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female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes: Hello, i have a health problem.I am always tired, constantly tired and i fel like i have no energy at all. I am 18 now and it has been this way since i was about 9. I have had two blood tests since then for being tired, checking for anemia and diabetes but tests are fine, my most recent being a year ago.I have just entered university and am struggling to get by even tho it has only been a week. I have tried sleeping for different amounts of time in the past but this has no effect on my tiredness. i dont no what else to do, doctors just turn me away. please help.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 October 2007): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questioni think you might be onto something there, i feel like im half awake when i sleep most of the time, i dont feel that i have slept deeply although i do have many wild dreams throughout the night. I dont snore, i never have but i do feel like im not refreshed.
thanks for the advice
A
female
reader, aggieil  +, writes (14 October 2007):
Hi, I am experiencing similar symptoms and found out that I am not getting enough deep sleep. There could be many causes of this, so I had to get a sleep study. Sleep apnea was ruled out, but there is still an obstruction that is causing me to wake many times during the night and consequently not get the deep sleep that we all need. My obstruction has to do with sinuses and tonsils, so I am having my tonsils removed.
Do you frequently wake at night? Do you snore? Do you wake not feeeling refreshed? If so, you should see an ENT as it may be allergies or a sleep obstruction.
Good luck.
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A
female
reader, Oblivia  +, writes (3 October 2007):
 Did they check for hyper- or hypo-thyroidism? You say you suffered this tiredness since 9-yrs old and thyroidism is very unusual at this age, but if you go back to doctors, ask them for a test anyway. It is simple, just a little blood test. I was diagnozed this at the age of 25 and then probably had it for some years and I was ALWAYS tired.
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A
male
reader, Frank B Kermit  +, writes (2 October 2007):
 Sleep Apnea is not about the hours of sleep you get. It is when your throat closes up and you stop breathing in your sleep for a few seconds at a time, and your brain must force you to wake up just enough (not fully wake up) to get your breathing again. But since you are soon asleep again, the pattern repeats. For some people it is every few minutes, for others this can happen every 30 seconds. Contrary to popular beleif, it is not always directly related to weight and other such factors. Small very thin children can also have it. Find out which hospital has a sleep clinic for sleep disorders and go there. Most general practionars don't follow up or recommend this as there is no medication to perscribe.
-Frank B Kermit
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 October 2007): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questioni hate going back to the doctors, they just tell me there is nothing wrong even when i tell them there is. argh. i guess i will give it a try though. my sleeping patterns are crazy, it takes me around an hour to get to sleep, even though i can be knackered and comfy.
i also wake up at about 6ish every morning which is very annoying. but i will go back to the doctors and see what they say.
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A
male
reader, rcn +, writes (2 October 2007):
 A psychologist works with sleep problems too, not just mental issues. First depression can show up at any time, no warning and can take form as excessive tiredness. I developed mine when I was about 9 and was diagnosed at 12.
With me my sleeping has gone off balance. I researched it and found there are two different patterns of sleep. (1) REM (Rapid Eye Movement) (2) Non REM (non rapid eye movement), most people enter from Non in to REM about 5 minutes after they lay down and close their eyes. That allows them to go into their dream state. Mine is combined. About 40 seconds after I lay down I begin the REM, so I begin dreaming before I can be considered to be asleep. This has literally tricked my system into believing my body's asleep when it's not, so instead of getting a comfortable night sleep, I'm up about every 2-3 hours for a few minutes until I can find a new comfortable position to fall asleep in.
I do wake up warn out, tired and thinking there is no way it's time to get up now. With these issues I have been literally tired for 23 years. I have my moments, but when the stimulation of the moment is gone, so is my being awake.
Have you thought about taking vitamins for a couple of months and see if that begins to regulate your system? Taking a multivitamin may be a good start. Most of us have vitamin deficiencies because our food doesn't have the natural amount it did years ago. Like today you need 70 helpings of spinach to equal 1 helping in 1949. I talked to a guy who delivered veggies to stores. He said by the time he gets them there 95% of the vitamins have disappeared. You may want to give that a try.
Take care.
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A
female
reader, Fairy_Lu  +, writes (2 October 2007):
 Have you had your thyroid checked it could be that, it involves another blood test though but go back speak to your doctor and get checked and if its not that then get your doctor to check for anything else he has to help its not fair on you to feel so low.
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 October 2007): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionthere is no way i am depressed, i have been this way since i was 9! i have been through some rele rough patches in my life, but i am not depressed, i love my life and wouldnt change it.
i have also changed my diet, i was vegetarian for 3 years and am currently eating a lot more healthily than i have done. every bit of advice given here, i have tried, except going to that sleep place and goin to a psychologist which i know i dont need.
i have tried getting different amounts of sleep, but his makes no difference. for example, i had 9 hours sleep last night and i am exhausted. the night before i had about 7 and i still felt the same. i have tried sleping for the same amount of time each night and that doesnt work either. argh!!!
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A
male
reader, Abacadaba +, writes (2 October 2007):
 I had a problem like this, and it was down to going to bed too late and my diet, id feel better if i was sleeping say 9pm-6am, rather than say 12midnight-9am. Think about what you eat during the day, and if you eat properly (say do you eat a good breckfast/lunch/dinner or do you just snack)Maybe do some research on some natural energy foods (no not chocolate :P) a good one is bananas. Also the lifestyle you live, at one point i was heavily addicted to online gaming, and the fact that i was sat playing all day made me feel tired and worn out, where as if i went out with friends although i was using more energy i felt alot more awake and energetic, and happy. Hope you get it sorted, if you cant sort it on your own id go back to the doctors about it.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 October 2007): Hi - I had a similar thing and was tired to the point of desperately wanting to sleep in the middle of the day including social occasions etc. I recommend a nutritionist or naturopath (who looks at the whole body holistically). I went to a nutritionist and I needed to eat lots more protein - healthy protein and drink more water. Believe it or not taking more exercise can help as it generates energy in your body and will help you sleep well at the proper times. Your doctor may prescribe tablets but just ensure you ask about side effects as sometimes side effects can be tiredness! Not helpful!
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male
reader, Frank B Kermit +, writes (2 October 2007):
Have you been tested for sleep apnea at a sleep clinic? I suffered the same thing. I was always tired and exhausted. They did tests to find out at first that I had asthma, and was not getting enough oxygen at times. Once I got the astham undercontrol, I was STILL tired, and finally one doctor suggested being tested for sleep apnea. Well, that night at the clinic (they make you stay there over night), sleeping with a cpap machine to pump oxygen into your lungs, was the first time in YEARS I had felt properly rested. It changed everything for me.
Assuming it is not a mental or emotional thing like depression, managing your sleep apnea might be it.
-Frank B Kermit
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male
reader, Dustin587 +, writes (2 October 2007):
 Sounds to me like you are depressed or have some other medical issue. I have dealt with depression for many years and fatigue is definitely a symptom. Going to college and having to work is a rough life and could easily lead to feeling hopeless and such.
Also, how much sleep have you been getting? Most doctors and non-professionals alike will tell you you need 8 hours of sleep, but that's not necessarily true. I learned in psychology and my own personal studies that some people can get by on a few hours while others may need up to 11 hours per day to feel their best.
You may also want to check on your diet. Since I changed from an unhealthy meat-eater (red meat mostly) and became a vegetarian, I feel a heck of a lot better. I am not saying you should give up eating red meat or becoming a vegetarian, but you should definitely lay off stuff that's all calories and no nutrients (stuff like pizza). By eating healthy and exercising, you feel better about yourself and feel better physically. Eating 2000 calories a day doesn't mean your body is getting what it needs, which could make you feel tired and weak.
I would see a psychologist to find out whether or not you are suffering from depression.
Lastly, starting at a university is tough. You are not going to feel 100% for a few weeks. I started at a community college, so my stress was relatively low compared to a university student.
Good luck
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male
reader, rcn +, writes (1 October 2007):
Many different things can cause you to feel tired. Depression is one. I would see a psychologist and get assessed in that area. I would also check to see if there is a possibility of Narcolepsy, which is the severe desire to sleep. It doesn't always comes as a sleep attack, you could have a low version which drains you and makes you feel tired. I have it and it's been a while since I have felt really awake for any period of time.
Take care.
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