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Health Information
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Saturday, November 22, 2008
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Find
more information about this topic from either the Web or the world's best
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| Patient
Information Sheet #2, Preventing Fatigue Due to Lupus |
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Fatigue
is a very common complaint of all people with systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE), even when no other symptoms
of active disease are present. The fatigue of lupus isn
t just being tired. You may feel an extreme fatigue that
interferes with many aspects of your daily life. You may
find that you are unable to participate in your normal
pattern of daily activities, such as working, caring for
your family and home, or participating in social activities.
The exact cause of this fatigue is not known.
Your
doctor and nurse will probably ask you about your lifestyle
and patterns of daily living and activity. They will also
evaluate your overall fitness, health, nutrition, and
ability to handle stress. Your doctor or nurse will then
be able to advise you about how your fatigue can be reduced.
It is important to remember that getting enough rest,
maintaining physical fitness, and keeping stress under
control are absolutely necessary for anyone with lupus.
Changes
in your lifestyle and patterns of daily living and activity
may not be easy to accept. In addition, the changes necessary
for you to cope with your disease today may be different
from the changes you may have to make later as your disease
changes. A positive attitude and a well-thought-out, but
flexible, plan of action will increase the chances that
you can make these changes successfully.
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Caring
For Yourself
- Get
enough sleep. You may be able to get by on 8 hours
a night, or you may need more.
- Plan
for additional rest periods throughout the day,
as needed. Do not exhaust yourself.
- Getting
enough rest does not mean no activity at all.
A well-designed exercise program is important
to maintaining strength, endurance, and overall
fitness.
- Every
week, make a simple plan of your work and activities.
The plan can help you organize the events of your
life and ensure that you have a good balance of
rest and activity.
- Each
day, review your plan and decide if you are physically
up to the activities for that day. Be flexible;
if you don t have the strength to do an activity
today, do it another time.
- Don
t try to complete a large task or project all
at one time; divide it into several steps.
- Eat
a well-balanced diet.
- Dealing
with stressful issues and problems takes a lot
of energy. If you feel stressed out, talk with
your doctor or nurse. They may be able to provide
you with help for your problem or direct you to
someone else who can.
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ADDITIONAL
NOTES
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| From
LUPUS: A Patient Care Guide for Nurses and Other Health
Professionals, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases/National Institutes of Health |
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Patient
Information Sheet #2
Patient Information Sheets
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Outline Credits Acknowledgments Introduction
1. Erythematosus 2. Advances 3. Tests 4. Care 5. Medications
6. Psychosocial Aspects 7. Patient Info. 8. Resources
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National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2350
January 26,
1999
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