Constantly feeling tired

boots_babe

Hi,

First of all, I wanted to say that I've been to see my doctor, and they have come up with nothing at all. Last time I visited she was ending up asking me if I had any ideas what I thought may be wrong. Hence why I am posting.

From Boxing day, I had some nasty virus, it lasted for at least 3 weeks before I was able to get up and about again. Ever since then I just feel tired all the time.

I didn't see the doctor for ages as I'm not the sort of person to go at the drop of a hat, and just assumed it would resolve itself.

However a couple of weeks ago I finally made an appointment, as it had been almost 4 months and still no improvement. She asked me lots and lots of questions, the answer to all of which was no. In particular she kept asking about my mood - I can only assume she was wondering if I was depressed which I am not at all. As everything she asked me drew nothing helpful, she did a fasting blood test. This all came back normal.

To explain, I just have a feeling of tiredness all of the time, and this makes me not feel like doing anything. I still go to work, go out for evenings when I have things booked, and have been away for weekend - all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. But the difference being that I do find myself counting down to when I can get back home/to the hotel, so I can sit and rest.

I have never slept well, 'normal' for me is waking up lots of times in the night. I've been like this for as long as I can remember and am used to it; but since this feeling of tiredness has started, I sleep all the way through the night. This is VERY unusual for me, and highlights to me just how bad this tiredness is.

Yet despite sleeping right through, I don't wake up feeling refreshed, I feel immediately tired. Also, I have never in my life been someone who can just 'doze off' for a few minutes of a nap. I usually take at least an hour or so to get to sleep even when it's bedtime (although right now I go straight to sleep). And yet I've found myself, probably once every couple of weeks, sneaking in a quick nap in the middle of the day; I've never needed to do this before, nor would I have been able to drop off.

Exercise doesn't help, I already eat healthily. I have a regular routine for most of the time and always have at least 8 hours of sleep each night.

I am just getting very fed up now, of feeling constantly tired as it does spoil my enjoyment of things. And I end up not bothering to do things for much of the time - whilst I'll happily go out for meals with friends etc, when I am just around the house, instead of thinking of something fun to do when I have time, I choose to just sit and relax instead.

I really have no idea what it could be. The doctor was going on about post viral fatige, but says this only lasts 8-10 weeks following an illness - I am considerably past that time frame now.

Her only other suggestion was chronic fatigue syndrome, but she said that is just what you call it when everything else has been ruled out, and there is no obvious cause.

So, I am keen to know if anyone has any ideas as to what could possibly cause this? Anything at all - I am booked to go back and see her in a month to see if there is any change. And as she had asked me on my last visit if I had any ideas, I would like to take some ideas with me if possible.

Sorry for the long post - and thanks in advance for any help.

Wesker

Have you tried a tonic like Minadex or Metatone? Might just give you a boost.
You say you eat healthily but maybe there is something you are lacking in your diet that you dont realise.
Cant to any harm anyway, i always have a tonic after i have been ill and feel run down.

quietheart

Maybe you had glandular fever. I know when I had it, it took a good 6 months to recover and I never got back to being able to stay up partying all night like i could prior to having it. It's horrible and a level of depression is really common with it as you feel constantly rubbish, lethargic and exhausted for so long.
Hope you start to feel better soon.It'll probably be a slow steady improvement.
Good luck

bryanb

Did doctor do an ECG? How old are you?

j.e.j.

I don't know if this is any help to you but I remember listening to this programme about tiredness when it was first broadcast on R4 and thought it was quite informative. It looks like it's still available on the 'listen again':
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007v7py
It's basically about what sort of level of tiredness could be classed as normal and when it becomes more of a serious medical concern.

hermanmunster_3

Few areas to look at here http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Fatigue-and-TATT.htm

mikey72

Have you had full blood tests, blood glucose, do you drink a lot of liquids, go to the loo a lot, diabetes can cause extreme fatigue.

harrys_nan

I second glandular fever, I had it a very long time ago and remember how tired I was. Also have you been tested for an underactive thyroid, that can also make you very tired.
Hope you feel better soon

bluebird

It is unwise to ask medical questions on here as you'll be faced with lots of "perhaps its".....
Go back to your GP insist on blood test there's a whole range of test they can do,if you are unhappy with your GP go see another.I wish you luck and hope you get to the bottom of this fatigue.

boots_babe

Thanks for so many helpful responses.

bluebird - I realise it's unwise to self-diagnose via the web, but as I mentioned in my original post, my doctor is out of ideas, and in fact asked me if I had any suggestions of my own

So I figured there was no harm in asking for any ideas on here, so that when I go for my next appointment I could perhaps offer some ideas for her to consider. I'm certainly not going to jump on a diagnosic just based on replies on here, I just thought it may help.

quietheart - the glandular fever suggestion is interesting, I will look into that, and also suggest to my doctor.

bryanb - she didn't do an ECG no, what are your thoughts behind this? I'm 32.

Wesker - haven't heard of these tonics at all, I will investigate thank you. Anything like that is certainly worth a try.

jej - thanks for that link, I will take a look at it now.

mikey72 - funny you should say that! I wondered once previously if I had diabetes, as I do drink constantly, and also go to the toilet lots (it's a running joke with my husband!). I've always been like this so it's 'normal' to me. Howeer I had myself tested for diabetes just in case a couple of years ago, but it came back negative. Having just had full blood tests again now, they were also negative.

Thanks for all the ideas, give ms some things to think about and look into. I am still hoping it will eventually just ease off of its own accord but the longer it goes on, the more doubtful I am.

When the doctor mentioned chronic fatigue syndrome, she mentioned doing graded exercises. However I have googled this and sounds totally unsuitable....it said you gradually build up, and over a long time period will eventually get to the point of being able to walk to the corner shop. Well I might be constantly tired but I am still able to make myself do the things I need to do, and am nowhere near the realms of not being able to walk around the corner, so this seems like it's out of the question as a diagnosis really to me.

Dawning

Before I'd read any of the other replies I was wondering about glandular fever too. I got it when I was 17 - absolutely in the prime of my life with no stress or worries about anything, living with parents so getting waited on hand and foot :rotfl:- but it still knocked me for six for almost a year. I was tired, sometimes exhausted, all of the time. Had no energy to go out with my friends, the work day seemed endless etc. Would get home from work, have whatever my mum had cooked for dinner, then want to go to bed. Weekends I just mostly spent in bed. I remember being so tired one day that I couldn't even walk to the end of our drive....
As I said, it went on for almost a year in my case.
That said, it's rather unusual for older adults to get it (or so I was told).

I'd keep persisting with the doc, [STRIKE]especially get tested for diabetes[/STRIKE]. just noticed your doc did tests again recently.
Hope it's sorted soon for you!