If it's been more than a year since you've had lab work done. Ask the doc for a CBC w/differential, comprehensive metabolic, and thyroid function panel.
If cost isn't an issue, also throw in ferritin, calcifediol, calcitriol, magnesium (or full electrolyte panel), b12, and a complete thyroid function panel, if the doctor thinks it would be helpful.
The CBC w/differential and the metabolic panel are two labs that should be done every year, they're basically equivalent to having a mechanic check the fluids in your car during an oil change. The other tests are specialized, and will aid your doctor in diagnosing your exhaustion, depending on your medical history, the doctor will decide which tests they need to run.
If you have access to your old labs, you can use that as the starting point. TSH should be less than 2.5, if it's higher than 2.5 I'd personally start supplementing with iodine and then recheck it in a month. Also, if it's an iron, b12, or magnesium deficiency you could buy some at the store and try it out. Ferrous sulfate is only like $4 at the store, that would be the cheapest way to find out if you have an iron deficiency.... which in menstruating women is the most common mineral deficiency. If Vitamin D3 status is less than 40 ng/mL I would begin vitamin D3 supplementation, optimized range is roughly 45 - 60 ng/mL
Quote:
Originally Posted by bwkeys45
I feel tired ALL the time. I'm exhausted when I wake up in the morning, I'm tired during the day, and I feel like I'm about to fall apart by the time I get home from school. It isn't even like it's the annoying tired you can ignore; my muscles are weak and I have trouble lifting things or sitting up by the end of the day, and I will take 2 or 3 hour "naps" and still feel the same. Is this normal, or should I be worried? I started to take medication a few months ago, too, so I'm a bit confused as to why I'm still so sleepy.  |