Yesterday I read a post on the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation blog entitled 13 Types of Sjogren's Fatigue. It was a well-written attempt to categorize and explain the fatigue associated with this disease.Now I may not be as erudite or informative as the author of that article, but I thought I'd give voice to a few more of my own:
- The Oh No, I'm Awake! fatigue - This is the one I face each and every morning. Sleep? Are you kidding? Did I really sleep? I know I spent time in my bed (because I distinctly remember waking up about 25 times throughout the night) but the word "rested" somehow just doesn't seem to apply.
- The Bone Tired fatigue - This is the one that comes from dealing with joint pain. . . .all of that ouch!-ing drains my energy and makes getting from here to there a feat of great proportions.
- The Lead Foot fatigue - Now having a lead foot usually refers to one who has a propensity to drive fast, but there's nothing fast about this. No, it feels like something (or someone) is literally weighing me down - forcing me to move in slow motion.
- The All-But-Surgically-Attached-to-My-Bed fatigue - One of my favs. . . . These are the days when I just can't wake up. . . when my children or husband try to rouse me from my bed. . . I respond and tell them I'll be up shortly. . . and drop back into a d-e-e-p sleep within seconds. . . unable to move from the bed.
- The I Emptied Half of The Dishwasher and Need to Rest fatigue (a.k.a. I Just Took a Shower fatigue) - Oh we all know this one, now don't we??? All that up-and-down with my arms, spine, and head. Exhausting. This particular fatigue is somewhat akin to the following:
- The I Vacuumed the Living Room fatigue - Sucks the life right out of me. . . I think I'm beginning to like dog hair after all.
- The World Is Spinning fatigue - This one comes with the added benefit of vertigo and its best friend nausea. And for once it has nothing to do with the spinning associated with my darling daughters. . or my proclivity to get the Wine Spins. Must lie flat on my back with this one.
- The Human Barometer fatigue - Oh yes, I can tell when a storm is brewing. . . no need for The Weather Channel in this house.
- The I Just Had a Panic Attack wipeout (often compounded by the I Had to Take a Xanax to Offset It sleepiness) - Now this one may, or may not, be related to my Sjogren's, but I'm here to tell you that the physiological process of experiencing panic can wipe me out for the rest of the day.
