Out on FMLA

Ok, here I go.  Friday, I left work after one hour because I had no energy and was too weak.  On Monday, I did okay.  Tuesday, I forced myself to work half of the day.  Yesterday, I finally realized that I just can't do it anymore.  After three hours, I took a leave of abcense.  I called Dr Provost's office and they told me that they wanted to see me in two weeks instead of a month.  They said they would fill out whatever information they could about me, but disability might not aprove me because I had only seen them once.  I don't have a choice anymore.  I had to gather the strength to get on here and post because I am so worn out.  Does anyone know what can cause such fatigue and malaise.  I know that my iron is low, but I am taking Bariatric Advantage Iron tabs now.  I don't know what to do anymore.  I don't know how to feel better.  I can not sleep all day, but I can't hold my head up.  I would rather just take something and go to sleep.  I want to sleep through this weak feeling.  If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it.  Please pray that my disability gets approved because with no income, we will lose everything.  Will already lost his job.  Thank you for the prayers.

-Kim T

Kim,

Sorry to hear that you did have to take a leave of absence, but in your current state it is probably the best thing.

I had no idea you were anemic.

You may want to look into an iron infusion or doing procrit injections to replace your iron stores that you have lost.

No doubt a lot of your energy issues are also related to your malnourishment.

I am glad that Dr. Provost has bumped up your appointment.

Does he know about your lack of energy and your anemia?

I am praying for you girlie and will be thinking about you.

I hope you get to feeling better soon.

I also will be praying that you get approved for your leave soon.

Hugs.

I didn't know I was anemi****il my visit with Dr Provost.  My labs from the other Dr had just come in.  Dr Provost is the one that told me about my iron level.  The reason that they bumped up my appt is because of my lack of energy.  I called their office today to tell them that I didn't think the OTC iron tab isn't helping.  I hope they call me tomorrow.  If I needed iron infusion, wouldn't he sugest that?  What is procrit?  Dr Davidson wrote me a Rx for Provate?  Not sure if I spelt it correctly.  The pharmacy said that it was discontinued. 

-Kim T

Kim,

Yeah you are right if your iron levels were that low he would be the one to suggest an iron infusion.

Procrit is an injection that helps replace reb blood cells and helps with anemia.

I hope they call you back soon.

HI Kim,

My advice to you is to not take for granted that this is related to your surgery.  Please make an appointment and go see your primary care doctor as well.  To have to take a leave of absence from work due to malaise and fatigue is pretty significant. A few years agod my sister was going through a divorce, had to quit her home daycare business and find a job for the first time in 6 years, was struggling financially too.  She became overwhelmed with the same symptoms you are describing but just put it off on "stress".  She kept having to leave work too due to extreeme fatigue and feeling sleepy all the time..  After getting in trouble at work she finally went to the doctor and a simple blood test showed she had Mono!  It took her months to recover and get her strength and stamina back.  Please look into other causes as well!

Kathy

Thank you for your advice.  I will definently do that.  It is strange to me how I just suddenly got this fatigue.  I, like your sister have thought it may be because of stress.  My husband was just laid off last week.  I am going to call my family dr tomorrow.

Thanks,

-Kim T

My first question is what kind of tube feeding are you on?  How much over how many hours?  I am assuming that it is your major source of nutrition.  Sounds like it ain't working.  Do you have a G tube or a J tube?  Are you doing bolist (sp) feeds or do you have a pump?

Tom has been on a tube feed for 3 years now and does not have the fatigue problems.  He has occasional problems, but not like what you describe.  Tom is on Diabetisoure A/C.  Originally he took 1000ml over 12 hours.  His blood work has been perfect so far.  Of course, now he is able to eat more and has cut way back on the tube feeds.  He still does them, just to cover the bases with protien and vits.

It may be as simple as being malnurished do to bad tube feeds.

I am on Nutren 1.0.  I have a pump that gives me night time feedings.  I set it on 86ml/hr for 10hrs.  I have a G tube.  I am not doing bolist feedings.  Since I came home on Monday, I haven't even had the strength to eat very much.  I might should increase my tube feeds until I get my strength back.

Before I stopped going to my origional surgeon, I was taking one chewable flinstone w/iron a day, and getting my B-12 through a 5hr energy.  That is what the surgeon told me to do.  He told me to stop taking B-12 supp because of the amount I was getting through the energy shot.  My labs came back that I was defecient in B-12, so the new Dr told me to take 1 B-12 sublingual a day.  When I changed the flinstone to 2 adult chewables, I couldn't find one with iron.  I forgot that I needed an iron supplement because I wasn't getting it in my multivitamin. 
It was my fault that I got anemic.  My problem is that now, I can't seem to get caught back up.
I hope that I can just get back to where I was.  Being tired all the time stinks.  My husband even thinks that I am faking it.  He keeps forcing me to watch the baby while he walks off or leaves, and it is VERY overwhelming.
When I go see Dr Provost on the 21st, I will ask them about changing my tube feeds.  I might even talk to them when they call me back hopefully tomorrow.

I would increase the tube feeds, but I am not a nurse or doc.  Check the label.  Does it have Iron in it?

It might be that a change here could help.

I know they are a pain, but if you need the nutrition, it is an excellent way to get it. 

Tom also has a liquid protien that is 15gms in one ounce that he bolists twice a day.

If you have an absorption issue all the vits in the world if they go through your mouth are not going to help.  Tom crushes his mixes with water and uses the tube.  We are in the process of transitioning him to oral meds and vits, but only the blood work will tell us if he is getting what he needs.