December 01, 2010

Fatigue and the Holidays

Happy December! Can you believe it's already the end of the year? I can't believe how fast November has gone. We're in the full swing of the holiday season here in Washington DC. However, holiday season can bring on unwanted stress for people with lupus. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing tips on managing lupus during the holiday season.

Today, I want to share an article from the Fall 2005 issue of Lupus Now magazine: Foiling Fatigue. Fatigue in people with lupus can be difficult to cope with, especially during busy periods such as the holidays, but it can be managed. Read the article and leave a comment to let us know - how do you manage fatigue during the holidays?

5 comments:

Janet LaPierre said...

I was diagnosed in 2007 and the hardest part has been the fatigue. Once I acknowledged the fact that the energy level just wasn't there anymore, the coping got easier. When I'm tired I stop and rest or just lay down. If family or friends are planning something I'm just not up for, well that's just the way it is. Luckily they understand. Having people who support me has been one of the single most important things that has, and is, helping be cope.

Anonymous said...

I was misdiagnosed for 10 years with RA. I just found out 2 weeks ago that I have Lupus. This fatigue is a serious bummer given I am a 30 year old whose active and outgoing. I hope it gets easier.

Anonymous said...

I agree with what Janet has stated. I also had a hard time adjusting to a lower energy level. It took me a long time to finally start listening to my body and rest before pushing myself too far. It's easier, and less time consuming, to just kick back in the recliner for a little while versus totally having zero energy and spending hours down. I am also very lucky to have a great support system.

Anonymous said...

I am on year #6 with SLE, just a bummer with the fatigue, no one seems to get this part of lupus and it is by far the worse part. so I stopped hosting the huge holiday party, quit being that person everyone went to and scaled back by about 50%. Still very tired after holiday but usually can get through the days themselves

Anonymous said...

I finally realized that I had to start taking it easy and that I am not the same person I was before being diagnois in 2003 with lupus. My realization came to me when I was hospitalized in October for the first time in 8 years. I finally accepted the fact that when I get fatigued to stop and take a long rest and whatever had to be done go a slow and steady pace