How do you manage MS‑related fatigue day‑to‑day?

I’m just prepared to take more time to accomplish anything, from daydreaming to dressing myself, fixing a microwave meal to walking from point A to B, playing a computer game to cleaning. And I rest a lot. I’ve become expert at recognizing the different types of fatigue…is it TOPS (tired old person syndrome)? Is it because I’ve just done too much in the time available? Or is it overwhelming, can barely lift my head up MS related? I think most MS people have to be kinder to ourselves, use time as best we can, and stop stressing about doing “more” trying to impress or “keep up” with other people. FWIW

My wife is the one who deals first hand with her MS and particularly the fatigue. I don't think I can adequately describe what she feels. She gets things done when she can, as much as she can, and then she rests.
Some days are worse than others to be sure. And then there are the days where tired is not an option, where unplanned events must be handled. Somehow she reaches down deep and gets through. This is followed by one or more days of recovery without any spare resources beyond perhaps simple personal care.
Over the years she has learned to pace herself. Rest when possible. Go to bed early if necessary. She can deal with the uncontrolled walking or arm movements or word substitution while talking. We can laugh at these things. The fatigue however is likely the worst symptom and the most difficult to deal with. She might putz in the flower garden in the early morning before the day's heat takes hold. Likely this activity will later require a rest period of a few hours, which has to be considered before hand. It is not an easy life. It is not a fair life. But she makes the best of good days and she needn't apologise for the bad days. That's life. And life is what happens when you are making other plans.

I found this article on pacing and budgeting time with this disease on the Veterans Affairs website:
- Energy Management and Daily Living in Multiple Sclerosis https://www.va.gov/MS/SYMPTOMS/Energy_Management_and_Daily_Living_in_Multiple_Sclerosis.asp

I liked what you talked about, @hrhwilliam, about your wife having learned to pace herself. Do you find yourself doing this as well, @westwoman3698? Are there any tips out of this VA article that you find useful?

@lisalucier That’s generally the idea of it. People ask what she does about her fatigue, yet there is no answer. When she runs out of gas, this is the end for a while. No nap will help. At best just lay down and rest without sleeping.
It is a rotten disease with no cure and no end. Best we hope for is no further damage.
We plan life day to day. She might ask about going to visit the UK but the reality is, she doesn’t have it in her for the time zone change and the lines at customs. We often settle for a long car ride somewhere with frequent stops and unplanned overnights. That can be a fine adventure in itself. No sense crying about what could’ve been. Make the best of what we have left.
You have a difficult group to work with. There is no fixing anything here. Only we must learn to cope.
As for me, she doesn’t hold me back from going to the horse park or stopping by the plant to check on things. But I don’t go far or for long because I know what it is to be the patient as well.
Good place to end. Courage.