MS Fatigue Workshop - Complete

Whew - I committed to something for six weeks - early Wednesday mornings, and I did it. Some days, I did not want to be there: I was just too tired. Other days, I slept for the rest of the day...and even the day after.

I'm not sure that I learned anything NEW, but it was a good refresher of some common sense things.

I know to preserve my steps. I know that not for fatigue, but for the wobbles.

I know that there is such a thing called Secondary Fatigue: fatigue brought on by medications, stress, physiological conditions and a few other things. I'm not on any new medications, and I try to limit my stress.

I know to keep my body compact when working/moving. But, I still need to move my Mini Wheats down from the top shelf, and if I ever have to make the bed, I will raise my knee up and rest it on the bed.

Schedules can be good things. Schedules help to give you a sense of purpose, as well as allow you opportunities to rest. When making a schedule, plan your rest FIRST. Jason and I need to make a house cleaning schedule.

Fatigue is unpredictable - we all expressed to our Occupational Therapist that no matter how good it sounds to "BANK" energy, there isn't always a guarantee that it will be available when you call upon it. That being said, to plan a day of go-go-go is silly...schedule rests. The gist of it is to not over-do it. And...don't wait to rest. If you are slipping, put your work/play/conversation away, and rest.

Communication is important, including communicating to those close to you what your fatigue is like. Choose your time to share carefully: be in a good place yourself, and make sure that your audience is interested and also in a good place. Communicating helps you and your friends/family/co-workers to be comfortable and supportive. And in the end, not everyone will understand.

The goal of the workshop was to give us strategies. I think it was a success. Can't wait for the cognition workshop!

Emily