It’s taken me six years to realize that a major symptom of my Parkinson’s is fatigue. Not tiredness but fatigue. What is the difference between them? To me being tired is the result of activity or not enough sleep and can be alleviated by sleep and rest. Fatigue as opposed to tiredness is a recognized medical problem. It is the result of a physical or mental medical condition marked by feelings of lethargy and a lack of motivation and may even be present in people getting enough sleep. Fatigue has been described as an overwhelming sense of tiredness, a lack of energy, a feeling of exhaustion. It can be physical, mental, emotional, or all three and may lead to depression.
Several recent studies have highlighted the clinical significance of fatigue in Parkinson’s disease as a unique symptom not caused by or related to other symptoms. PD medications (Sinemet) don’t seem to combat fatigue and according to some studies may make it worse. One-third of all people with PD cite fatigue as their single most bothersome symptom, worse than the motor symptoms of tremor and rigidity, or problems with walking, freezing, balance and speech.
Fatigue can have a significant negative impact on quality of life and those experiencing it often describe it as being the worst, or amongst the worst, of their PD symptoms. People use the expression that they are bone tired but fatigue is deeper than bone. It is like being tired on a cellular level. Doing things may tire me but I get fatigued just thinking about doing them.
Researchers are now beginning to study the significance of fatigue in Parkinson’s disease due to its prevalence and impact on the lives of people with PD but little progress has been made in understanding its nature or cause nor in finding ways to manage the problem clinically. One possible reason for the slow pace of progress is the lack of an appropriate instrument to measure fatigue in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Fatigue is physical but it can lead to apathy, not caring what happens, and depression which is mental. The slippery slope is that fatigue leads to lethargy, lethargy to apathy, and apathy to depression. Apathy is a lack of interest, enthusiasm, motivation, or concern. I am now completely without vanity. I no longer care how I look just as long as I am clean and have my clothes on semi correctly.
You can fight Parkinson's disease apathy by exercising, trying to get regular sleep, taking short naps, and making sure you do not isolate yourself. Some people fight apathy by planning and doing small manageable tasks. Make sure you and your doctor agree on your drug regimen. The dishes still might not get done, but at least you will feel better.
There is a Fatigue Intensity Scale test on the web that I suggest you take. I would take it and tell you my score except I am too tired I mean fatigued to even think about taking the test and I’m tired, really tired, of having Parkinson’s.
