The Unrelenting Battle: Chronic Illness Fatigue

Living with chronic illness is an ongoing challenge that affects every aspect of one’s life. Among the many hurdles faced by those of us with chronic conditions is the persistent and overwhelming exhaustion, known as chronic illness fatigue, that often goes unnoticed or misunderstood. In this blog, I want to bring this topic to the forefront and go into the complexities of chronic illness fatigue, shed light on its potential causes, its impact (and boy does it impact), and strategies to cope.

Let me start by saying that chronic illness fatigue is not simply feeling tired or sleepy. It’s not just, “Oh, I didn’t sleep well last night so I’m tired but this cup of coffee will perk me right up.” Nay nay. Chronic illness fatigue is a debilitating and unrelenting fatigue that surpasses the normal boundaries of exhaustion. It is the type of fatigue that you feel in your bones. Like, your bones ache with how tired they are. I didn’t even realize this was possible until I experienced it but it is a common symptom experienced by individuals living with conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBD, PCOS, Hashimoto’s, and many others. This type of fatigue is typically more severe and long-lasting compared to everyday fatigue and it can persist even after a good night’s sleep or with minimal physical exertion.

The causes of chronic illness fatigue are multifaceted and can vary from person to person. Some of the more common causes can include:

1. Inflammation: Many chronic illnesses come with inflammation of the body, which can lead to fatigue as the body constantly fights against itself.

2. Pain and sleep disturbance: Chronic pain can disrupt your sleep patterns, and other symptoms of other disorders can do the same, resulting in poor sleep quality, which ultimately contributes to fatigue.

3. Side effects of medications: Certain medications used to manage chronic illness can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue as a side effect.

4. Psychological factors: Coping with the challenges of living with a chronic illness, such as stress, anxiety, and depression can drain a person’s energy resources.

5. Nutrient deficiencies: Depending on symptoms and challenges, it can be a struggle to get adequate nutrition whether it is due to digestive symptoms or just feeling too tired to eat. This can become a vicious cycle where you are too tired to make adequate meals but inadequate nutrition can contribute to fatigue. Fun right? Right.

These are just a few factors that contribute to fatigue. Whatever the reason, chronic illness fatigue significantly impacts a person’s quality of life and their ability to engage fully in daily activities. It can make even simple tasks, such as getting dressed or preparing a meal, feel impossible. The fatigue can also lead to cognitive difficulties, including memory problems and difficulty thinking and concentrating, otherwise known as the dreaded “brain fog,” that further impedes one’s ability to function. And when I say brain fog, I mean it truly feels like your brain is surrounded in a thick fog that resembles Stephen King’s The Mist killing whatever brain cell capacity you happen to be clinging to at that moment. Dramatic example? Yes, but I’m trying to drive home a point here.

While chronic illness fatigue may feel overwhelming, there are strategies to help manage its impact on your life. This isn’t a cure by any means but more like a hold your nose and get through it type of coping.

1. Energy conservation: Learning to prioritize and pace yourself is crucial. Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks and taking regular rest breaks can help conserve energy throughout the day. Trust me, as someone who prides herself on being “superwoman,” I know this is hard but one thing I have learned is to forgive yourself and let go. Who cares if you need to rest every 5 minutes while completing a task? Who cares if you don’t get to a task that day? Who cares if you need to ask for help? It’s no one’s life to live but yours so be kind to yourself and if anyone judges you that’s their problem. It’s not their life to live and if it bothers them then they get to live with that.

2. Healthy lifestyle: Maintaining a well-balanced diet, engaging in exercise (when possible and whatever you enjoy and can do), and practicing good sleep hygiene can positively impact fatigue levels. I know, this one is hard. I struggle with it as well and how well I can do this changes all of the time. But try to do your best and maintain a healthy lifestyle whenever you can and forgive yourself if you can’t.

3. Support networks: Seeking support from family, friends, or support groups can provide emotional and practical assistance when dealing with chronic illness fatigue. I get it. This one is hard for me as well. But if chronic illness has taught me anything, it’s that it takes a village to manage and asking for help, when necessary, is so important.

4. Stress management: Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies that you enjoy can help manage fatigue levels. As someone who has always been an “on the go” person, things like meditation were never really my jam. However, I will testify that, now that I have started to engage in meditation practices (nothing long, only about 15 minutes a day), I have noticed a difference. It also doesn’t have to be meditation, it can be anything that relieves stress; whatever that looks like for you, and it doesn’t have to be long. It can be as short as 1 minute to as long as you’d like. Again, whatever works for you and what you like to do.

5. Communication with your healthcare team: Openly discussing fatigue symptoms with your healthcare team allows for a better understanding and potential adjustments to your treatment plan. For example, I have multiple healthcare providers I work with. My GI specialist monitors the Crohn’s and levels of medication in my body to ensure that the inflammation is under control as much as possible. I also have an Internal Medicine specialist that assists me with diet, lifestyle, and supplements to combat hormonal issues and fatigue as well. One doctor may not know much about another topic but if you have a team they can complement each other to try to keep you as healthy as possible. For those living in the U.S., this can be a struggle because of our healthcare system. That is a blog post for another day. So, I do understand that, financially, having a team of healthcare professionals can be hard so, again, do what you can when you can.

These suggestions above aren’t all encompassing and they may not “cure” the never-ending battle with fatigue that we experience. At the end of the day, it all comes down to taking care of ourselves as much as we can, asking for help when we need it, and advocating for ourselves to obtain the treatment that works for us.

Chronic illness fatigue is a formidable adversary that affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding its underlying causes, acknowledging its impact, and implementing effective coping strategies are vital for those battling chronic illness. By prioritizing self-care, seeking support, and making necessary adjustments to daily routines, individuals can find ways to navigate the challenges posed by chronic illness fatigue and lead fulfilling lives despite its presence. Remember, you are not alone in this fight, and there is always hope for brighter days ahead.