Possible causes of loss of energy / vitality

[sky332]

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Hi,

Since the beginning of this year I've felt burnt out. I am always tired (regardless of how much I sleep - be it 5 or 14 hours) and when I am awake, I cannot work - I will spend large amounts of time doing basically nothing and being unproductive. I never used to have these problems and could always get by on 6 hours sleep and count on being able to come home, work and get my work done. Recently, I can't even read things which I *know* interest me. I will just sit around procastinating.

After a few months of this, I went to my GP and we tried some supplements (amino acids and certain vitamins) with no sucess. At one point it got so bad, that I had to take a 6 month leave from school. In the meantime another doctor has prescribed various antidepressants, but I haven't really noticed any longer term improvement (sometimes I've intermittent periods of productivity, but basically more of the same).

I am not asking for medical advice, but rather just what you think could be causing this and if you know anyone who has had similar symptoms. My doctors are pretty confused right now . . .

Thanks.

 

[omarsaleh66]

med school just does that to u, u dont really get to do many things besides study and school consumes your life so its very easy to feel chronically tired and sleep all the time. My advice is to force yourself to have a schedule, like get up at 6 or 7 no matter what. And then study all day till 6 PM, and then chill, workout,or do whatever until 10-11 and sleep. And whenever u get tired, instead of sleeping, force urself to stay awake and drink alot of coffee.

later

 

[amuse]

Hi,

Since the beginning of this year I've felt burnt out. I am always tired (regardless of how much I sleep - be it 5 or 14 hours) and when I am awake, I cannot work - I will spend large amounts of time doing basically nothing and being unproductive. I never used to have these problems and could always get by on 6 hours sleep and count on being able to come home, work and get my work done. Recently, I can't even read things which I *know* interest me. I will just sit around procastinating.

After a few months of this, I went to my GP and we tried some supplements (amino acids and certain vitamins) with no sucess. At one point it got so bad, that I had to take a 6 month leave from school. In the meantime another doctor has prescribed various antidepressants, but I haven't really noticed any longer term improvement (sometimes I've intermittent periods of productivity, but basically more of the same).

I am not asking for medical advice, but rather just what you think could be causing this and if you know anyone who has had similar symptoms. My doctors are pretty confused right now . . .

Thanks.

your situtation sounds quite serious. i'd get your doctor to rule out all medical causes (thryoid, adrenals, anemia, etc) before attributing it to psych.

 

[sky332]

your situtation sounds quite serious. i'd get your doctor to rule out all medical causes (thryoid, adrenals, anemia, etc) before attributing it to psych.

Well he checked for anemia as well as TSH levels. It all came back normal. Glans were normal to palpation as well. He said that he couldn't think of any other reasons why I'd be feeling like this and attirbuted it to a psycho-somatic problem. At first I wanted to stay away from antidepressants and so I tried Revitalose (not sure what the equivalent is called over in the US - basically just a mix of vitamins and certain amino acids). Didn't really help at all though.

Thanks for your reply,

sky

 

[medic170]

.a few months of this, I went to my GP and we tried some supplements

Try seeing a specialist.

 

[velo]

don't worry, you're just getting slowly crushed by the weight of the world...it happens to all of us...

 

[dancinjenn]

A word to the wise...have your thyroglobulin tested. My TSH was normal but my globulin was over 500 (normal range 10-50) and contributed to similar feelings that you are having. You don't need to have a palpable mass to have a number of thyroid difficulties.

 

[Dr. Rosenrose]

Look into chronic fatigue syndrome. Usually sleep aids and antidepressants are the way to go. It is more about quality of sleep not quantity. I had a problem kinda like this but it did turn out to be my thyroid. My best advice (good or not) is to stop worrying about grades (if you do). The stress will keep you down. I stopped going to morn. lecture it really seemed to help alot. I do not do well if I stay up late and then go listen to monotone phd tell me exactly what is in the book. I also go work in the ER some to keep me motivated. Good luck, I know burn out sucks.

 

[DadofDr2B]

Look into chronic fatigue syndrome. Usually sleep aids and antidepressants are the way to go. It is more about quality of sleep not quantity. I had a problem kinda like this but it did turn out to be my thyroid. My best advice (good or not) is to stop worrying about grades (if you do). The stress will keep you down. I stopped going to morn. lecture it really seemed to help alot. I do not do well if I stay up late and then go listen to monotone phd tell me exactly what is in the book. I also go work in the ER some to keep me motivated. Good luck, I know burn out sucks.

I have just been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and have these same problems. I would suggest a urine check for protein and microbleeding. Lupus and other kidney ailments can leave you with fatigue and other problems.

 

[hoTpocKets]

He palpated your glans?

 

[sky332]

He palpated your glans?

Uuh, sorry, typo.. meant to say nodes. ;-)

 

[sky332]

Thank you all for your input. I will have my doctor do more extensive tests, along the lines of what you suggest.