Fatigue

Livingdeadnurse

Help the last couple of weeks I have been very fatigued, joints ache and want to sleep all the time. I had blood tests done and everything came back fine. Vitamin D was a tad low but other than that I am healthy. I have lost 36lbs and almost at my goal weight. I was exercising 3 times a week and even running. Now I am so tired all I want to do is sleep. Dragging myself to the gym only to not complete my normal work out. I can't even finish a good run. I eat healthy. Fresh fruits, veggies and plenty of water. Still have processed foods in my life but until it gets cheaper to eat fresh all the time there will always be that. I even take daily vitamins. This is frustrating. I feel like I am going backwards. I am still sticking with the diet but the energy to work out is really lacking.

So am I burnt out? I have been at this almost a full year
Lacking something in my diet? Are there foods that will give you energy?
Anyone else have this issue?

PLEASE any ideas or advice since there is a dead end at the doctors office.

MyPureSteez

I've had an energy low too. I upped the cals I was eating, and changed my playlist

Evanftw

You could try a pre workout supplement if you really feel like you are dragging in the gym.

Don't cut out all carbohydrates! These are some healthy ones:
Arugula
Beans
Broccoli
Collard greens
Legumes
Mustard greens
Romaine lettuce
Spinach
Swiss chard, which tastes a bit like spinach
Whole grain breads
Whole grain pastas

Fish oil pills for your joints?

Ejourneys

Burn-out is a possibility.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/overtraining/

Re your blood tests, I don't know what "everything" means. I assume it includes having had your iron levels tested, but that was the first thing that occurred to me in addition to overtraining.

Congratulations on all you've accomplished! You work a tough job, too, so that's another source of stress.

FranceyPants

How much sleep have you been getting?

Lleldiranne

I would assume they checked your iron, since that would be the most likely culprit, but you may want to double check, just in case. Iron deficiency is very common among women and can cause the exhausted/fatigued feelings.

Livingdeadnurse

Burn-out is a possibility.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/overtraining/

Re your blood tests, I don't know what "everything" means. I assume it includes having had your iron levels tested, but that was the first thing that occurred to me in addition to overtraining.

Congratulations on all you've accomplished! You work a tough job, too, so that's another source of stress.

Had my iron, thyroid and basic levels. Even had tests for arthritis.
not sure what would be considered overtraining. Especially since it's been at least 2 weeks since I had a really good sweat. I have to make myself get out and even go for a walk.

I wondered if it was burn out but I am too tired for everything. Housework, walking, grocery shopping...

Livingdeadnurse

How much sleep have you been getting?

6-9 hours depending what day it is. But on my days off I even find myself napping an hour. Which doesn't help. Sometimes even makes it worse.

Livingdeadnurse

As for iron. I take a daily vitamin with iron, vitamin c, b-12. b-complex, calcium +D and vitamin E

I would hope that I have plenty of vitamins. Due to working with sick patients I was coming home with every sniffle and the ER doctor told me to take a few of those to help ward off the crud. Since some don't know how to cover their mouth when they cough.

Livingdeadnurse

You could try a pre workout supplement if you really feel like you are dragging in the gym.

Don't cut out all carbohydrates! These are some healthy ones:
Arugula
Beans
Broccoli
Collard greens
Legumes
Mustard greens
Romaine lettuce
Spinach
Swiss chard, which tastes a bit like spinach
Whole grain breads
Whole grain pastas

Fish oil pills for your joints?

thanks for the food advice

Livingdeadnurse

Burn-out is a possibility.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/overtraining/

Re your blood tests, I don't know what "everything" means. I assume it includes having had your iron levels tested, but that was the first thing that occurred to me in addition to overtraining.

Congratulations on all you've accomplished! You work a tough job, too, so that's another source of stress.

Somehow missed the link. Will check that out too

MammaC66

I looked at a few days in your diary and noticed that your protein is pretty low. You might try eating more protein and a few less carbs. Protein gives you energy.

slim4health56

I noticed your page indicated that working nights can make you dead tired. Any possibility of changing that up temporarily? Maybe it's the combination of working nights and your body adjusting to the new you. Otherwise, Lyme disease? By the way, you look great!

QuietBloom

1. You don't seem to meeting your potassium goals.
2. A virus. Those buggers can hang in there for upwards of 2 weeks with no symptom other than exhaustion.

michellechawner

Just me, but i have the same issue and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Stress Reaction syndrome. Took nearly a year of testing, but finally got the right meds and am feeling so much better now (this was over 2 years ago this started, sleeping 16 hour days, and working, and school)

Also was able to get a new job, less stress, and started yoga. HUGE help!

NRSPAM

All of the possibilities everyone mentioned are great. However, it could also be due to the changing weather. Surprisingly, many people get "seasonal depression" which can cause fatigue. Honestly though, it's probably a virus.

CherylP67

It sounds like how I felt when I was diagnosed with my auto immune illness.

I would make sure they checked CBC, BMP, and CRP.

Livingdeadnurse

It sounds like how I felt when I was diagnosed with my auto immune illness.

I would make sure they checked CBC, BMP, and CRP.

All the blood work came back with no problems

Livingdeadnurse

1. You don't seem to meeting your potassium goals.
2. A virus. Those buggers can hang in there for upwards of 2 weeks with no symptom other than exhaustion.

i would think my potassium would have showed up low on the blood work. But I will try to eat more potassium.

Livingdeadnurse

All of the possibilities everyone mentioned are great. However, it could also be due to the changing weather. Surprisingly, many people get "seasonal depression" which can cause fatigue. Honestly though, it's probably a virus.

I wouldn't think that because i really don't have any reason to be depressed. No crying. Have a job, roof over my head, food on the table and a great guy. But I think the doctor thinks that too. Since all the symptoms are there. Which is weird.

Livingdeadnurse

I noticed your page indicated that working nights can make you dead tired. Any possibility of changing that up temporarily? Maybe it's the combination of working nights and your body adjusting to the new you. Otherwise, Lyme disease? By the way, you look great!
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Someone was teasing me that I feel more tired now with the weight loss than with out. I still feel fabulous in that aspect. What's weird is I can't seem to get back into running like I was doing. I have been on nights for almost 3 yrs so i wouldn't think it was that. I have always been a night person.

sheltap

Ive had issues with that as well. I recently went to a naturopath and she put me on a 3 week cleanse for my colon, liver basically GI tract. How is life otherwise for you she explained to me that my adrenal glands might be over worked and they mimic the same symptoms of the thyroid. I cant remember what these drops are called but so far Ive seen improvement and Ive been taking a vitamin B complexé

In all this cleanse requires you to eat super clean. No sugars, No yeasts, alcohol....all the good stuff! I also take bentonite clay, capryllic acid and psyllium husk in a mixture with water first thing in the am. Not saying this is what you need but taking all this has worked for me and the fact that I have changed the way I eat is helping.

After so many years of blood tests and doctors visits with no answers I decided to go the naturopath route. Not everyone will agree with it but there is some truth behind it.

mitchiemo

It sounds psychological. You said you've already ruled out depression so maybe it's a motivational factor. Maybe you're bored with the same exercise. Try something new and different, see if that helps.

I haven't looked at your log but someone mentioned you do shift work. Not so long ago I read that working shifts was bad for the heart, not that I'm suggesting the problem is your heart but, from experience, shift work is tough. I know very few people who actually enjoy working shifts. It messes up your sleep patterns and any kind of routine really which can be disorientating to the mind and body. It can also affect friendships/relationships due to inability to coordinate diaries and the like (when my boyfriend and I worked shifts we hardly saw each other). SO...maybe its your job that's finally taken its toll on you and you just need a good break/holiday.

Hope you work it out, I'm sure it's temporary.

Livingdeadnurse

Much better now. Except for this cold that decided to rear it ugly head the beginning of this new year. Thanks everyone for the input.

susanrechter

Maybe you need some good, sound sleep. Sleep is the time when your body repairs.

QuietBloom

I looked at a few days in your diary and noticed that your protein is pretty low. You might try eating more protein and a few less carbs. Protein gives you energy.

Yes, get your protein levels up. I'm not sure if that would fix anything, but you need more protein definitely. Especially with all the working out you do. Try to get 0.8 to 1 g/lb lean body mass every day.

There is always the possibility that you have a virus. Sometimes those boogers can hang in there for weeks. Sinusitis also makes me exhausted (and cranky). Any chance of something like that going on? I hate to invoke chronic fatigue, but did you get checked for epstein barr?

ETA: Oh my, your protein levels are SUPER low. You are not even meeting the bare minimum requirement set by MFP (which is too low to begin with). Please up your protein!

4theking

It could very well be a virus. If this persists for much longer, you may need additional tests. Did you have your sex hormones tested? If estrogen/testosterone/progesterone balance gets off, it could cause your symptoms. Also, as others have mentioned, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Iron, can also contribute. The B12 that you are taking may not be enough and iron in a multivitamin may not be sufficient either. Did you check your cortisol? Low or high cortisol will also cause these same symptoms and sometimes gets messed up while dieting.

tilliefarie

Seasonal ? Disorder known as sad wouldnt be caused by your life, but by how YOU respond to the change of the weather of the changing seasons. I had a friend that had it, so i dont know allot but i do know it wasnt due to her life. I wish you the best of luck, if your dr thinks that is it, did he make any suggestions for you? Getting more sunlight was the first thing my friend had to do. So if you can manage that walk, try to get it during daylight hours when you can see the sun. And i thought it was silly, but it seemed to help my friend.