REALLY tired

[cjsmith]

I'm absolutely exhausted, but there are enough good reasons for it that I'm not 100% sure whether or not I'm still sick.

I didn't sleep well Thursday night (the late work night). See, I was an idiot and drank a mug of caffeinated tea. I'd been wanting ten-plus hours of sleep lately, so staying up until 1AM was a serious challenge. But once I'd had the caffeine I couldn't sleep.

Friday was pretty much a loss. I was in the office, but I wasn't really present. I did some random work chores requiring no brain. Then I came home and passed out. I've been doing an awful lot of that lately: come home and pass out. So very tired!

Today I have spent most of the day alternating between "I can't keep my eyes open, so maybe I'll close them" and "I'm not sleeping, so maybe I'll open my eyes and read something". Now, at 11:30pm, I am perking up a little.

If this past couple of days doesn't make me relapse, I may be healthier than I thought. The cough doesn't mean much because those always linger for me. Now if only the exhaustion would go away I'd be content. Right now that is really the only remaining "symptom" I care about.

Comments

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

I hope you got some good sleep after you posted this. Perhaps you were able to sleep in this morning, at least a little?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sure did! Things will also improve when I move back into the main bedroom, which is both quiet and dark. (I've been banished to the guest room because of my cough and Rob's foot.)

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

Hey,

This being really tired and then perking up after 10 pm are symptoms of adrenal exhaustion. (Which considering all the stress you've been under, makes sense) You can have your Dr. give you the spit test to check your levels. And then depending on how bad it is, give you either herbs or drugs to help.

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

I did that spit test, and it was quite illuminating.

But no treatment afterward; just denial. *sigh*

My doctor told me to stop drinking anything caffeinated (no, not even decaf tea) and stop eating anything sweetened (no, not even stevia). Because both of those things are adrenal stimulants.

I was exhausted for a few days after I changed my diet, and then I started to perk up. I feel pretty good now (and I'm thinking about re-testing).

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

Depending on what stage of adrenal exhaustion you are at, there's an herbal supplement that helps slow the adrenals down. I've been taking it several times a day since september, its called Seriphos. You have to look around for it, Whole Foods does not carry it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm usually fairly careful about caffeine and sugar/HFCS anyway, because they trigger a chronic pain issue I have. (I can't stand most artificial sweeteners, either.) But it's true that I've fallen off the wagon lately. It's time to pay attention again.

Glad you're feeling better! Amazing what eliminating POISON from your diet will do, huh? (ok, I exaggerate, but still!)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting. I guess I have enough stress (self-imposed and otherwise) that this is a sane thing to wonder about. Thanks for the idea!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

I feel your exhaustion and sympathize. :( The body tells us things we need to listen to, but we certainly have built our lives to ignore a lot of warning signs.

Hope your energy level perks up soon! (no square dance pun intended!)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

...we certainly have built our lives to ignore a lot of warning signs.

Well said. I remember reading an opinion piece somewhere stating that the single most health-damaging thing humanity has done was the invention of the light bulb. I'd quibble, but I can also really see the guy's point.