How to Cope with Chronic Fatigue
Sorry I haven’t written earlier this week, but I have been battling fatigue. Whenever I am on my period, I not only have terrible cramps, I also often feel sick. My throat will get a little sore, my muscles will ache, my allergies will worsen. I have been having trouble with digestion, too. I know that endometriosis is an immune disease. Many other conditions involving chronic pain are immune-system related, also. When I know my immune system is going to be more compromised by being on my period, I prepare by taking vitamins and getting more rest.
But why am I so tired when I am getting extra rest? Insomnia isn’t the problem. I go to bed at a decent hour, I exercise and drink enough water, yet I still have puffy eyes and feel like I am moving around inside a pool of pudding.
I’m stepping it up a notch.
Battle Chronic Fatigue
Drink More Water
It’s important to drink more water, and that helps me feel refreshed and more focused. It’s also important not to drink too much. You have to know what works for you or not. 64 ounces is usually the recommended amount. I struggle to drink that much. But after feeling so poorly this week, I’m going to measure carefully and be sure I’m not substituting iced tea or other caffeinated drinks for water. I have a baby water bottle (8 ounces) that I refill over and over during the day to help me measure how much I’m drinking. I use plain tap water, but what kind of water you drink is up to you. You can always buy an inexpensive pitcher filter–I’ve used them in the past. Seeing a nice cold tank or pitcher of delicious filtered water in the fridge is a great reminder to keep your body healthy by drinking enough water.
Go to Bed Earlier
Even when I honor my early bedtime, I have to make sure I’m going to actually sleep. Reading in bed, drinking soothing herbal tea, and lovemaking make for a great night’s sleep, but only if it’s for enough hours. It’s impossible to make up sleep, so I aim for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That means I have to account for waking up to barking dogs and to my full bladder. To me, going to bed early in my beautiful, cozy bed is luxurious. I like to think of an early bedtime as pampering myself and as time for spiritual reflection and healing. Thinking in that manner can help insomniacs retrain themselves so they have better sleeping habits. Sleep is a time for physical healing too. Whenever I get consistently less sleep, I get more and more run down. Even if I shave a half hour off my rest here and there, I think it makes a difference that one time a month I have to prepare for. I couldn’t battle it well at all this time.
Exercise
This takes a lot of time to feel the benefits. At least for me. Whenever I exercise after work, I am exhausted. I feel like I can’t do anything else but shower and rest. I was relieved to hear one of my girlfriends say that she can either exercise after work or make dinner. I use my slow-cooker all the time, so I often have dinner ready when I get home after work. Consistently exercising 4-5 times a week, I think that my energy levels will increase soon, especially if I:
Eat Less Sugar
Sugar acts like poison inside my body. I can feel it. I am going to allow myself a cookie here and there, but I do not want my body trying to process what I think of as non-food.
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