult, it's impossible. I call it having a "sleep tapeworm" - No matter how much you get, it isn't going where you need it to!

Add to your daily fatigue: Holiday dinners, school pageants, shopping for gifts, putting up decorations, cooking, cleaning, keeping up with Christmas cards, late-night parties....Geez, I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Fatigue in lupus isn't something that we can just ignore, or shake off. It's a warning from our bodies, telling us that we cannot keep going at this pace, and that we need to recharge ourselves. Being in a constant state of inflammation is draining in the extreme, and sucks up a lot of our energy without us really realizing it. Additionally, we don't always get the quality rest that we need at night because of various symptoms and problems of lupus -- Restless leg syndrome, chronic joint pain, fever, Raynaud's, the list goes on and on.

So what can we do (short of becoming hermits until January) to get past this busy, stressful time of year without falling asleep into the eggnog? Here are a few tips and hints that may help your fatigue become a little easier to manage.

• Sleep When You Can

  I remember getting this advice before I became a mom for the first time. I remember thinking "How ridiculous! I'm not going to change my schedule. The baby is just going to have to adapt to MY needs!" (You other moms can stop laughing any time now.) :-)

  Just like a newborn, lupus doesn't care if you haven't slept in three days. It can't be reasoned with, and is completely unpredictable. Don't even try it. Simply learn to adapt your schedule. If that means that you take an hour nap right after the kids go off to school, but before your spouse's office holiday lunch, so be it. Some days it may mean skipping your shower and just dusting with baby powder. Shoot, I've been known to catch 10 winks in my car while waiting to pick up my daughter from school! Sleep is precious - Don't pass up any opportunity to recharge yourself, even if it's only for a few moments.