Fatigue

[firenze11]

Thanks. I think I will maybe cut back for a bit just to see if it helps or not, I feel better today after skipping spin so maybe it was good to take a day off. I'm also thinking about going to the doc to ask about possible mild SAD. I guess it wouldn't hurt

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Yes, I know what you mean. Yesterday I literally wilted at my desk as it was getting cloudy AND dark at 4:30 pm.

Some of the suggestions on here I have already implemented. When I start to feel wilty I get out and start walking. I started walking at lunch with some people I work with. I walk my dog in the dark of the morning and then the dark at night, but it feels good to get outside. I try to get out as much as I can.

On the training end. Take a break. I am realizing I was stupid to train as much as I did with an injured leg and now I'm finally, after a year, getting back on track. I would take a few weeks off and just do some different things, maybe hit the gym, swim, walk or heck, just do nothing. It makes you appreciate good, non fatigued workouts even more.

Do you weight train? This is the time of year I amp up my weight training-except last year I got the big idea that I didn't need it and got injured. If I only took my own advice huh....?

The artificial lights- I don't like them They are a weird kind of light, I checked several out, you really need to see them before you buy them. The light kind of annoyed me, I have no idea why.

[firenze11]

Tahoe, thanks for the suggestions.

I definitely think I'm going to start weight training, and maybe a little yoga again. I'm cutting down a bit on my workouts when I feel like my body's too tired to do them, it's not fun when I make myself go and feel exhausted the rest of the day.

I went to the doc today and asked him about SAD. He thinks I definitely have it and recommended light therapy. I'll give it a try and see how it goes. I'm trying to take walks, too, so I can get out into the sun and stretch my legs. But winter is definitely coming and sunny days aren't really that frequent. Yesterday and today were awful, gray and cloudy and cold.

So, when do I get a prescription to move to Hawaii from October to March? Or maybe the Italian Riviera?

[crazycanuck]

Or mozy on down to Aust for some sunshine

[Miranda]

I get the SAD very badly in the winter too. Some girls I know do a wee bit of the tanning bad. I'm super fair, so I don't. I saw a show once on a special type of light bulb panel a lady had by her treadmill that helped. I purposely keep all the window shades pulled way up to let as much light as possible.

As posted, I'll add another about over training. I never thought I would see the value of "taking a day off". But, wow... it was like someone kicked open a door on my fatigue level. If you want to keep the gym as your normal routine, is there something that is a recovery activity, or just relax? Does it have a pool or hot tub? Stretching class? A place to grab a healthy drink and just socialize?

Also, switching up part of the gym time to a new or different winter activity might help. My theory I'm testing is that it makes winter something to look forward to. I bought xc skis last year. And I have snow shoes on order. The children and I also bought rink skates recently as well.

[aicabsolut]

I get the SAD very badly in the winter too. Some girls I know do a wee bit of the tanning bad. I'm super fair, so I don't.

Just an FYI, the tanning bed lamps aren't the right grade (spectrum?) to treat SAD. They make special sunlamps for that, so while it doesn't matter for you, tell your friends to save their skin and get outdoors or look into getting a real lamp (they are $$$$) if their SAD is bad enough.

[firenze11]

Or mozy on down to Aust for some sunshine

Ah, that would be amazing, perpetual summer!

You can move to Texas where we have 300 sunny days a year. Although Hawaii sounds better.

I've been thinking about moving back down to the southwest, it might end up being better for my health/sanity. Winters here are just too much snow and gray! Snow is pretty for the first couple days, then I start thinking "Make it STOP!" I should really try snowshoeing or something. I used to love snow in MD when it would happen every once and awhile.

Hey Firenze, have you always been in Montreal?? That's pretty far north. I had some issues with feeling very low energy when I lived in Paris in winter, which is the same latitude as Montreal. For comparison, New York City is the same latitude as Madrid.

I haven't always been here, I was actually born in New Mexico so maybe my body just really needs more sun. I just moved up to Canada from the States about 6 years ago and since then I've been having problems in the winter. I just realized the past 2-3 years I've been going to my doctor in December/January asking her to do some blood tests because I'm so tire. It's only this year that I realized I wasn't anemic or something else and started looking into SAD. I never thought of the latitude thing, but this is certainly much further north than I ever thought I'd be.

I can see the language thing adding a little bit of stress into my life. I'm trying to improve my French, so it's another thing that my brain is focusing on a lot. Although, I feel lucky that I can pretty much just speak English when I need to.

And regarding the lights, the doctor told me I needed to get one that is 10000 lux. Apparently regular rooms are like 100 lux, so it's way brighter, helps mimic what the sun does, and the spectrum they use helps to reset the circadian rhythm. I have one on the way so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it helps.

Also, just as a side note, I was a bit shocked by my appointment. Even though I'm not experiencing a mood change/the depression side of SAD, he told me that he preferred to put people on antidepressants between October and March. I had done research beforehand and everything said light box first and foremost along w/ exercise, eating well, etc. I was just really surprised that drugs would be his first choice. . .maybe it's because he's a university doctor? I don't know. I was also surprised that most insurance companies wouldn't cover the light therapy but will cover medication. Hm. (I know the medication works wonders for many many people and I'm not against it for the right situation, but it just felt very wrong for me and my situation).

Whew, that's a long one! Thanks for all your help, advice, experiences!

[Miranda]

Just an FYI, the tanning bed lamps aren't the right grade (spectrum?) to treat SAD. They make special sunlamps for that, so while it doesn't matter for you, tell your friends to save their skin and get outdoors or look into getting a real lamp (they are $$$$) if their SAD is bad enough.

Ahh, that's good to know. I knew there was something "special" to the type of light, but didn't know what. Maybe it mentally makes them feel better if they look like summer (tan). I'm always just trying to not fry with sunburn or die of skin ca.

[TrekTheKaty]

I know in the winter, if left alone, I will hibernate. When it gets dark, I'm ready to crawl in bed by 8. I tried to get up at 6:30 for a bike ride this morning, but the sun wasn't up--so I rolled back over and went back to sleep!

To counteract this--in the evening, I make an effort to turn on every light in the house--this keeps me awake until at least 9 pm. When I worked in an office, I went to the gym every day after work--that also kept me up a little later.

[Tokie]

I get SAD, and I live in coastal southern california! I tried the full spectrum lights. It was inconvenient - you expose yourself to the light (shining into your eyes) for I seem to recall 45 minutes in the am, first thing upon arising from bed. I read the newspaper. I got some tanning/freckling. And my opthamologist was not cool with it. And it didn't work. Tried Wellbutrin - I think it worked - a tiny bit- because of the palcebo effect. this spring, my internist started me on Vitamin D (50,000 units of ergocalciferol) he checked my vit D level first with a blood test. I am on it primarily for my osteoporosis (along with fosamax and estradiol) but he said it is also linked to reduced rates of colon cancer and heart disease. But I noticed that once the days started getting shorter, I wasn't getting the short days blues - for me it's a remarkable improvement. I am quite pleased, and apparently my bones, colon and heart will be too. Tokie

[beccaB]

[QUOTE=firenze11;372251]Thanks. I think I will maybe cut back for a bit just to see if it helps or not, I feel better today after skipping spin so maybe it was good to take a day off. I'm also thinking about going to the doc to ask about possible mild SAD. I guess it wouldn't hurt [/QUOTECan you be getting SAD this early? I live in southern Michigan , and that won't really hit here until dark and gloomy November. Fall is actually really sunny and nice here. But winter is a dark dreary nasty thing, and I am a native Floridian. My Michigan native husband did not warn me that this is the 3rd grayest place in the country.