I feel absolutely exhausted most of the time! Why?

Question

I can get 7-10 hours of sleep, wake up, and a few hours later (not that I felt great to begin with) I am completely exhausted. I just want to sleep all the time. If I take a nap, I just feel more tired. I have a hard time motivating myself to do everyday things because I'm feeling so tired. What can I do?

Answer 1

Maybe you have sleep apnea. My brother had the same problem, went to a sleep clinic, and found that he had sleep apnea, which prevented him from going into REM/deep sleep. He had the same symptoms as you.

Talk to your doctor...there are remedies for sleep apnea.

Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness — OSA sufferers may often fall asleep easily during passive activities and in severe cases while at work, on the phone or even while driving.
Loud, disruptive snoring or nocturnal pauses in breathing (Click here for example) — Snoring usually interferes with the bed partner’s sleep.
Gasping or choking for air during sleep — Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers might appear to experience an apparent struggle to breathe.
Restless sleep — Body movements often accompany awakening at the end of an apneic episode.
Depression and irritability — OSA sufferers experience noticeable problems while performing daily activities.
Sexual dysfunction — Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may experience a lack of sexual desire due to fatigue and even impotence in men.
Feeling of grogginess, dullness and morning headaches — These additional symptoms are a result of poor quality of sleep.

Answer 2

Gosh, this is just such a difficult situation. It seems relatively simple, but it really is hard to decypher. It could be anything from a physical sleep disorder like sleep apnea, which most people don't even know of, let alone know they have, all the way upto a disorder like dysthymia, which while explained as chronic mild depression, may not seem to make you sad at all.

Things that you can do are to make sure you get a good half hour to hour of exercise each day (aerobic would suffice, like a bike), make sure to eat foods rich with complex carbohydrates (whole grains, various fruits/veggies), a good Vitamin B-Complex suppliment wouldn't hurt anything probably, though I'd make sure to talk with a nutritionist that actually knows their stuff. 25mg tabs should be fine (note that B-12 will always be significantly less of an amount than the other B's, so probably 25 mcg in said suppliment).

Also try to get a good balance of vitamin D and calcium (if you drink milk, you should be fine here).

Often times it's not just one thing, but a real change is needed. If these things don't significantly help, and perhaps even if they do, I would definately seek medical counsel, as doctors typically know quite well about such things.

Best wishes!

Answer 3

Have your heart checked for congestion or damage, this could definitely cause chronic fatigue. Sleep apnea also, I had it for years and didnt know it. The test is easy, you just take home a monitor and breath through the mask at night. Then take it back to the doc the next day. GET CHECKED! I know when you are exhausted the last thing you wanna do is sit around a dr. office. When they give you a survey while waiting to receive your equipment you will probably be surprised that they know exactly what you are going through. Questions like "Do you ever fall sleep sitting in traffic?" I was like, OMG, I'm not insane! But, heart or sleap apnea conditions could cause permanent, sometimes fatal results of not corrected. Do your body a favor and call your doctor. Hey, you can catch a nap while waiting in the exam room. Also, do not rule out depression.

Answer 4

Typically when patients present with this complaint were do lab testing to see if their thyroid is functioning properly and we also check to see if they are anemic (iron deficiency). You could add extra iron in your diet or take an iron supplement to see if that helps and if it doesn't then I would see a doctor. Another possibility is that you have some sort of sleep apnea where you aren't falling into a deep sleep therefore you do not get adequate rest no matter how much sleep you get.

Answer 5

Have your doctor check your thyroid hormones, you may be hypothyroid and need to take a daily supplement. Being super tired is a hallmark of hypothyroid. I was soooo exausted before I got diagnosed. All it takes is a blood test. Here is some more info, see if it matches your symptoms. Good luck.
http://www.armourthyroid.com/hypothyroidism/symptoms.html

Answer 6

You may be anemic. Get to the doctor and get a physical and bloodwork. Also, get your thyroid checked. Stress and depression will also make you feel exhausted. Good luck!

Answer 7

Do you exercise? If not, then you need to get 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

Answer 8

You need more fiber most likely. Try a diet with healthier food and more exersize.

Answer 9

you need more protien in your diet specially if you are a vegetarian
if not then jsut eat more snacks like peatnuts ect.
also make sure you eat breakfast..it will jump start your day

Answer 10

sounds like you don't drink enough water and you are chronically dehydrated.