Reasons for "Fatigue"

[inozz]

In my welcome post, I described my symptoms and possible causes. Now, I want to focus on the phenomenon of fatigue itself and try to understand its physiological cause.

So, here's how my fatigue manifests:

• It affects the strength of all muscles, primarily the legs. At a significant level, I simply cannot stand and stay upright without support.
• Stiffness in the upper part of the body—neck and shoulders. It's hard to describe, but it feels like very intense tension or external pressure that turns into pain.
• It also affects my gait, making it duck-footed—which is more like a manifestation of the weaker level of the same symptom I described in the first point.
• Periodic sensations of chills or cold in the body.

So, this is not quite muscle fatigue but rather a phenomenon that affects muscle function. In a mild form, it interferes (like causing a duck-footed gait) and in a severe form, it completely prevents muscles from working (i.e., I simply cannot lift an arm or leg).

And I think that this phenomenon in my body is some kind of inflammation.

What leads me to think this?

Laboratory Tests
Specific blood tests show high levels of both viral and bacterial activity. The CBC test confirms this as well.

Effect of Insulin Release
A few months ago, I tried the Elemental Diet - one serving had quite a lot of maltodextrin i.e., sugar (about 11g out of a 46g serving). And about three hours after the first serving, I felt an unusual state of hunger and even dizziness. It also brought on a feeling of lightness in the body without fatigue - that evening, I did not feel tired at all, which was not the case even after a cold shower. However, I was only able to replicate this state once, and even then, the fatigue only partially subsided.

Reduction of Fatigue at Night
If I get up to use the bathroom at night, I usually feel significantly less tired than during the day or before bedtime. Initially, I associated this with muscle rest, but later realized that simply lying down does not have an effect (and may even enhance fatigue). After my experiments with melatonin, I hypothesized that fatigue decreases in the middle of the night during the body's production of melatonin.

What do you think about my thoughts? Does this sound like your “fatigue”?

 

[Wishful]

I think my fatigue-like symptom is neurological: certain brain cells not functioning properly. It doesn't correlate with inflammation.

 

[Faith2007]

Another thing to explore would be cortisol levels, which can be too low in the morning, and much higher at night for some ME/CFS patients. There is a subgroup of ME/CFS patients with HPA Axis problems. My problem is actually flipped but I have multiple endocrine system issues, including a mini tumor/cyst.

 

[xploit316]

I think my fatigue-like symptom is neurological: certain brain cells not functioning properly. It doesn't correlate with inflammation.

I loose focus and get mentally fatigued pretty soon in any social setting which involves being surrounded by people, so school, office, airport etc. One on one conversation in a private quiet setting is alright, however brainfog sets in if the conversation stretches too long or it gets too analytical and boring. When all alone by myself the energy and focus is 3x better however I tend to overdo in this situation which brings about a new set of issues (Insomnia, adrenal problems).

 

[Rufous McKinney]

If I get up to use the bathroom at night, I usually feel significantly less tired than during the day or before bedtime.

My sleep is disrupted by having to visit the bathroom, moan. My digestion moves too rapidly, Things which help my digestion, slow all that down, but only so much.

so I have odd experiences at 5 or 6 am, in which I can feel like an almost normal person. And then, my eyes start up. Maybe in another hour or so, my eyes start pouring liquid, and are burning.

With each progressive get back up to use the bathroom, Im feeling worse and worse. (I do not want to get up at six am) (I stay up later)

(can I share the following strange tale- of being in a car driving many hours, with somebody I didn't know very well, and they told me how their brother in law was visiting, and how he gets up to use the bathroom at 5am.

This person considered his son in law to be a FREAK. And I said nothing: called thats totally normal, here.)

 

[GreenEdge]

So, here's how my fatigue manifests:

• It affects the strength of all muscles, primarily the legs. At a significant level, I simply cannot stand and stay upright without support.
• Stiffness in the upper part of the body—neck and shoulders. It's hard to describe, but it feels like very intense tension or external pressure that turns into pain.
• It also affects my gait, making it duck-footed—which is more like a manifestation of the weaker level of the same symptom I described in the first point.
• Periodic sensations of chills or cold in the body.

So, this is not quite muscle fatigue but rather a phenomenon that affects muscle function. In a mild form, it interferes (like causing a duck-footed gait) and in a severe form, it completely prevents muscles from working (i.e., I simply cannot lift an arm or leg).

Yes, that sounds very much like my fatigue.

And I think that this phenomenon in my body is some kind of inflammation.

I think it's stress, but I can't figure out where it's coming from. So it could very well be due to inflammation in the brain or central nervous system.

Effect of Insulin Release
A few months ago, I tried the Elemental Diet - one serving had quite a lot of maltodextrin i.e., sugar (about 11g out of a 46g serving). And about three hours after the first serving, I felt an unusual state of hunger and even dizziness. It also brought on a feeling of lightness in the body without fatigue - that evening, I did not feel tired at all, which was not the case even after a cold shower. However, I was only able to replicate this state once, and even then, the fatigue only partially subsided.

Continuing to aim for zero carbohydrates has improved my health and calmness.

Reduction of Fatigue at Night
If I get up to use the bathroom at night, I usually feel significantly less tired than during the day or before bedtime. Initially, I associated this with muscle rest, but later realized that simply lying down does not have an effect (and may even enhance fatigue). After my experiments with melatonin, I hypothesized that fatigue decreases in the middle of the night during the body's production of melatonin.

Could be. I think muscle recovery requires muscle relaxation. Our muscles only truly go limp during sleep, the deeper the better. The most helpful medication I've ever used is a muscle relaxant. After it was prescribed to me by a musculoskeletal specialist, all my usual doctors since have had no problem renewing my script for it. And the amount I need has reduced over time, so it really does help , unlike other medications