The unrelenting exhaustion of lupus fatigue affects up to 80% of those living with SLE.  Read on to learn what the medical community has to say about its causes, symptoms and some of the best ways to cope with this extremely common and sometimes debilitating condition.

• Introduction
• What are the causes and symptoms of lupus fatigue?
• Combating and Coping with Fatigue
• In Conclusion

 

Introduction

Fatigue is more than just a desire for a shot of espresso in the morning or the need to hit the sack a little early to make up for a late night out. Fatigue can be a physically and emotionally debilitating conundrum – one that is not easy to solve and it goes beyond curling up on the couch with a throw blanket and a good movie waiting for of sleep to take its course. Fatigue can mean that sleep itself is illusive.

In their article “Fatigue in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,” researchers Grace Ahn and Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman note that approximately 53-80% of individuals with SLE report experiencing fatigue as one of their main symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, fatigue is the feeling of “unrelenting exhaustion” that is “profound and isn’t relieved by rest.” It can grossly affect your ability to function day-to-day and experience a good quality of life. Fatigue is a loss of energy you may fear you’ll never recoup. Therefore, fatigue is not only physically draining, but can be emotionally devastating as well.

Getting to know yourself and your limitations, however, and developing the patience and skill to cope with fatigue will give you the control you need back in your life so that you can cope with whatever life throws at you. The ability to manage your time and energy can have profound effects that reach well beyond coping with autoimmune disease and can give you hope.

What are the causes and symptoms of lupus fatigue?

Each individual may be their own best expert in understanding what completely wipes them out, however that may not make it that much easier to find a solution. Experts speculate that certain medications or even overlap diseases such as fibromyalgia, anemia, kidney issues, or depression can be the cause of fatigue. Ahn and Ramsey-Goldman refer to studies that indicate how an insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D may also contribute to feelings of fatigue.

Lupus fatigue can manifest itself both physically and/or emotionally. You may physically feel like your bones and joints are exhausted and worn down from constant pain and inflammation. You may feel emotionally fatigued from the stress of having lupus, the difficulties in coping with the changes to your life that a diagnosis brings, or the guilt you may struggle with because your role in your family or at work has drastically changed. All of this can understandably cause a significant amount of anxiety and depression.

Your cognitive function can also be affected by fatigue as you may experience lupus brain fog. You may find yourself not being able to think as clearly, quickly, or coherently as you did before your lupus diagnosis and this can be both frightening and frustrating. It’s also a vicious cycle because the more fatigued you become, the more you may experience brain fog – and vice versa.

 

What does the research say about managing lupus fatigue?

In 2014, researchers Melissa Cunningham and Hon Yuen surveyed much of the published literature surrounding the treatment of fatigue in lupus patients. The information they found highlighted nine strategies for managing fatigue and created a ranking system for their effectiveness.  It is important to note that they did not work directly with patients or researched each strategy themselves; they just surveyed the published articles and compared the results:

1. Psychosocial Intervention: This kind of treatment includes such things as cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, biofeedback and even socially engaging with your support system and stress management.  While each can have many positive effects, it was difficult to find evidence for specifically helping with fatigue.
2. Exercise: Studies show that aerobic exercise may significantly help reduce fatigue.
3. Diet: Making changes to your diet such as eating foods low on the glycemic index and low in calories can have many positive impacts how you feel, and these can indirectly help with fatigue – though it is not seen as a treatment.
4. Vitamin D Supplementation: As I mentioned earlier, vitamin D – or a lack there of – can potentially impact your energy level, however, this survey did not see a direct, significant impact on fatigue by itself.
5. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): NAC is an amino acid, which inhibits autoimmune inflammatory processes. NAC taken orally each day was shown to improve fatigue after 1 to 3 months.
6. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): DHEA (thank goodness for acronyms!) is a natural steroidal hormone that has many functions in the body – one of which is to moderate the immune response.  Patients with lupus often have low levels of DHEA and this may relate to increased fatigue.  However, the research evidence has not been able to show that it helps with lupus fatigue.
7. Belimumab: Belimumab (e.g. Benlysta) is a manufactured antibody that attacks a particular protein that occurs at high levels in patients with SLE.  This protein stimulates the B-lymphocytes, which in turn lead to the autoimmune response of lupus. The research confirms that belimumab treatments significantly reduce lupus fatigue, but these treatments are very expensive.
8. Ultraviolet-A1 Phototherapy: Long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UVA-1) has been shown to suppress the immune system and has been a therapy for SLE.  It also seems to have some effect on lupus fatigue.
9. Acupuncture: Cunningham and Yuen recorded that 93% of individuals with lupus across 13 studies said that they experiencing less fatigue as a result of acupuncture, though the levels of measurable improvement using fatigue tests were much lower.  They also state “acupuncture is not recommended for SLE patients with advanced visceral organ involvement.”

Of these nine treatments, aerobic exercise and the belimumab therapy seemed to show the best potential for directly treating fatigue.  However, as Cunningham and Yuen note, “SLE-related fatigue is a complex phenomenon” and is not necessarily one-size-fits-all.  Each treatment has its own possible side effects and costs that must also be taken into account.  Still, the information above may be helpful when discussing fatigue treatment options with your healthcare practitioner.

Combating and Coping with Fatigue

Here are some other ways you can potentially combat and cope with the seemingly unrelenting nature of lupus fatigue:

• Treat any underlying illnesses – Speak to your healthcare practitioner about your fatigue in order to either rule out – or treat – any underlying illness that may be going undiagnosed such as kidney issues, anemia, thyroid disease, or fibromyalgia.
• Rest – Ahn and Ramsey-Goldman acknowledge that up to 91% of individuals with lupus experience sleep disturbance making it imperative to discuss any sleep challenges you have with your healthcare practitioner to make sure you are getting optimal sleep.
• Prioritize activities – While an invitation to go to lunch with a friend sounds tempting, think about what you need to accomplish before and after that visit to make sound decisions around where you need to spend your energy. Don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself if you need downtime.
• Track fatigue – Start tracking the days you feel fatigued to see if you can recognize patterns. Even if you can’t see a pattern initially, you’ll have an accurate record of your symptoms to bring with you to your next healthcare appointment. You will be able to advocate for yourself more confidently as well as give your practitioner the information she needs.
• Practice patience and acceptance – Be patient with yourself and know that you will have good days along with the not-so-good ones. Pushing yourself beyond your limits isn’t going to do anyone any good … especially you!
• Be open and honest about how you are feeling – This means with yourself as well as with others. Don’t be afraid to tell someone you’re just not up for a lot of activity today or that you need help with chores around the house. Read “The Dynamics of Relationships – Lupus, Family and Support Systems” for more information on how you can express yourself.
• Keep healthy – Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet will give your body and mind the support they need for holistic well-being. Quick drive-thru meals chosen in haste can actually do more harm than good. Opt for plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole foods with low sodium, stay away from too much sugar, and consume alcohol and caffeine in moderation or abstain from them altogether. Other ideas for healthy eating can be found in this blog article.

In Conclusion

Acute feelings of fatigue can make everything seem and feel worse. It is no wonder how debilitating and exhausting dealing with lupus on a daily basis can be. Living in-tune with how you are feeling both physically and emotionally – both the good days and the bad – can be the key to opening the door to discussion with a trusted healthcare practitioner about ways you can combat these feelings of overall malaise in order to strengthen mind, body and spirit.

 

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References

Ahn, G., & Ramsey-Goldman, R. (2012). Fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus. International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 2012 7(2), 217-227.

Cunningham, M., & Yuen, H. (2014). Optimal management of fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199565/pdf/tcrm-10-775.pdf

Fatigue. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/definition/sym-20050894

Greenlaw, E. (2010). Fighting lupus fatigue and boosting energy. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/lupus/features/boost-energy-lupus#1

Harrison, M. (2009). Lupus-related fatigue and cognitive dysfunction: The chicken and the egg. Retrieved from: https://www.hss.edu/conditions_lupus-fatigue-cognitive-dysfunction.asp

McMillen, M. (2011). Lupus fatigue: Causes and treatment tips. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/lupus/features/lupus-fatigue-causes-treatments#1

Strategies for managing fatigue. (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.lupus.org/resources/strategies-for-managing-fatigue

 

Author: Liz Heintz

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All resources provided by us are for informational purposes only and should be used as a guide or for supplemental information, not to replace the advice of a medical professional. The personal views expressed here do not necessarily encompass the views of the organization, but the information has been vetted as a relevant resource. We encourage you to be your strongest advocate and always contact your healthcare practitioner with any specific questions or concerns.