I too am very sensitive to meds. Some of what I've found out over the years, after my celiac disease I would notice that some meds made me sick. Upon further investigation, they meds I could not tolerate had gluten in them. Gluten is put in alot more meds today than it used to be. Also, after going thru food allergy testing, I then learned that the dyes used in meds I am allergic to. So, to make a long story short, what few meds I take my Dr writes on the script for the compounding pharmacist who makes my meds the old fashion way. Clean and pure without dyes and gluten. What a difference that made. I don't know if your state has compounding pharmacist but they are an excellent source of information.
The sleep issue I am afraid is common. I will get stuck always being up at 3 AM. It seems to come in cycles. I joke and say "well tonight I'm up doing night shift." Many years ago it would frustrate me, but now I just know it is the nature of the disease. I don't know if you have ever tried Melatonin at bedtime. It does sometimes help me.
I doubt that the small amount of Vicodin you are taking is causing the fatigue. It is more likely the disease. Have you been checked for CFS?

I have heard that some with fibro will have fatigue. But also that some of us have both.

I like the about.com page about chronic fatigue syndrome. There you can find diagnosis criteria for Canada and U.S. They are mostly the same but a little different. It talks about how it begins, and gives a list of symptoms you have a certain number of for at least 6 months.

I would start there. If it looks like you might have it then discuss at the next dr appointment. Most likely you won't be doing anything very different than you are now. Cfs doesn't have a cure, or anything you can take that makes the symptoms go away.

To make it more complicated what helps one cfs patient's symptoms doesn't always help another. Pacing yourself seems to be the only thing that is universal.

I guess I'm saying that if you have it, there is no need to do extra worrying about it. You are more than welcome here. We try to support each other.

Hi!i

Yes, I would say that meds can add to your fatigue. Especially tranquilizers and pain meds, which are meant to "bring us down a notch"....that would have to include a drowsy side effect.

Fibro is a mean animal in itself. I hope you do not have CFS. I have it but do not suffer fibro pain. PTL for that!

However, the exhausting fatigue is surely made worse by the meds I take for anxiety. I try to use this for my good! I try to take the meds around my bedtime to aid me in my continual sleep disturbances from this illness. I'm up and down all hours of the night! I'm typing this at five thirty in the morning! So I get ya, with the sleep problems.

As was mentioned already, even if you do have CFS.....you can only treat your symptoms as they come along....devastating fatigue being number one on the list. So don't worry about getting it written in stone from a doctor. Just try to pace yourself, take your fibro meds, even if they make you tired. Adding pain to the mix isn't going to help anything, and contine to come here and talk to us for support. We're all in this together.

PS. I use a Compounding Pharmacist as well. It's the best way to avoid unnecessary chemicals in our meds!!

I also take 1/2 to 3/4 tablet of oxycodone, once or twice a day and have been for many years. I find that I often get a little bit of energy when it begins to ease my pain a bit...I believe this is because of the great amount of energy it takes to cope with pain. Anyway, I would agree that the small amount of Vicodin is likely not the culprit in your increased fatigue, but it is rather your illness cycle. In addition, you seem to have been taking it for 3 years without this particular side effect. Thank goodness for pain medicine. I am so grateful to be able to have a few hours in the day when I have some slight relief in my ever-present pain symptoms.

Thank you everyone for your comments. No, I have not been officially diagnosed with CFS, but I have had fatigue for years with it getting worse since around April 2012.

I used to exercise for up to an hour a day 3 years ago and now I am down to 15 minutes a day plus a 10 minute walk with my dog (which I push myself to do). I know I might be pushing my body more than I should, but I am scared if I cut down anymore, I will not be able to exercise at all.

At 41 , I am trying to hold onto any normalcy I can, even going beyond my limits to show my husband and kids that mommy is still Superwoman. My hubby is understanding, but he does not know how much I REALLY struggle.

I have given up on going to a doctor (it has been well over a year since I have been seen), because of how I am treated. I liked my Rheumy Dr., but after the Fibro diagnosis, she sent me back to my Internal Med Dr. There is only so much I guess they will do. Does anyone think I should see her for the CFS? My Internal Dr. is not sympathetic and I try to avoid her at all cost.

Wow....I could have written your posts...it all sounds so very familiar (except the exercise part-lol). Trying so hard to hold onto some "normalcy"...to be "superwoman"...my husband (or anybody) never know how much I "REALLY struggle". Soooo familiar. It's so hard and lonely isn't it? I'm sorry. My appointments with my Rhuemy doctor have been unhelpful as well...he's a nice guy...but can do nothing to help and refers me back to my primary care/internal medicine doctor. I'm very lucky...my internal med doc is the best. Yet, I hate going, because there is nothing more that can be done and sometimes I feel bad for her, because I know that she wants to help me...plus the whole disappointment thing of going to the doctor and walking out with no answers gets so very discouraging...I just don't want to keep putting myself through that emotional rollercoaster. My doc has helped with pain meds and sleep meds...and I don't know what I would do without that and her. Who prescribes your pain meds? Do they encourage you to use them?....like you, I use half doses sparingly and many times I wish I would use more, so that I could have more quality hours in a day, but I worry that they will stop working or that I will need more. We sound similar, don't we? Anyway, I really believe that having a primary care doctor who is understanding and that you trust and feel that you can go to, when you really need to, is so helpful. So if it is your Rheumy doc or another doc...you really need someone that you feel will listen and understand. If your current doc doesn't do that...maybe finding a new one will provide you some comfort. Not likely any big answers, but it is really nice to have someone that will work with you on the struggles that you face. Well, that's my "two cents worth". HUGS! P.S...I was diagnosed with CFIDS over 19 years ago.