My Game Plan In Addressing Fatigue Due To PCOS
For the last couple of days, I have been literally dragging myself out of bed. When I first had this more than a week ago, I thought that it would just pass. But since it has persisted, it has come to the point when my day would just go by unproductively. I have so much to do but my energy level is at its all time low.
With two storms forecasted to enter the country in a couple of hours or days, I can’t go and see my doctor yet. I am also unsure whether the roads leading to her clinic are passable. Since I won’t be able to see her until next week, I will do my share as to how I can address this issue. So starting tomorrow, I am going to:
1. Start exercising again. Since I could not rely on the weather here for sunny days, I need to start using my exercise videos once again. I know that exercise will definitely increase my energy level, and I seriously need to have an exercise routine at home because I can’t walk or jog when the weather is so uncooperative.
2. Eat healthier. I know that this has been the biggest issue that I haven’t been able to tackle, but I will keep on conditioning my mind so that I can eventually have healthier eating habits. Lately I have gotten back to drinking caffeine just to wake me up but it hasn’t done me any good. I guess a quick caffeine fix is not the answer to my fatigue issues. I will also stay away from sugary stuff so that my body won’t crash. The very least that I need right now is for my glucose levels to fluctuate. It will just make matters so much worse.
3. Set aside more time for myself. I have always been busy taking care of each member of my family and in the process, I have forgotten myself. I have vowed to give myself more ME time so that I can slowly address my issues. I really need to give myself needed attention because this has gotten way out of hand.
4. Manage stress. I must admit that I have been so stressed lately. After typhoon Ondoy left, we are again faced with the possibility of being hit by another storm. Since I have already addressed disaster preparedness issues at home, I will try to keep these anxiety-provoking thoughts to a minimum.
5. Religiously keep my doctor appointments. I haven’t visited her since I got busy with my exam. I will never be better if I don’t see her regularly. I just hope that the wait won’t be as long as my previous visit. Sigh!
I have thought all along that my symptoms couldn’t get any worse, but now it seems that it has. I’ve always had enough energy for my daily activities, but lately all I wanted to do was stay in bed. So, here’s hoping to a better tomorrow!
4 Responses to “My Game Plan In Addressing Fatigue Due To PCOS”
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These are wonderful ways to deal with the fatigue. I think this fatigue is a very under acknowledged part of PCOS. For me, part of the fatigue was depression due to lack of the things above. It all contributes! And, yay, for missing rice with dinner! One step at a time.
I know! I always wish that doctors will acknowledge it as part of the disorder. I have never felt so much worse!
I never realized that fatigue was such a big part of PCOS. However, lately, I have been having an awful time with it. I have sleep apnea, and use a cpap machine religiously, but I am still having problems with fatigue. I have trouble staying awake during the day. No motivation to do things around my house. I watch my two year old nephew during the week right now, and his 5year old sister after school, and I can barely stay awake, let alone have the energy to play with them. I guess I’ve been having trouble with this for quite some time, but have only recently realized how severe it has gotten. The part that really sucks is that I have already lost almost 40 lbs., and the fatigue isn’t getting any better. My husband doesn’t understand, and when I try to explain to him that it is part of my health problem, he looks at me like I am crazy. If anyone has any advice, or suggestions, or knows of any studies on PCOS going on, please email me at deelylaa@aol.com. I am trying to get pregnant, and thought my levels were finally getting better ( I was actually having my period every 2 weeks). Now I haven’t had one in about a month. I know, I may be pregnant, but don’t want to get my hopes up. Was positive I was last year around this time, but never got a positive test. Will still swear to this day that I miscarried. I want to know, but want to wait just a little bit longer since I’m not sure when I would have been ovulating (if I was). I just don’t want to take it too soon, and then end up taking a bunch more tests because I’m not sure how far along I would be. I’ve been fighting this PCOS since I was 17, and was not even diagnosed until about 10 years after the problems began. So, please, if anyone else out there knows something I don’t (which is surely possible), or if you just need to vent your frustrations like I just did, please feel free to contact me at the email address I gave above. Just mark it PCOS in the subject line, and I’ll know it’s important, and not spam. I hope to hear from anyone else who knows what this stupid disease does to a person’s life. Maybe together we can figure out how to help the doctors help us.
Hi Crystal! We are indeed bound by this bothersome disease. First, I want to congratulate you for losing 40 lbs! That is indeed a very big achievement! How I wish I could do the same. Anyways, I know that you don’t want to check on too early with your possible pregnancy, but I am sincerely hoping that everything will work out in your favor.
With regards to PCOS and fatigue, it was only recently that I realized how troublesome this kind of fatigue can be. There are times when all I want to do is sit on the table and do nothing. So many times I’d find myself struggling with the demands at home and at work because I just don’t have the energy to do the things that I want to accomplish. I have tried taking nutritional supplements along with a regular exercise routine. It really gives me more energy as compared to being more sedentary. There are also times when I’d condition my mind that the more I move around, the more energy I’d burn. It’s really a day to day struggle, and what’s worse is the fact that not many doctors recognize fatigue as a part of PCOS.
I will be due for a consultation very soon, and I would definitely bring this topic up with my RE. For now, I guess you are right….We need to be open to all possibilities so we can just be treated. I will surely share my treatment with you. Hang in there! You are not alone!