Chronic Fatigue

[Trina]

I am tired all the time. When I wake up, as the day goes on, at night, all the time. The problem is that I have trouble falling asleep at night and getting fully rested because it takes me so long to fall asleep once I lay down and close my eyes, and then I can't stay asleep more than 4-5 hours at a time without waking up and not being able to fall asleep again. Then I am dragging all day and end up falling asleep in the afternoon for an hour or so, and that throws off my sleep at night even more. I end up doing a weird cycle where I stay awake later and later every night until I end up all night and have to force myself to stay awake all day or I will never be able to sleep and get up the morning after that and do the things I need to get done.

I would go to the doctor for this problem, but we have no insurance and I don't have enough extra cash right now to pay for a doctor visit. That will all change early next year (hopefully by March) but in the meantime I am struggling here. It isn't a depression problem. I have had bouts of depression enough in my life to know what that feels like for me personally, and I am very happy with my life right now.

Any suggestions on what I can try? Diet? Vitamins? Sleep aids? Meditation? ANYTHING? TIA!!

[Lotus]

What is your current diet?
Do you exercise?
How long has the fatigue been going on?
Muscle aches?
Any chance you could be pregnant?

I know that going to a doctor may not be particularly easy right now, but severe fatigue and insomnia like that is really really hard to comment on, because it can be a symptom of anything from simple anemia to life-threatening leukemia. Waiting until March may not be anything, or it could make a big deal if something serious is wrong.

I vote doctor, even if you have to borrow money somewhere to go.

[Adam]

Her current diet: Not vegetarian, but most of it is home cooked meals, lots of mid-to-high fiber foods, almost no sugar or highly processed carbs (though she does get some of the less-processed, higher fiber carbs), little red meat (mostly fish and poultry). She tries to eat smaller portions throughout the day, but isn't always able to.

Exercise: Besides the normal house-hold-type exercise, riding an exercise bike about once a week.

Length of Fatigue: This time, three weeks... Before, she always had an emotional reason to be stressed to fatigue, but this time, there's no easy explanation... It also hasn't lasted for more than a week at a time.

Muscle Aches: She has scoliosis, so yes, but not any more than usual.

Chance of pregnancy: 0.0001%, also known as one in a million.

[benza]

I've found this today maybe helpful:

Mirror.co.uk - Your Life - Health - 15 INSTANT ENERGY BOOSTERS

Not enough sleep! Tell me about it. I work the night shift. I've really learned to appreciate a good sleep.

[chilove]

Hello there,

I healed from Chronic Fatigue (and several other health conditions such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and anxiety) by adopting a raw vegan diet. I eat mostly fruit and some vegetables and nuts and seeds.

You should give it a try.

You can read my healing story at Raw Food Diet Coaching in Seattle | Achieve Health Improvements & Benefits From Changing to a Raw Food Diet

Also check out

www.dyingtogetwell.com
Shazzie.com > The raw food diet > Raw Transformation
Raw Food Talk: The Raw Food Diet Forum

All the best,

Audrey
Raw Food Diet Coaching in Seattle | Achieve Health Improvements & Benefits From Changing to a Raw Food Diet

[Jim]

Trina -

I know that you stated that you don't have insurance, but as soon as you have some, you really need to get your doctor to recommend a sleep study.

During the study, they will hook a series of electrodes to your scalp and will monitor your various brain waves via an EEG.

It's the only way to be certain that this isn't a central nervous system issue.

[Minsc]

You could try polyphasic sleep or early rising(Steve wrote about them)...