MainStay
The Fatigue Factor
Issue 4: July 2007 Page 2
Issue 4: July 2007 Page 2
Life with MS can be successful, rewarding and always challenging. However, adopting a healthy attitude, one that acknowledges you have a handicap, and not a disability, combined with careful consideration, you can find ways to overcome the everyday challenges and turn a poor hand into a winning hand. Remember the great Phar Lap always ran with a handicap; he did well and so can we!
Below is a list of strategies for managing the fatigue factor due to MS.
1. Establish a routine for going to bed and rising the same time daily.
2. Showering can be extremely fatiguing. Take your shower of an evening so you can then rest in front of the television or go to bed.
3. One of the most exhausting activities can be getting dressed. I prepare my clothes as much as possible the night before, e.g. I do up most of the buttons on a shirt so in the morning I just pull it on like a jumper and when I’m really doing it tough I wear a vest that has no buttons.
4. Plan your daily activity with regular rest points.
5. Take notice of when and what tends to zap your energy and plan strategies for dealing with it the next time around.
6. Plan to do activities that are going to require either a physical workload or emotional headspace early in the morning or when you have rested and have a clear head.
7. Hold off from making significant decisions until you are feeling rested and alert.
8. Manage other people’s expectations of what you can and can not do. Remember, most people can not begin to imagine the effects of MS and fatigue - so you need to address this at the outset of activities involving other parties.
9. Speak to an occupational therapist to gain some strategies for conserving your energy. Your local MS Society can assist you with this or talk to your local GP.
10. Keep yourself cool - don’t allow yourself to become too over heated - this will quickly zap your energy reserves.
11. If you have a family or a partner, take time to sit together and discuss the areas of your daily life where you feel it is consuming your energy and discuss options that can address this for you. Recently we decided that doing the weekly shopping was expending too much energy so we have arranged for a friend to do this when they do their weekly shopping. Seek out your local support services, Neighbourhood Centres or the local Area Health Service - they may be able to assist or point you in the right direction.
12. Young children can often find a parent with MS and fatigue confusing. Often fatigue is the only symptom for a person with MS and on the surface they may look fine. This discussion is worth including your GP. A child is more likely to understand and be more cognisant of the situation coming from a doctor or a health professional.
If you have a story you would like to share, just email markhorton@westnet.com.au
Mark is the executive director of Mark Horton & Associates Pty Ltd where he is a leading keynote speaker specialising in personal and professional change, corporate and life coach as well the author of his best selling book: Power to Choose. Challenge to Change.