How To Help Major Fatigue…
Something which the majority of us suffer with as a bi-product of IBD. I find myself stuck in-between a rock and a hard place most of the time when I find myself hit with a sudden wave of chronic fatigue, yet I have a million things I need to get done that day. Or I’ve committed myself to attend a social event that night. Then, the dread starts to creep in. I’m not a quitter and usually take on the challenge of dragging myself out the door or completing my long task list. Resilience has built up inside of me over the years. My mum would constantly worry that I’m ‘over doing it’, or that I wasn’t ‘resting enough’. One day, I found myself in a room with one of my IBD nurses in the hospital. I had to undergo an emergency scan because one of my stritchers had nearly completely closed and was acting like a blocked drain pipe when it came to digesting food. I went straight in for an MRI, sitting with her and my mum and receiving the, not so great, results. Mum voiced her options about ‘over doing it’ etc, and Jackie said ‘Kay, Katie knows her body, she knows her limits. Just let her live her life the way she want to live it’.
How To Help Major Fatigue
Those words have always stuck in my mind. No matter what hardships are going on in my life. It’s so true. Just because we suffer from IBD, why should that stop us? Chronic fatigue is undoubtedly debilitating. It feels like you can’t put one foot in front of the other. Like getting a glass of water is a marathon. No words can describe the pain, mental difficulties and physical struggles we go through on a daily basis. But, here are some things you may want to try to help:
Make dietary adjustments i.e. try eating small meals throughout the day instead of large meals which are low in fat to speed up your gastric emptying rates
Move your body. It doesn’t have to be an intense training session, trying practising yoga or going for a walk out in nature
Take naps throughout the day and DO NOT feel bad or guilty about it. A 30 minute nap isn’t going to affect your goals, if anything it will make you more efficient. Extra time should be allotted when planning mentally or physically taxing activities to allow for breaks during and between tasks. Prioritising rest, even on days when symptoms are minimal, can help prevent a relapse or energy crash later.
Email me if you need help or have any questions: info@katieslifekitchen.co.uk
We are in this together
Love Katie x
