The latest issue of The Moisture Seekers newsletter's cover is graced with what probably is the best article I've read in a very, very long time. It's entitled "Thirteen Types of Fatigue", and was written by Terri Rumph, PhD.
It is a revision of an essay written by Dr. Rumph ten years ago. Here's an excerpt but by all means, head over to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation website to read the article in it's entirety. I don't believe that I have ever read a better definition of this, the most life-changing aspect of our disease: fatigue.
"How are you?"I asked a friend who has Sjogren's. "Tired," she said, "how are you?" "Tired," I replied, knowing we understood each other. We were talking about a special brand of fatigue. Later that day, a friend who did not have Sjogren's asked me the same question. "How are you?' she said. "Fine," I responded, thinking it was the simpler way to answer a basically rhetorical question.She goes on to identify thirteen different flavors of fatigue:
- Basic fatigue
- Rebound fatigue
- Sudden fatigue
- Weather related fatigue
- Molten lead phenomenon
- Tired-wired
- Flare-related fatigue
- Fatigue induced by other physical conditions
- Fatigue that impairs concentration
- Stress, distress, anxiety or depression
- Fatigue that comes from not sleeping well
- Fatigue that comes with normal aging
- Chronic illness fatigue
Dr. Rumph is the co-author of The Sjogren's Syndrome Survival Guide with Katherine Moreland Hammitt, which can be purchased from the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation's website, here.
6 comments:
I really liked the article as well. LOVE her book!
I will go over to read the article, but I have her book and read it again from time to time.
I wish there was a cure for fatigue. It has hit me extremely hard the last several weeks. Seems like all I can do is go to work, go home and lay down, Monday thru Friday. It's getting depressing...
The various type of fatigue are really well described, and it's so true.
I gave a copy of the book to my sister and she shared it with her primary doctor. My sis just got her diagnosis of sjogrens. I got my diagnosis in 2008 after 10 years of doctors and labwork.
Recently I was placed in a new health plan and I gave a copy of the book to my new primary doctor. Best $ I ever spent!
I love reading your blog. You have a good handle on your dealing with sjogrens. I find a sense of humor and positive outlook make my days more bearable.
Yes! For me, this is the worst part of having SS and RA. Some days, I am so tired I can't think straight. Hard to explain to people (even the ones who know you are ill) when you look so normal.
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