Fatigue or Just Tired?

[StressHead15]

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully someone will be able to help me out. I can't work out if I am suffering with on-going fatigue, or am I just tired because of life in general?

I have been struggling with fatigue for well over a year now. I will usually fall asleep around 9 or 10pm, and will usually get around 8/9 hours sleep. However, despite having a "good nights sleep" in respect of the length of time I am sleeping, I still wake up in the morning, feeling extremely exhausted and as though I have not even been to bed at all!

Usually every morning I feel like this, and when I go to work I am usually yawning just all day long and feel very sluggish and lousy.

So, my question is how do you differentiate between tiredness and something like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? I feel tired all day long, and always have people commenting on how tired I look, but I still force myself to get to work. After reading up about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it describes how people can't get out of bed etc., so am I just overthinking my symptoms or could this be something I should get checked out?

I should mention I suffer with headaches an awful lot, but doctors don't seem to give me much help when I speak to them about it.

I have had several blood tests for anaemia, under-active thyroid etc and have had nothing come up in the results.

I would like go back to the doctors to speak about all of this but I feel as though they will think I am just being dramatic and fob me off (once again!)

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

How old are you op? I was wondering about the menopause.

Could you be vitamin D deficient?

Hi,

Sorry yes I should have said, I am only 21! This is why I feel so concerned as to why I feel this way, surely I should be full of energy!

Do you snore?
Could it be obstructive sleep apnoea?

Nope not a snorer so don't think OSA is a possibility really, although it could always be worth mentioning to the doctor?

It sounds like more than just tiredness. Did you have an illness before it stsrted? Maybe its a post viral thing.

Is your diet ok? Could it be a food intolerance

Me/CFS has other symptoms other than being just tired - brain fog, worsening of symptoms after physical and mental activity (known as post Exertional Malaise) joint and muscle pain. Headaches are also common.

The fatigue is like you've been hit by a bus and sleep is unfreshing.

Go to the gp and get your blood tests results so you can see where 'in range' you are then you can supplement yourself to get your results in the top ¼ of the range. - b12, vit d, can make a difference.

Did the tiredness come on after a virus? Stressful event?

No I haven't had any kind of virus, and my diet is quite a healthy and balanced one, I don't have any allergies and have already been tested for coeliac. I was considering taking one of those food intolerance tests to see if anything flagged up...
And yes I would say I do also suffer with the brain fog, but I wouldn't say I get the joint and muscle pain.
And yes think that's a good next step - thanks everyone

I should have also said, I would say that I cannot remember a time when I woke up and felt refreshed after a night's sleep!

Def go for blood tests. Could be simply anaemic or low b12 or vit d or thyroid. Best get booked to see gp!

I'd live to know if you find an answer. I've felt like this since my 20s. I'm now 42! I've had numerous tests over the years but never found anything that would explain it.

If it is the start of me/CFS then listen to your body and rest when you need to. Don't push yourself to do stuff that you think you should be doing.

Have a look on the internet for guides about pacing. This will help you manage what energy you have.

Yes I am booked in to the doctors next week so I'll see if they can run some more blood tests. I've also been keeping a diary of how I've been feeling for the last 2 weeks for the doctor to look at so hopefully they can dig a little deeper into what's going on...

Will let you know how I get on and what the doctor says

Hi OP, just wanted to say that it might be worth figuring out whether you're tired or fatigued. Being tired is about not getting enough sleep (eg because of OSA) and if you google Epworth Sleepiness Scale, you can score yourself. Fatigue, on the other hand, is about poor quality sleep or another cause like anaemia, and isn't improved just by sleeping longer.

Good luck at the docs.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has a misleading name as the fatigue is just one symptom. Have a look and see if you identify with any of the others such as cognitive dysfunction, or sensitivity to light or noise. It also usually has a specific onset which is easily identified I.e. being healthy, having a virus, then never recovering.

Definitely get copies of your blood tests as you could be very low or high but within range, and actually feeling very unwell. A treatable deficiency is a lot more hopeful than a CFS diagnosis which can only be managed, not cured.

Good luck and hope you can get to the bottom of it!

Hi
I'm actually currently going through the same thing myself.
Serious fatigue, headaches constantly occasional migraine, light headed, fuzzy headed etc etc.
I'm awaiting a 2nd blood test as we speak as my B12/folate levels were majorly high, so the Dr is trying to figure out which one is the high one as if it is the folate it could be masking low B12 which can be treated with injections if it's not either then he was talking about SSR's as I could be on burnout/CF spectrum.
But good luck and you're not alone and don't let them fob you off I've been feeling like this for over 2 months now.

Just out of interest.. If your bloods are all normal, what else do you expect your GP to be able to do?
Do you do regular exercise, see friends etc?
Could this be depression?
Cfs... And similar are more complex than just feeling tired.
Is there a change at the weekend, you only mention feeling tired at work?
It maybe a combination of apathy, boredom, depression... And maybe a rethink on what you are doing, what other activities you enjoy etc maybe beneficial.

I have had exactly what you describe since my early 20s and am now late 40s. All tests within normal range. No one has ever been able to figure it out !

Years ago I was treated with stimulants and diagnosed with atypical narcolepsy as I would fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Now I can stay awake but fighting fatigue all the time. Stimulants helped but I moved counties and stopped during pregnancy so never started again. Also felt it probably wasn't all that healthy to take them regularly.

Thanks for all the responses everyone!

In my own opinion I would say I feel fatigued, I feel like I could fall asleep if I just closed my eyes at any point in the day.
And yes like you say, if it is a deficiency hopefully I could then see what I can then take to get my levels normal.
And well to be honest I have not had the best of luck with my doctors, I went to see one a little while ago and was told 'I think your just unlucky' and sent me on my way! So I'd appreciate someone taking a bit more time to try and help me work out why I am feeling this way.
I try to exercise 3 times a week, and would see friends and family almost every day.
Sadly there is no change on the weekend, I feel this way continuously .

Cut out the exercise. If it is me/CFS then this will be exasperating it. Worth it as a precautionary measure.

Would you say you have periods of time where you have a bit more energy so you try and squeeze lots in, and then you end up getting really fatigued after it?

If you feel like you can't cut out the exercise then try doing some gentle hatha yoga - nothing that's going to substantially raise your heart beat.

B12. Don’t take any b12 vitamins as it will skewer blood test results and you may need injections. Also D3

I had a similar sort of thing for ages. Exhausted all the time and catching colds constantly. Blood tests showed that I’d had glandular fever at some point - not sure when I had it but apparently it manifests itself with only cold/flu type symptoms sometimes. Not really much that could be done for it, but it did get better over time.