Help Chronic Pain

Question:

I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide, BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?  I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed. Maggie who hasn’t even got out of bed today

Response:

I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide,

The structure of a job *is* good – having to get up, shower and get dressed, see people (ick), etc.  And the money is definitely an incentive. BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired.

IMO, taking care of kids takes more energy and attention than anything.  My day care job wiped me out more than any other job – and that was during a "remission" of D. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?

I do.  Going back to work takes all my energy.  During my leave, I was able to do some chores around the house for the first time in years.  But since I went back to work last week, my energy is drained by mid-afternoon.  My house is piling up again and I can’t find the energy to do anything about it I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed. Maggie who hasn’t even got out of bed today

Good luck with your decision. — EM

Response:

Hi Maggie, Long time no talk. There are two things that enable me to work and attend university – my *heavy* depression is episodic, not chronic, and I’m a driver – I push myself full force (I’m learning that this isn’t a strength as I once perceived it to be) – sometimes it’s like being in denial of my limitations. In the end, I pay dearly for it. When I’m in full swing depression, I’ve had to, at times, take a few days off work at a times.  I’ve also taken semesters off from university to recuperate.  Yet I often push myself to continue, and I’ll endure a perpetual, sickening exhaustion at that time.  It takes _so_much_more_effort to complete routine activities, that I collapse, mentally and physically. We’ve been discussing this in another thread ("symptoms") – the subtle, obscure experiences that we have, that we attribute to our depression, yet they often go neglected or not fully understood.  And how we question them, and wonder if they are in fact attributed to some other illness. Also, out of curiousity (and in contradiction to what I’ve said in the previous paragraph), have you ever talked to the doc specifically about the fatigue?  Illnesses like M.E. (Chronic Fatigue) and Fibromyalgia are often coupled with depression. Best wishes, Lisa

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide, BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?  I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed. Maggie who hasn’t even got out of bed today

Response:

believe me… it won’t bother you as much as watching / running after a couple young full of piss n’ vinegar kids ….. lest your going to work in a day care facility….. Mis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide, BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?  I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed. Maggie who hasn’t even got out of bed today

Response:

Thank you everyone who replied – maybe taking care of children is the most difficult thing a person can do but I don’t think it should take two or three days to recover from it.  I am seeing my doctor on Tuesday and I will be bringing up the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (I have been tested for it several times before) and other things that will cause fatigue.  Being the Hypochondriac that I am – I think I have pneumonia.  I have a horrible deep cough with no other cold symptoms and the least exertion causes me to be out of breathe and intensely clammy.  It is a good thing that I know I am a hypochondriac or I would have been in Emergency two days ago  I will also be changing AD’s which may help with the tiredness – I just don’t know, but my doctor won’t be recommending me going back to work anytime soon.  Her last estimate was after Christmas if the meds were working well and they are not so I may be unemployed for the better part of the first year of the century Any ways thanks for your help.  I will stop whining know maggie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide, BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?  I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed. Maggie who hasn’t even got out of bed today

Response:

I am really struggling with the idea of going back to work.  I need the money and I want the structure that a job will provide, BUT I spent 4 hours yesterday babysitting my neice and nephew (I had a lot of fun and laughed all afternoon) I was in bed asleep at 6:30 last night and I have napped off and on all day.  I don’t get it and I am really tired of being so tired. How does everyone else do it?  Does everyone else feel this fatigued after doing very little?  I seem to have lost all perspective on this and I don’t know what is caused by depression or if there are underlying illnesses that are complicating it.  Any experience welcomed.

I find it very hard to keep going to work while *very* depressed. Like right now. In the ‘in-between’ stages I find it exhausting, especially 1st returning after an absence. I think, in a way, fatigue breeds fatigue, and there is truth in the adage that the more you do the more you can do – although from where my head is atm I’m having a hard time with that. Work can be good, as a distraction (not to mention the money!), if you’re well enough to cope. I’d say expect to be exhausted for the 1st few weeks of a job & do little but work & sleep. take extra care of yourself & either eat especially well or take vitamin supplements ali

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