$Unique_ID{BRK01959}
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$Title{Too Tired to Enjoy Life}
$Subject{Tired fatigue fatigued disease diseases examine examined examination
examinations test tests tested testing cause causes causing Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome anemia virus viral bacteria bacterial infection infections thyroid
function functions blood sugar cancer cancers cancerous depressed depression
emotion emotions emotional distress medication medications misuse drug drugs
nutrition nutritions diet diets meal meals snack snacks Energy sleep stress
stresses jet lag jet-lag exercise exercises life style styles life-style
life-styles}
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Exercise has Overall Benefits*0003209.scf
What is Anemia?*0009201.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Too Tired to Enjoy Life


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QUESTION:  I am 46 years of age, and a bachelor, a lifestyle that suits me
just fine, thank you.  I live alone, have made regular advancements at my job,
exercise on a daily basis and thought my life was completely under control.
However, of late, I am just too tired to enjoy it all.  I visited my doctor
thinking I had the fatigue disease, was examined and tested and was told there
was nothing wrong.  But there is!  Can you try to provide me with an educated
guess as to my problem's cause?  Do you think I should stop my exercise?  Any
help you could furnish would be greatly appreciated.

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ANSWER:  Your question would be tough enough to answer if you were a patient
of mine and I had the advantage of discussing the problem more fully,
examining you, and running a few laboratory tests on my own.  With the limited
information you have given me, it is even more of a challenge.  But if you
will accept some discussion based on experience and a hunch or two, I am
willing to try to help.  First I am going to rule out the possibility of
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, based on your doctor's opinion, and despite the fact
that in the long run it still remains an outside possibility.  A complaint of
being "too tired" to enjoy a life style you seem to have made for yourself
requires a complete history and enough examinations to rule out a long list of
possibilities.  Simple anemia, chronic and undetected viral and bacterial
infections, low thyroid function, low blood sugar, undetected cancer,
depression and other types of emotional distress, misuse of medications and
other drugs, might all be detected if the workup was extensive enough.  And if
the fatigue persists over time, such an extensive examination would be totally
warranted.  However, let's take a look at some simpler possibilities.  How's
your nutrition?  As a single man living alone, do you assure your body the
right diet, on a regular basis, or do you skip meals in favor of snacks, and
generally just eat whatever is convenient?  Energy comes from food, and
failing to provide your system with the nutrition it needs may be the source
of your problem.  What about sleep?  Do you get enough sleep each night to
permit your body to recover from the strains and drains of your daily
activity?  In a man with the lifestyle you describe, this is a potential
origin of fatigue, that I would explore with you if the opportunity presented
itself.
     After dealing with possible sources of fatigue in your personal life, we
could review your work habits.  Any new or special stresses on the job?  Your
excellent record of advancement may be due as much to taking work home and
devoting additional time to extended projects as your skills.  This may have
contributed both to your success as well as your fatigue.  If you travel a
good deal, jet lag can be the reason for at least some of your distress.  Of
course any additional stress, either personal or professional, creates a drain
on reserves of vitality.  Identifying the source of the stress, and devising
strategies to reduce both the amount and frequency, can help you regain your
previous energy levels.
     The experts on exercise are pretty precise about their advice in
situations such as yours.  Too much training may be at the root of this
question, but all agree that you should not completely abandon an exercise
program merely because of fatigue.  However, you may have to cut back some,
and then redevelop your tolerance to the activity.  In may be that you are
merely translating a case of tired muscles into a perception of constant
fatigue, in which case this problem has an easily accomplished remedy.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.