Fatigue is aweful and hard to manage. I keep a stool in my kitchen and sit on it to cook. Also, I set a timer and only work for 15 minutes then rest, or I will over do. There are drugs that can help, but you have to find the right one for you. It is frustrating for sure!!!

ty MSKC, i think i will try the timer thing! thnx, kelly

Fatigue is the most common (and the most disabling) symptom reported by people with MS. Fatigue is one of those frustrating symptoms that you can feel but others can't see. So, you need to be ready to educate the important people in your life about how your fatigue feels and how it affects your day-to-day activities.

Along with cognitive impairment, fatigue is a primary cause of early departure from the workforce, so effective fatigue management needs to be high on everyone's priority list from the get-go. The good news is that there are strategies to help you deal with whatever level of fatigue you're experiencing. The critical point about fatigue management is that it's an ongoing process. You will have to tweak it as the fatigue, your activities, or your priorities change.

Why stand in the shower when you can sit on a shower chair? Why use a manual can opener when an electric one can do the job faster and with less effort? Take a careful look at all the gadgets that have been designed to make life easier for you. There are plenty of sites on the internet for this.

Using a mobility aid, such as a cane or motorized scooter can help you conserve energy for the important things.

Substitute organization for effort - make sure that your work spaces at home and the office are well-organized and readily accessible.

Ask for reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Think how much energy and effort you would save if you had a parking spot closer to the building, an office closer to the bathroom, and a flex-time schedule that allows you to work during your high-energy hours.

Plan meals that require a minimum of preparation and gather all of your ingredients in one place before starting to cook. Make your bed one side at a time to avoid trips back and forth. Throw the laundry bag down the basement stairs rather than trying to carry it. I just bought a book called 300 Tips for Making Life with Multiple Sclerosis Easier by Shelley Peterman Schwartz. It might give you some more ideas. I haven't read it yet, but looking forward to it.

Give yourself permission to do things differently and ask for assistance when you need it. One of the biggest hurdles to dealing with fatigue is getting used to the idea that you may not be able to do everything the way you did it before. After you've decided that it's okay to adapt to the changes, you be able to come up with creative strategies and workarounds to save energy and time.