Why am i always tired?

devilmunchkin · January 11, 2003, 00:36

I've been needing enormous amounts of sleep lately. Last night i didn't turn on my alarm and i slept 16 hours straight without even stirring. then i took an hour nap a few hours lately cause i could barely keep my eyes open and i'm STILL tired. i probably could easily sleep through the night. it's been like this for awhile. i sleep at least 12 hours a night (well..through my vacation i did)...
i take vitamins because i'm borderline anemic so i don't think that is it since i do take my vitamins...any clues?

Urban Ranger · January 11, 2003, 00:45

There are various causes.

You might have chronic fatigue syndrome, for example, or an elavated level of growth hormone.

Better check with a doctor.

alva · January 11, 2003, 00:46

Ask your doctor to test your blood, chances are you are low on iron. But in order for iron to be well absorbed by your body, it's needs plenty of B12 vitamin.

I too get b12 shots about every month/6 weeks, coupled with very good proscripted (?) iron capsuls.
If I stop taking them even for a couple of days, my energy levels drop to where I have to drag myself out of my bed. Feeling more tired then when I got in, in the first place.

Jon Miller · January 11, 2003, 00:55

not getting enough protein?

Jon Miller

Gatekeeper · January 11, 2003, 01:02

Excessive tiredness and lack of energy can be signs of diabetes.

Gatekeeper

devilmunchkin · January 11, 2003, 01:04

the vitamins i take say they have 100% of my b12 and 100% of my iron..
i've been eating alot better...less carbs more vegetables and fruits and so protein shouldn't be a problem. i've always been a sleeper but never like this.
what are the other symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. i do have heart palpitations often...would that contribute. and unfortunately, i have no insurance, so seeing a dr. is kinda out of the question at the moment.

devilmunchkin · January 11, 2003, 01:05

i don't think i have diabetes..
i'm 21, five feet tall and weigh 110 lbs

Urban Ranger · January 11, 2003, 01:07

Take a look at this website, I am not sure how accurate this information is.

Doesn't your school has a doctor you can go see?

alva · January 11, 2003, 01:11

Quote:

i don't think i have diabetes..
i'm 21, five feet tall and weigh 110 lbs

That doesn't mean you can't have diabetes...

Quote:

the vitamins i take say they have 100% of my b12 and 100% of my iron..

And those vitamins are for people that absorb vitamins normaly. You might not be good at digesting them.

For instance: part of my bowles had to be taken away, the part that is responsible for the intake of iron. So i need double or even more to end up with a normal daily dosage.

Again, go see a dokter, get a few bloodtests, you will know alot more, a feel more relaxed

cavebear · January 11, 2003, 01:12

Seriously, go to a doctor. There are too many possible factors involved to judge in a vacuum.

There are physical reasons, psychological reasons, stress reasons, nutritional reasons, etc.

Even just sleeping for *too* long can mess you up for days and leave you feeling "out of it". I've done *that* occassionally and I know!

Ted Striker · January 11, 2003, 01:44

Hey devil who told you to take that iron? Iron can be a tricky thing....

devilmunchkin · January 11, 2003, 01:46

well..when i saw a doctor before....especially during the time where i was on acutain nd getting regular blood check ups...my iron was always low unless i took vitamins.
what about sleep debt? does that really exist or is that just an urban legend?

Ted Striker · January 11, 2003, 01:48

Okay. Doc didn't say that the iron deficiency was from the accutane did he?

Sleep debt does indeed exist.

SlowwHand · January 11, 2003, 01:57

Good to see you Cavebear, who I agree with.
Ask someone who knows, and can check you in person.

Gatekeeper · January 11, 2003, 02:14

Yep, head to the doc, DM, if you can. When it comes to size and height, diabetes isn't selective. There are plenty of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics out there who *aren't* overweight or obese. But only a doc will be able to inform you of anything you have conclusively ...

Gatekeeper

cavebear · January 11, 2003, 02:22

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Good to see you Cavebear, who I agree with.
Ask someone who knows, and can check you in person.

It's nice to see you, too. There are some people who slip off my radar screen but I am glad to discover again elsewhere. You are one of those.

The Emperor Fabulous · January 11, 2003, 02:28

Friend of mine had an iron difficiancy...maybe that's it?

Sleeping TOO much leaves you tired as well, fyi

Rufus T. Firefly · January 11, 2003, 02:36

Yeah, see a doctor. Nobody's mentioned mono yet, but it sure sounds like the case I had when I was about your age.

On the other hand, excessive sleep/fatigue is often a symptom of depression. Any chance that's it?

Good luck.

Blisterz · January 11, 2003, 02:36

From all the great sex you've been having...

cavebear · January 11, 2003, 02:37

Health is so cool and so rare for most people. To the extent that nutrition determines health (and that is quite a bit), it is simple. Eat right, exercise regularly, and most problems are eliminated right there.

I happen to really like fruits and vegetables.

I like combinations of those that include a few ounces of meat. I like vegetables and fruits with color in them. Not because "they" say it is good for me but just because I like them.

I seem to be always a few years ahead of the trends.

Hint, go for fruits/veggies with bright colors, avoid prepared foods of all kinds, eat more nuts, don't be afraid to cook or ingest olive or canola oil, and make complex tossed salads with 1/2 multiple loose-leaf lettuces and 1/4 raw veggies and 1/4 legumes. Forget the sprouts!

For main dishes, do stir-fries in peanut or olive oli.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · January 11, 2003, 04:17

How are you feeling emotionally these days? Depression can have weird effects on sleep patterns.

Jon Miller · January 11, 2003, 04:36

that is true also

also make sure you are eating a ballance, one time when I felt tired a lot I needed to eat more fruits

Jon Miller

MRT144 · January 11, 2003, 05:31

gout

red_jon · January 11, 2003, 06:56

I was tired all the time during the summer, despite getting enough sleep. It seemed to stop eventually.

Alexander's Horse · January 11, 2003, 07:03

What's wrong with being sleepy? Must you hypochondriacs make everything an illness?

Graag · January 11, 2003, 12:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
What's wrong with being sleepy? Must you hypochondriacs make everything an illness?

I think thats a rather stupid comment AH. It just isn't fun when you spend most of the day feeling like you've just run a marathon and not being able to do anything constructive or useful.

It's been so bad for me I've had two tests for diabetes (which is quite likely as my dad, granddad and uncle all have diabetes) and my thyroid gland tested (all negative). And I passionately hate going to the doctor or dentist. In fact those two visits were the only two times I've been in the past 4/5 years (except when I got a really bad fever in asia).

Though I do think you are half-right, in that although it can be nice to rule out nasty diseases, chronic fatigue (and the majority of medical problems IMHO) are a symptom of an underlying psycological problem.
Here is an example, if you are depressed you dont eat well and therefore get vitamin/protien/iron deficiencies. The cure for this is not to take pills but to get happy, as you'll then eat and sleep better naturally.
There are many illnesses this logic applies to beyond chronic fatuigue; Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migraine/recurrent headaches, over-frequent bouts of cold/flu etc. etc.

Zero · January 11, 2003, 14:07

Quote:

Originally posted by alva
Ask your doctor to test your blood, chances are you are low on iron. But in order for iron to be well absorbed by your body, it's needs plenty of B12 vitamin.

I too get b12 shots about every month/6 weeks, coupled with very good proscripted (?) iron capsuls.
If I stop taking them even for a couple of days, my energy levels drop to where I have to drag myself out of my bed. Feeling more tired then when I got in, in the first place.

What can I chow down to acquire some good ol' B12 and Iron? I don't have serious problem, but I'm not much of a morning person. Maybe it might help tinsy bit.

chequita guevara · January 11, 2003, 14:35

Are you drinking enough water? Mild dehydration can make you fatigued.

Low thyroid? sleep apnea? do you wake up frequently in your sleep?

One of the best things for my sleep was to eliminate caffene from my life, as much as possible (root beer is normally caffene free, but Barq's has caffene, damnit!). I've not been getting as restful sleep as I used to get.

devilmunchkin · January 11, 2003, 18:48

i rarely have caffeine...no coffee and i rarely drink soda. i drink mostly juice, water and sometimes milk.
i just got OUT of a really bad depressive state..very very bad.
i feel better today..still a little sluggish but not anything like yesterday.
maybe it's just me being tired from being physically sick..i had acute bronchitis and a urinary tract infection all at the same time two weeks ago.

HazieDaVampire · January 11, 2003, 20:00

Diabetes, that somtimes causes you to be tired!
Always check the bottoms of your feet! If you notice anything strange its Diabetes, people with diabetes who don't even know about it often discover holes in the bottoms of their feet, and its goes down to the bone too!

You could have Anarexia, thats causes sleep? You been eating enough lately? Does it hurt if you eat a large meal? Your stomach could of shrunk in size a little and cause you to fill up more quickly!