Friday, August 8, 2014

Fatigue Anyone...??

Fatigue. 
Talk with anyone that suffers from Crohn's and it'll be THE most common symptom amongst us.
But what, if anything, can we do about it?
The most common, is anemia, so boosting your red blood cells and iron are key.  Here's what you can do as far as food goes:


Iron. Food rich in iron can help your body rebuild what it has lost. Lentils and legumes are a great way to get the iron you need and they are healthy for you in many other ways, too.
Copper. This vital mineral can be found in many foods, including shellfish, poultry, liver, whole grains, beans, cherries, chocolate and nuts.
Folic Acid. Long known as a great help for pregnant and nursing mothers, foods that contain folic acid include lentils, dark green leafy vegetables, blackeyed peas and cereals fortified with folic acid.
Vitamin A. This very important vitamin can be found in a multitude of fruits, including grapefruit, mango, watermelon, plums, cantaloupe and apricots.
Vitamin B12. Meat, eggs and fortified cereals are a great way to get plenty of B12 in your diet.
Vitamin B6.  This vitamin is found in a wide variety of foods, including meats, whole grains and bran, nuts and seeds, fish, vegetables and legumes.
There are also supplements, if you can tolerate them.
Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6 & Vitamin E, can also help in boosting your red blood cells.


Believe it or not, and even though you don't want to do it most days, but exercise can also reduce your fatigue levels.
Also, the simple act of sleeping helps.  But the effects of the disease itself, like pain, anxiety and depression are also factors in contributing to feeling tired.
Many times though, its the very medication that helps us, that tires us.


Be sure that every time you go to your specialist, or regular doctor, mention it.  Don't think that it can't be treated.....maybe they have suggestions that will help.  Not ever thing is going to work for everyone.
Can't hurt to try.
.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Yes... Always have your labs checked. My liver function test were 10 X normal. Liver problems contribute to fatigue. I always blame my GI problems on Crohn's and tend to blow them off. Crohn's can affect other parts of your GI tract other than intestines, so check.