When my doctor told me that what I was suffering from was fatigue, I went home and cried. I thought he was minimizing what I was going through. I thought when he said that I had fatigue, that he meant that I was just tired.
Just tired? I was spending hours every day in bed, unable to think clearly or stand up for more than a few minutes at a time. My life was in ruins, and I'd been laying in it for months by that time. How could he say I was just tired?
Turns out, that wasn't what he meant at all.
Fatigue is not sleepiness, it doesn't result from a couple of late nights. And overcoming it is going to take more than a few naps or early nights.
Time for a disclaimer here. Plenty of people who struggle under the burden of fatigue are not going to get seriously ill. They will drag through their years of schooling, or their time with babies and toddlers, or partying through their twenties.
They will come out the other side, eventually. Some will continue to live at the same pace, and stay fatigued ... but they will carry on. But for some people, fatigue is an early warning sign of severe health problems.
Do you feel rested after getting more sleep? Does eating healthy make you feel stronger and more energized? Does dropping activities and stressful obligations bring you some relief?
If the answer is no, then it's time to get serious about your health. And the sooner the better. Because take it from me, a veteran in the ME/CFS wars from way back, once you've been flattened by fatigue, it can be plenty hard to come back from it. Far better to miss that boat entirely if you can. And be prepared to go extreme in order to keep yourself together.
Here are some possible causes for your fatigue:
1) Anemia
Anemia can cause fatigue, dizziness, brain fog and heart palpitations. A blood test will give you answers.
2) Diabetes
Diabetes can result in fatigue. It will also cause great thirst and frequent trips to the bathroom.
3) Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism causes fatigue due to thyroid hormones being out of balance. Your doctor can treat this condition with hormone replacement.
4) Heart Disease
Heart disease like congestive heart failure can cause fatigue as your heart isn't working as effectively as it should be. Your arms and legs may swell and you may be short of breath. Exercise can leave you worn out.
5) Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea causes fatigue, as you aren't receiving adequate oxygen while you are sleeping, and you don't spend the time you need in REM sleep.
6) Menopause
Menopause can cause fatigue due to hormone changes, hot flashes and night sweats which can disrupt normal sleep. Your doctor can make recommendations that may relieve some symptoms.
7) Depression
Depression can lead to fatigue. Brain chemicals are not up to par, and serotonin, which helps regulate your body clock and your mood, can be in short supply. Sleep habits are also likely to be disrupted, leaving you more worn out.
8) Alcohol
Moderate drinking may be fine, but drinking too much over a long period of time can increase the risk for fatigue, as well as other health problems. These include anemia, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
9) Mental Health Issues
Anxiety, depression, and grief can tend to go on a long time and are often quite draining. Chronic stress can go hand in hand with chronic fatigue.
10) More Diseases
Other illnesses like Addison's disease, acute liver failure, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, eating disorders, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and COPD are marked by fatigue. See your doctor for the best treatment for the disease or diseases you suffer from.
When Should You Seek Help?
Sometimes you just need to lie down and sleep. But when it's time for medical attention, you need to know what to look out for.
Go to the doctor if you find yourself dizzy or feeling weak or confused, or your vision is blurry. Unusual weight gain or weight loss, constipation or little urine output may indicate you need help.
If you are having unusual sleep patterns, or you've started having headaches, if you are struggling with depression, see your doctor.
Your doctor may set you up for blood tests for several conditions, urinalysis, as well as tests for kidney, liver and thyroid function.
See a doctor if it's been two weeks or longer and nothing has helped, or if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or feel like you might pass out. Abnormal bleeding, intense pain in your abdomen, back or pelvis, or severe headache are signs that you need medical attention.
If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or experience thoughts of harming someone else, go for medical help immediately.
Sources:
Fatigue. NLM.NIH.gov. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2016.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003088.htm
Why Am I So Tired? WebMD.com. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2016.
http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/why-so-tired-10-causes-fatigue
Fatigue. Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2016.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/causes/sym-20050894
Fatigue. Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2016.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/fatigue/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym...
12 Health Risks of Chronic Heavy Drinking. WebMD.com. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2016.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/12-health-risks-of...
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed January 28, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN