As I sit here at almost 6.00 p.m., yawning and not caring about all the things that I have not achieved today, I come across this question about the relationship of fatigue with A.S.
I think that several others have given good information regarding the fact that fatique is very much a part of any arthritic condition, especially rheumatoid arthritis. You must keep in mind that until maybe 30 to 40 years ago, AS was considered to be RA, or at least rheumatoid spondilitis.
I have had episodes with fatigue ever since I was a teenager. I have had a few tests that have indicated iron deficiency but these deficiencies have been corrected. At one point my iron level was so low that my doctor called me in for an appointment because the results were "alarming". Yet all we could figure out at the time happened to be something to do with heavy menstrual bleeding (due to perimenopause). My doctor was looking for signs of RA at the time.
When I was at school I got caught falling to sleep in the French lessons. I always thought that it was due to the boring and bad teacher.... but now I am not so sure
. Everytime I end up doing what I consider to be a boring role for work (like collections... yuk) I have a tendency to fall asleep. Sometimes the fatigue has caught up with me prior to arriving at work, and on those occasions it has been dangerous because I have been driving in the car.
Fatigue is not only a symptom of depression, it is also a symptom within fibromyalgia, as well as the related chronic fatigue syndrome.
So, yes, fatigue is definitely a factor, since AS is a form of arthritis.
