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What Do You Do To Help The Fatigue?

birdie22

By birdie22
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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birdie22 Enthusiast
birdie22
Posted

When I get glutened the fatigue hits about 48hrs later and comes and goes over the next 2-3 days. I work full time and have 2 small children so spending dys on the couch napping isn't possible. Have you found anything that helps lessen the fatigue? I exercise most mornings and am a cup of coffee a day drinker. I'm trying not to treat w more caffeine because then I have to deal w the caffeine withdrawal after.

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srall Contributor
srall
Posted

For fatigue after eating something I'm not supposed to (because it's not always gluten), I sometimes just have to go into survival mode. Lots of water and I admit extra caffeine if I need it. Sometimes I need to mentally walk myself through my day step by step because I'm tired, or foggy...literally just going through the motions.

For general fatigue I find lots of protein, and vitamin b and d help. Sometimes it's eases a glutening (or dairying, or corning)

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

Go to bed earlier than you normally would.

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Vitamin B complex and protein. Consider not exercising, or only exercising lightly on those days. Keep a notepad so you can make lists/keep track of what you've done - trying to remember things is more fatiguing. Have some frozen meals, or super easy recipes at hand so you don't have to think about what to eat.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I go with more protein snacks throughout the day, drink lots of water, take extra Vitamin C and I double the probiotics for a week. I also may take digestive enzymes if my gut is impaired.

I find I am a LOT weaker in my muscles and sluggish in the head after a glutening, but also "wired" and unable to nap, so I just try to go to bed earlier for those few days while I wait it out.

I no longer work full time, nor do I have little ones to watch over, so I cannot imagine how you guys do this when you feel this way. I admire you greatly.

MistyRG Apprentice
MistyRG
Posted

I have 5 kids, and these days are the WORST!!!!

I recently purchased some sublingual vitamin B that seems to help. I also grab some caffeine. I know it's bad, but it is harder when I have 5 kids needing my attention when all I want to do is nap!!!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

5 kiddos! God bless! :)

The thing is caffeine just jacks up your central nervous system and then you crash hard--which just doubles the fatigue.

It's a solution, but it's temporary.

(you already know this, I am sure)

Did your doctor check your B-12, D and folate levels?

These contribute to fatigue. When mine were tanked, I felt like I was dragging myself around. I have never felt such overwhelming fatigue. Just yucky.

Hope you feel better soon!

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GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Well, I don't eat much in the way of sugar. So if was really tired I'd try something with some sugar in it. Or some caffiene. Problem with sugar and caffiene is you do crash after a while, so it helps to eat some protein to lessen that affect. I don't do much of either one of those normally though, so it probably has a stronger effect on me than it would for you.

birdie22 Enthusiast
birdie22
Posted
  • Author

Thanks all. I do take D3 daily and B12 2x per week. I just had my B12 levels checked and am waiting to hear back. Thankfully the fatigue only lasts ~2 days so it helps knowing the end is near when it does happen. If anything it is my head that feels the most fatigued. Like my body could keep on keeping on if only I could detach my head and let it rest. Now when the fatigue sets in I wonder how I survived it day in day out before going gluten-free.

MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted

I'm going to admit something pretty awful....I have a leftover bottle of Adderall from pre-celiac diagnosis. I used to rely on it daily to try to break through what I thought was ADD but was really gluten-brain. I was kn9cked flat with chronic fatigue and 60 mg of Adderall made it possible to shower and dress most days. Not much more. How pathetic.

I horde those remaining pills because when I get glutened, I am laid flat once again. If I have something I HAVE to do, I use them. Yep. Amphetamines to fight gluten.

Eventually the bottle will be empty and then...well I just WON'T function I imagine.

I don't think most doctors have a clue of exactly how debilitating celiac disease can be. And it makes me wonder how many people diagnosed with ADD are really celiacs just trying to crack thru the fog or get off the couch and have become dependent on speed to do so.

Certainly not recommending anyone find a bottle of Adderall to cope with glutening...just I guess empathizing that I GET how impossible it can be to function when you get glutened! I wish I had a better solution.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

And it makes me wonder how many people diagnosed with ADD are really celiacs just trying to crack thru the fog or get off the couch

My guess? A large number of kids labeled with ADD are gluten intolerants. Plenty of adult celiacs talk about having once had "ADD". My brain was so deeply affected by celiac/gluten and I had "ADD"-like issues,too. It was impossible to function at top speed. It was like trying to think with stoner brain and look through vaseline eyes. I had major difficulty focusing. I could not even drive. I call it "gluten head hell".

It's gone now, unless you know what happens(damn CC)--but it is not as bad as it was when I was very ill.

MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted

Vaseline eyes! Love it IrishHeart. Could not describe it better myself. It makes me so sad for them and wish doctors would just routinely screen for celiac. I lost soooo many years to gluten, and I hate that many others continue to, just because of ignorance. :(

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Vaseline eyes! Love it IrishHeart. Could not describe it better myself. It makes me so sad for them and wish doctors would just routinely screen for celiac. I lost soooo many years to gluten, and I hate that many others continue to, just because of ignorance. :(

you're preachin' to the choir, sister.

The Italians have it right--screen the babes for the genes, test regularly and stop the madness before it starts.

(You know, people like us become rabid about this BECAUSE we have lost the years to it. We make it our "mission" to educate. We may also annoy others with it all, but so be it.)

***** "gluten head hell" and "vaseline eyes" are registered trademarks of IH :lol:

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