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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
During my junior year of college (about 2.5 years ago) I began feeling extremely fatigued. Before the fatigue set in, I was walking 1-2 miles a day (to school and back) and weight training 3 days a week. I really enjoyed working out, but I could not keep up the schedule when feeling exhausted every day. My mind would also feel cloudy or foggy at times throughout the day. If I stay up past 11 or 12 at night, I feel especially bad throughout the next day.
I went to student health, they gave me a blood test, told me I didn't have mono, and that I'm healthy.
The nurse suggested that I may be suffering from depression. I dismissed the idea at the time, and hoped things would improve on their own. Sure, there were (and are) aspects of my life that I am unsatisfied with: I have never been in a relationship (but would like to), I am shy, and I probably have social anxiety. I'm unhappy with these things, but I wouldn't say it's to the point of depression.
It's now 2.5 years later, and I have felt fatigued pretty much every day since then. My social life and physical health have suffered due to being tired all the time. I still have trouble believing that my fatigue is due to depression, because even when my spirits are high, my fatigue is always there. It does not seem to be tied into my emotions. If any one thing depresses me, it's the fatigue itself.
I am now considering celexa/lexapro in an effort to reduce my social anxiety and (even more important to me) hopefully reduce my fatigue. I will also have a second, more comprehensive, blood test done when my grad school student insurance kicks in next week. I'm at the end of my rope, but I'm still hesitant to embrace medication. So.. I am wondering if anyone else here had similar problems with fatigue, if you determined that it was a symptom of depression, and if so, did medication alleviate the problem?
Posted by djmmm on September 14, 2005, at 17:23:05
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
I think you're smart to get another blood test. A blood test (CBC) should be your first step, before deciding to go on medication. It sounds almost as if you are suffering from chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome-- which, ironically, is treated with SSRIS. Can you pinpoint a certain "high stress" event that lead to you feeling this way?
Posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 21:04:43
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued..., posted by djmmm on September 14, 2005, at 17:23:05
Thanks for the response. I'd read a little about CFIDS in the past, and the symptoms match my experience well, but the idea was met by a lot of resistance by my parents. I can usually turn to them for support, but I cannot regarding this. They are very stubborn in their convictions that chronic fatigue syndrom is a myth, or that CFIDS is merely a symptom of depression, or that I'm a hypochondriac. That's what I've been listening to for the last 2 1/2 years... but I really to start hearing some other points of view. Thanks for sharing yours. I'll follow up on this message after I visit the student health center next week.
> I think you're smart to get another blood test. A blood test (CBC) should be your first step, before deciding to go on medication. It sounds almost as if you are suffering from chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome-- which, ironically, is treated with SSRIS. Can you pinpoint a certain "high stress" event that lead to you feeling this way?
Posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 21:12:39
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued..., posted by djmmm on September 14, 2005, at 17:23:05
In response to your question: the onset of the fatigue coincided roughly with me moving into a new apartment near the university I attended at the time. This was not particularly stressful, but it's the only thing that stands out in my mind as eventful. I got along well with my roommates from the start, and I had previously moved into new dorms/apartments in prior years without any onset of fatigue.
Posted by wildcard on September 14, 2005, at 21:20:59
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 21:12:39
I too suffer w/ fatige daily to where it has impaired my life. i also used to work out,etc daily but now i get tired doing laundry. of all the meds i have tried for mainly depression/social anxiety, wellbutrin gave the most energy. i have had several blood tests done that were abnormal but never followed up as i have no ins.. after u have ruled possibilities out, if u and ur doc decide to go w/ a med., i wld. at least ask about wellbutrin. hope u feel better.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on September 15, 2005, at 13:55:49
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
Hello!
Well, personally, I would AVOID celexa/lex if you're suffering from fatigue - I was on Celexa for about a year and a half, and it made me really really really tired all the time. Trouble was, I didn't really realise that it was the drug until I came here and read that apathy, fatigue etc is a really common side effect of celexa. And I didn't have a very big problem with fatigue in the first place. So avoid it like the plague! Anyway, are you overeating as well? It could be (and I'm no doc here) that you have atypical depression (I suffer from it too). Do a google search for atypical depression and see if the symptoms sound like you. CFS isn't made up - it usually follows from a viral infection.
Well, one thing you can for free is to excercise - it will give you more energy in the long run, even if you don't feel it at the time. I would continue to walk the one two miles to school each day (which isn't much really) and maybe do a couple of aerobic sessions too of 30+mins We had a discussion about the benefits of excerise awhile ago on the 'alternative' board a little while back. Use the search box at the bottom of this page, and I'm sure if you type in 'exercise' and 'Meri-Tuuli' you will get some results........
Good luck and kind regards
Meri-Tuuli
Posted by skogul on September 15, 2005, at 16:46:59
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued..., posted by Meri-Tuuli on September 15, 2005, at 13:55:49
Hi, thanks for your response and your insight on celexa/lexapro.
Atypical depression does seem to fit the bill a lot better than, say, major depression. Especially the sensitivity to rejection and criticism. I have an intense fear of rejection from women and fear of rejection when I'm in certain social situations. I also tend to oversleep and eat more, though I haven't experienced weight gain. Thanks again for the help.
Posted by Declan on September 15, 2005, at 19:16:11
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
Hi Skogul
When I went to a good nutritional doctor for fatigue among other things, he ordered someting like 20 individual blood tests, I don't remember them of course.
I think you are right to want to rule out a physical cause to your fatigue before you take an AD.
When we talk about fatigue we assume a physical cause. When we take an AD we treat the mind biologically. You can have a physical cause for your depression that may or may not be the cause for some or all of your fatigue. And Celexa may not help your fatigue.
Excuse me here, I'm just trying to think.
Declan
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on September 15, 2005, at 23:29:28
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued... » skogul, posted by Declan on September 15, 2005, at 19:16:11
yeah, get the blood test of blood tests, making sure they check for everything. in fact you should do some research on the internet with google so you can make sure they are checking for everything.
i had a friend that had battled fatigued problems. real smart, graduated with engineering degree, but cant work any more because fatigue. at 28.
if it turns out to be depression, which we all go through at times, try effexor. that will give you a little kick.
Posted by Emme on September 16, 2005, at 6:22:58
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
Do you live in a place where Lyme disease occurs and have you been tested for it? My doctors have tested me for it at times when I've been constantly and mysteriously tired. It can be sneaky.
Have you had a sleep study?
emme
Posted by Paulbwell on September 16, 2005, at 7:37:13
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
> During my junior year of college (about 2.5 years ago) I began feeling extremely fatigued. Before the fatigue set in, I was walking 1-2 miles a day (to school and back) and weight training 3 days a week. I really enjoyed working out, but I could not keep up the schedule when feeling exhausted every day. My mind would also feel cloudy or foggy at times throughout the day. If I stay up past 11 or 12 at night, I feel especially bad throughout the next day.
>
> I went to student health, they gave me a blood test, told me I didn't have mono, and that I'm healthy.
>
> The nurse suggested that I may be suffering from depression. I dismissed the idea at the time, and hoped things would improve on their own. Sure, there were (and are) aspects of my life that I am unsatisfied with: I have never been in a relationship (but would like to), I am shy, and I probably have social anxiety. I'm unhappy with these things, but I wouldn't say it's to the point of depression.
>
> It's now 2.5 years later, and I have felt fatigued pretty much every day since then. My social life and physical health have suffered due to being tired all the time. I still have trouble believing that my fatigue is due to depression, because even when my spirits are high, my fatigue is always there. It does not seem to be tied into my emotions. If any one thing depresses me, it's the fatigue itself.
>
> I am now considering celexa/lexapro in an effort to reduce my social anxiety and (even more important to me) hopefully reduce my fatigue. I will also have a second, more comprehensive, blood test done when my grad school student insurance kicks in next week. I'm at the end of my rope, but I'm still hesitant to embrace medication. So.. I am wondering if anyone else here had similar problems with fatigue, if you determined that it was a symptom of depression, and if so, did medication alleviate the problem?You are smart to get A FULL BLOOD EXAM to rule out Thyroid, adrenal problems. Also get a sleep study and EEG done. I had MANY done-Blood tests.
Tried Celexa, (and other ADs) and after a few weeks LIKE SEVERAL HERE, it caused MAJOR fatigue and depression:(. Stimulants, Ritalin, Caffeine, Nicotine, help alot, but you can come to rely on em, or IF IT'S PROVEN you have some sort of Narcolepsy disorder-this seems to be the standard treatment.
GET A FULL BIOLOGICAL WORKUP TO RULE OUT ANY REAL MEDICAL ISSUES, BEFORE STARTING ON AWAKENING AGENTS. ok?
Cheers
Posted by wildcard on September 16, 2005, at 9:47:04
In reply to Re: Get a comprehensive blood test AND ..., posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on September 15, 2005, at 23:29:28
well then WHAT IS WRONG W/ ME???? :(
i have had my thyroid ck'ed along w/ many other blood tests (a lot were abnormal?? liver was one but i dont drink?)at the time i was pregnant and my ob doc thought nothing of it. i did however later lose my 4th baby? i eat healthy,excercise some,take prenatal vitamins and B supplements and am on 225mg of effexor and still so fatigued that i sleep on avg. 14 hours a day. i do not fit the criteria for fatique syndrome(?) and i am really getting discouraged about this. oh~no insurance either..lol and i'm 27????? HELP!!!
Posted by skogul on September 16, 2005, at 23:36:52
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued... » skogul, posted by Emme on September 16, 2005, at 6:22:58
It's funny you mention this. I grew up in Lyme, Connecticut, and I did get Lyme disease at one point. It was detected pretty early I think and I went on antibiotics to get rid of it. I was about 10 years old at the time, so I don't remember the incident too well. Can Lyme disease recur? I looked for info on it a few weeks back, but couldn't find much good info on if it can be chronic.
I haven't had a sleep study yet.
> Do you live in a place where Lyme disease occurs and have you been tested for it? My doctors have tested me for it at times when I've been constantly and mysteriously tired. It can be sneaky.
>
> Have you had a sleep study?
>
> emme
Posted by skogul on September 17, 2005, at 4:00:54
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued... » skogul, posted by Emme on September 16, 2005, at 6:22:58
> Do you live in a place where Lyme disease occurs and have you been tested for it? My doctors have tested me for it at times when I've been constantly and mysteriously tired. It can be sneaky.
>
> Have you had a sleep study?
>
> emmeI know this isn't a CF or fibromyalgia forum, but I thought this was an interesting statistic:
"That chronic Lyme Disease actually exists, and is likely the most common form of the disease, is supported by epidemiologic studies demonstrating that 30-50-% of treated and untreated patients go on to develop a multisymptom disorder typical of, and indistinguishable from, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue (1, 28)."
Wow. I cannot help but wish I did not move to the city of LYME, of all places.
Posted by Sarah T. on September 17, 2005, at 16:07:29
In reply to Re: Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 17, 2005, at 4:00:54
> >> Wow. I cannot help but wish I did not move to the city of LYME, of all places.
Hi Skogul,
I have never lived in Lyme, CT, yet I got Lyme Disease six years ago. Fortunately for me, I did develop the bull's-eye rash; otherwise, the doctors and everyone else would have probably written off my complaints as neurosis or another facet of my depression until the disease had reached its advanced stages. I was treated fairly early.I should also note that I had NOT been spending time in wooded areas or in fields with high grass.
I hope you can get a thorough medical exam very soon. Are you on any medications that could be causing the fatigue? Celexa caused SEVERE fatigue and prostration. During the months that I was on it, I thought I was dying. During that same period, I had a friend who really was dying of cancer, yet she had more energy than I did. As others here have suggested, before you start introducing new variables (stimulants, AD's, etc.), get a complete and thorough medical workup, go through everything you're ingesting (traditional meds, alternative meds and foods, vitamins, etc.) to see what might be causing and/or exacerbating the fatigue. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Maxime on September 20, 2005, at 6:40:23
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
Hi. I haven't read through the response because I don't have time (computer at library), but you should have your thyroid tested,your B-12 tested, read the "Yeast Connection" (try eliminating processed sugar and wheat from your diet).
And then there is the fact that you could indeed be depressed. If you want to try something alternative, check out the alternative board and ask some questions there.
No matter what it is, you are not alone and keep posting here and we will help and listen. :-)
Maxime
> During my junior year of college (about 2.5 years ago) I began feeling extremely fatigued. Before the fatigue set in, I was walking 1-2 miles a day (to school and back) and weight training 3 days a week. I really enjoyed working out, but I could not keep up the schedule when feeling exhausted every day. My mind would also feel cloudy or foggy at times throughout the day. If I stay up past 11 or 12 at night, I feel especially bad throughout the next day.
>
> I went to student health, they gave me a blood test, told me I didn't have mono, and that I'm healthy.
>
> The nurse suggested that I may be suffering from depression. I dismissed the idea at the time, and hoped things would improve on their own. Sure, there were (and are) aspects of my life that I am unsatisfied with: I have never been in a relationship (but would like to), I am shy, and I probably have social anxiety. I'm unhappy with these things, but I wouldn't say it's to the point of depression.
>
> It's now 2.5 years later, and I have felt fatigued pretty much every day since then. My social life and physical health have suffered due to being tired all the time. I still have trouble believing that my fatigue is due to depression, because even when my spirits are high, my fatigue is always there. It does not seem to be tied into my emotions. If any one thing depresses me, it's the fatigue itself.
>
> I am now considering celexa/lexapro in an effort to reduce my social anxiety and (even more important to me) hopefully reduce my fatigue. I will also have a second, more comprehensive, blood test done when my grad school student insurance kicks in next week. I'm at the end of my rope, but I'm still hesitant to embrace medication. So.. I am wondering if anyone else here had similar problems with fatigue, if you determined that it was a symptom of depression, and if so, did medication alleviate the problem?
Posted by florence on September 21, 2005, at 0:51:22
In reply to Constantly fatigued..., posted by skogul on September 14, 2005, at 16:57:14
During my junior year of college (about 2.5 years ago) I began feeling extremely fatigued. Before the fatigue set in, I was walking 1-2 miles a day (to school and back) and weight training 3 days a week. I really enjoyed working out, but I could not keep up the schedule when feeling exhausted every day. My mind would also feel cloudy or foggy at times throughout the day. If I stay up past 11 or 12 at night, I feel especially bad throughout the next day.
>
> I went to student health, they gave me a blood test, told me I didn't have mono, and that I'm healthy.
>
> The nurse suggested that I may be suffering from depression. I dismissed the idea at the time, and hoped things would improve on their own. Sure, there were (and are) aspects of my life that I am unsatisfied with: I have never been in a relationship (but would like to), I am shy, and I probably have social anxiety. I'm unhappy with these things, but I wouldn't say it's to the point of depression.
>
> It's now 2.5 years later, and I have felt fatigued pretty much every day since then. My social life and physical health have suffered due to being tired all the time. I still have trouble believing that my fatigue is due to depression, because even when my spirits are high, my fatigue is always there. It does not seem to be tied into my emotions. If any one thing depresses me, it's the fatigue itself.
>
> I am now considering celexa/lexapro in an effort to reduce my social anxiety and (even more important to me) hopefully reduce my fatigue. I will also have a second, more comprehensive, blood test done when my grad school student insurance kicks in next week. I'm at the end of my rope, but I'm still hesitant to embrace medication. So.. I am wondering if anyone else here had similar problems with fatigue, if you determined that it was a symptom of depression, and if so, did medication alleviate the problem?
I BEG you to test your Thyroid ANTIBODIES, Free T4 and Free T3, and usually TSH, too. I have been bedridden with fatigue for several yrs. I was ALWAY put on the "must be depression" list....I saw at least a dozen drs- menopause specialists, rheumy for CFIDS; etc ad nauseum. I have tried over 60 different medicines to help; mostly antidepressants that made me MORE fatigued.My TSH was always within the normal lab range. It was not until last year- and the second endocrinologist that I saw that tested my TPO- thyroid peroxidase antibodies and diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroid Disease....It took me TEN years and tons of research. I never believed it was depression that I was suffering from......
There is a Links section on this site about thyroid replacement;
Yahoo has a group called natural thyroid replacement
Mary Shoman is a patient advocate at the "About" sites and has written extensively about thyroid disease.
Pro Health Immune Support web site has lots of info and members with CFIDS, Fibromyalgia, excess Candida, and LYME disease.Please don't give up finding an answer. But IMHO I would rule out other causes like Lyme or Thyroid or Anemia-----before I started an antidepressant........... Oh the money and years of my life that were such a waste....
It is taking me longer to get well with thyroid replacement becuz I was undiagnosed and untreated for SO long. Do u have any family members who take Synthroid- it's a common thyroid drug....Or may have had a thyroid nodule or goiter or given RAI to drink for overactive thyroid?
I wish you all the luck in the world: you are young and I hope you get an answer real soon. Bye for now, Florence
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