Why Am I so Tired?

Is feeling tired most or all the time a sign of a health issues?

In this post I will explain the differences between feeling tired, fatigued and lethargic.   The former a normal process of the body needing to recharge and the latter two being a possible signs of your body telling you  something just isn’t right.  

Defining Tired, Fatigued and Lethargic

Tired: in need of sleep or rest; weary.  (Feeling tired most weekdays after the usual 16 hour day as working mom but feel rested after a good night’s sleep)

Fatigued: reduced capacity for work (physical or mental) extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. ( During angioedema flare ups or after consuming too many sulfites, no amount of sleep or rest helps me feel better.  Any extra activities are limited to only if necessary)

Lethargic: lack of energy; a pathological state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness and inactivity (This is how I feel during extreme flare ups, similar to how it takes too much energy to even watch t.v. when you have the flu)

Putting Others Above Ourselves

In general, I find that many of us are not great at looking after our own health.  I used to see this almost as a badge of honor. Sacrifice for others. Make sure everyone else is okay and worry about yourself later. 

Lately, I’ve come to realize though it may sound cliche or even self indulgent – we can’t take care of others to our full potential if we are not well ourselves.  We make sure the kids go to bed on time and have healthy breakfasts to keep their mind going in school. We encourage friends to take that spa day they’ve been needing. Maybe we stay up past everyone in the house to finish some housework and make lunches for the next day. 

The question we need to ask ourselves is, if I were to avoid that carb heavy lunch and instead eat a healthy salad, would I feel sleepy in the afternoon. If I went to bed when I was supposed to, would I wake up feeling rested? Would taking that spa day or even just an hour for myself once a week, help me feel energized?  If the answer is no, then maybe it’s time to look and see what else needs to change.  Ask yourself, what other contributing factors might be at play making you feel tired, fatigued or lethargic. 

Time to Revaluate Why You May Be Feeling Fatigued

It may be normal for a mom of 3 like me with a full time job to be tired by the end of the day.  However, It is not healthy to feel fatigued or lethargic on a consistent or persistent basis. All the time I hear people tell me they’re tired because of age, lifestyle, diet, lack of exercise etc.  With a better diet, exercising or getting better sleep one can expect to feel less tired. If after improving your lifestyle, you are still ‘tired’ it may be time to reevaluate.  

Food is Fuel

Food is our body and mind’s fuel. There can be a drastic shift in our relationship with food once we see nutrition as the source of energy it is meant to be. This is a lesson I continue to try to instill in my children.   I tell my kids all the time that we can’t expect our cars to run without gas so they shouldn’t expect to skip a healthy afternoon snack and still be able to keep up at practice.

Often times, I see wonderful improvements in how people feel once their diets improve.  Cutting out soda, reducing simple carbohydrates (white bread, flour tortillas), adding whole grains and lean protein to breakfast or using fruits such as apples and blueberries as snacks can make a world of difference for many people.

But what if you are eating healthy and still don’t feel good? Or what if you have tried every healthy food suggested to you and still dragging most days?  What if the food you are eating, even though ‘healthy’, is making you sick. Perhaps you have a food intolerance such as the 1 in 100 with a sulfite intolerance like me. Sometimes the most efficient way to figure this out is by creating a symptom/food log. If you notice a pattern, you may want to discuss your concerns with your doctor.  

My Before –  Often Feeling Fatigued

For most of my life, before discovering my sulfite intolerance, feeling tired or lazy was normal for me.  I was so tired sometimes that taking a shower and washing my hair required a short nap afterwards.  For me, washing my hair was an event I needed to schedule based on timing and my energy level.  Climbing up 13 steps in my house required a  pause at the top due to weakness in my legs and feeling lightheaded.  I had a stool in my bathroom to sit on while doing my very basic makeup routine. Sometimes, I sat on a stool just to brush my teeth.

At the age of 16 I was blessed to visit Venice, Italy. What I remember most about that day is that I cheated myself when I refused to climb St. Marks Basilica.  I had myself and everyone convinced that I had no interest in climbing the bell tower. Truth was that I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it.  I knew my legs would weaken and my energy would not carry me to the top.

Day to day, I knew every place I could sit in all the stores I ever went to.  I sat on the mannequin stands and on sofa displays in department stores. Often, I sat in the chairs in the cafe’s in grocery stores. Sometimes I even sat in patients’ rooms on rounds. During medical school and residency I always needed one full day of rest each week.  I used to call it my ‘natural day’. Shower optional, no make up, sweats, sleep, lay around and watch Lifetime channel in between dozing on and off. I rarely agreed to dinner and a movie.  Chances were I would be asleep half way through the movie. 

And After

 Maybe this seems normal to some, but now that I feel well, have identified my sulfite sensitivity and have my angioedema under control, I rarely experience this kind of fatigue or lethargy. Cleaning up my diet by avoiding sulfites has dramatically improved the way I feel.  I don’t sit to do my makeup. Walking by mannequin stands makes me shake my head when I think of how normal I thought it was to sit there as all the other shoppers mozied by.

Today, I would welcome the chance to climb the bell tower in Venice.  Now, I usually end up over scheduling my vacations and and am grateful that I have the energy to do it. If my husband suggests we go out for dinner and a movie spontaneously after the kids go to bed on a Friday evening, I jump at the opportunity.  I know I can rest and sleep when I get home and feel ready to go again the next morning, even if I’m tired now.  

Beyond Food

Keep in mind many other health conditions can make a person feel tired, fatigued or lethargic.  Autoimmune conditions such as lupus, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Prediabetes and even hormonal imbalances such as PCOS. Your doctor can help diagnose or rule out many of these conditions. It is so important for people to keep tabs on how they feel and to discuss their concerns with their doctors.  

Looking Forward

I know what it feels like to have to sit out, to decline amazing opportunities and feel like I’m wasting whole days in bed or on the couch. Now I never take my opportunities for granted.  I can rest later.  Right now I think I’m too busy making up for the first 30 years of my life.