fatigue question

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YogaBug

104 posts since
Jan 17, 2007

Feb 26, 2007 2:02 PM

fatigue question

I've noticed lately that I've been very tired. I feel like I could sleep another 10 hours if I could. I get what I think is enough sleep (at least it has been in the past) - I get 8 hours the majority of nights. I'm wondering if it could be diet related, or something else. I'm a female, 24 years old, I am currently only running about 9 miles a week, and I do yoga a few times a week (power Ashtanga, so it's intense). I generally don't eat much meat (not a vegetarian, but almost). I'm also trying to lose about 15 pounds, I'm trying to keep around 1500 calories a day. A typical day for me looks like:

Breakfast: Plain oatmeal with rasitns and lots of spices. Tea.
Lunch: Large salad with good variety of veggies, cheese. Some type of fruit, usually grapes or an orange.
Dinner: I eat a lot of beans, so we do bean burgers a lot, also whole wheat pasta, vegetarian chilli. I'm a big cook so we generally have something different every night, and it's usually homemade from scratch.
Dessert: I love ice cream, I usually have one serving of low-fat for dessert after dinner. During the day, I snack on Clif Nectar bars (like Lara Bars...5 or so ingredients and all fruit / nuts), hummus, fruit, sometimes tortilla chips and salsa.

I don't drink anything except water, tea, and wine (once or twice a week), once in a while I'll drink coffee (more lately since I've been so tired), and I have one regular soda per week at some point on the weekend.

I also take a multi-vitamin daily.

There is a history of iron deficiency in my family, my mother is severly anemic, so I watch my iron intake (I track my food), and it seems like I'm geting enough...so I'm stumped. Ideas?

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muzicgrl

220 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

1. Feb 26, 2007 2:11 PM

in response to: YogaBug

Your calorie defecit might be too large or you might just be feeling the winter weather. I tend to sleep more in the winter in general.

How long has this been going on? maybe you are just fighting off a cold. I wouldnt worry about it unless it continues.

tklep

94 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

2. Feb 26, 2007 2:19 PM

in response to: YogaBug

Just bcz you track how much iron you get does not mean you are getting enough. If this has been going on for a few weeks or continues for a few more weeks I recommend going to the doctor to get tested for anemia and hypothyroidism (which is actually very common, especially in women, and alot of women develop it in their mid-20s.)

sweetiemfw

53 posts since
Dec 20, 2005

3. Feb 26, 2007 2:38 PM

in response to: YogaBug

I agree with what tklep says about the iron. I thought I was getting enough, since I was taking iron supplements. I wondered why I was racing poorly, losing my pace in the later parts of the race, falling apart in workouts, dizzy a lot. My coach suggested I get tested for anemia, but I doubted there was a problem, since I took iron supplements. Sure enough, when I got tested, my iron was pretty low, and the doc said that that's what's been causing my poor performances. There are so many other factors to how much iron you have stored in you, other than how much iron you consume. What else you consume along with taking iron has a great impact on how much iron gets absorbed. If you take iron close to consuming calcium or caffeine, iron absorption is inhibited. If you take iron with vitamin C, iron absorption is increased. Also, (hopefully not though!) you could have some internal bleeding, such as an ulcer, that's causing blood loss, and iron deficiency. Heavy menstrual cycles can also cause you to lose a lot of iron.

There's no way to know for sure if you're iron deficient without getting a blood test, but your symptoms suggest that's what could be the problem, so I would get tested. Iron-deficiency anemia is highly treatable with iron supplements. I've been taking two doses of liquid iron a day (which absorbs a lot better than pills) with vitamin C and avoiding calcium within a couple hours of taking iron for about a month now, and my race times have drastically improved. I'm feeling a lot stronger in workouts and races, and I'm no longer dizzy. Hope you get things figured out soon!

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YogaBug

104 posts since
Jan 17, 2007

4. Feb 26, 2007 3:29 PM

in response to: YogaBug

Thanks guys, I think I'm going to give it the rest of this week and see if it improves, and if not, I'll see a doctor about nutrient levels and perhaps another round of thyroid testing. I did have my iron tested a while back, and it was normal, but a lot could have changed since then.

Just to elaborate a little more...I've been feeling like this for going on 2 weeks now. My doctor was also concerned about my thyroid a while back, because I was having extremely irregular periods (not heavy, just irregular), but he put me on BC because all tests came back negative. I haven't had any more issues in the 3 years I've been taking BC. Another symptom I've been having for a while is numbing of my fingers / toes. My doctor chalked that up to "poor cirulation" because, again, all tests came back negative. I've been tested for diabetes, thyroid issues, and anemia. Perhaps my symptoms have been masked for too long, and it's time to press a little harder on tests since I'm feeling like I'm now permanently exhausted. I also had a thought that it might just be related to winter because it's been extremely crappy outside here lately, no sun, and I haven't been able to get outside much due to the 3 inches of ice that is currently covering every surface.

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Sandikal

96 posts since
Jan 22, 2007

5. Feb 26, 2007 4:44 PM

in response to: YogaBug

Yogabug, I've had symptoms of hypothyroid for years and have always tested normal. I'm going to my doctor tomorrow and asking for more extensive tests. I'm a little panicky because I started Couch to 5K on January 25 and have gained 5 pounds since then. I worked really hard on diet and exercise last year to lose 40 pounds. I managed to lose 32 and plateaued hard. I quit dieting and was maintaining until I added to my already busy workout routine. It's just not right that you could exercise more, eat the same and gain weight. Even worse, it's all in my belly and sides. I've only gained 5 pounds, but it feels like 10.

I've been doing a lot of research. One of the things I've learned is that the standard thyroid tests are not very good at all for diagnosing hypothyroidism.

Isn't it a sad world we live in when we have to figure out what our doctors should be testing us for? They really are between a rock and a hard place too. If they refer too many people to specialists or order too many expensive tests, they face getting dropped by the insurance companies.

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Ariann092

681 posts since
Jan 4, 2005

6. Feb 26, 2007 9:29 PM

in response to: YogaBug

Has your doctor tested you for B-12 deficiency? It can sometimes be masked by high folic acid intake (which is prevalent in grains and vegetables - so you may be getting a lot), but there are other tests to uncover a deficiency. Anyone who doesn't eat red meat is at risk for a deficiency in B-12 and should be careful to supplement it.

It also sounds like you could just be feeling dieter's lethargy - you can't lose weight unless you reduce caloric intake lower than what you're expending, but obviously if you're eating less than you're using it's going to cause some fatigue.

hamalkah

37 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

7. Feb 27, 2007 7:20 AM

in response to: YogaBug

Your diet sounds very healthy (and very yummy!), but are you sure you're getting enough protein? It's tough to get when cutting back on calories, because most sources are calorie dense. You said that you have beans, and they are a good source, but they don't all have a high enough protien content to meet a woman's daily requirement. Ashtanga is also very muscle building.... all of those chatarangas. Maybe your body is wanting more protien to build those muscles.
Anyway, I've found that canned tuna fish in water (I usually let one can last two days, only the one can a week) on my salad adds protien as does a low-calorie yogurt. Anyway, I hope that you start feeling better!

runningforfreedom

164 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

8. Feb 27, 2007 7:29 AM

in response to: YogaBug

quote:<HR>Originally posted by YogaBug:
Thanks guys, I think I'm going to give it the rest of this week and see if it improves, and if not, I'll see a doctor about nutrient levels and perhaps another round of thyroid testing. I did have my iron tested a while back, and it was normal, but a lot could have changed since then.

Just to elaborate a little more...I've been feeling like this for going on 2 weeks now. My doctor was also concerned about my thyroid a while back, because I was having extremely irregular periods (not heavy, just irregular), but he put me on BC because all tests came back negative. I haven't had any more issues in the 3 years I've been taking BC. Another symptom I've been having for a while is numbing of my fingers / toes. My doctor chalked that up to "poor cirulation" because, again, all tests came back negative. I've been tested for diabetes, thyroid issues, and anemia. Perhaps my symptoms have been masked for too long, and it's time to press a little harder on tests since I'm feeling like I'm now permanently exhausted. I also had a thought that it might just be related to winter because it's been extremely crappy outside here lately, no sun, and I haven't been able to get outside much due to the 3 inches of ice that is currently covering every surface.

<HR>

Have you thought about the possibily of a food allergy? I have a friend that was always tired and sick, turnes out she is allergic to wheat and corn, among a few other things...she started working with a natural medicine Dr, he told her what to avoid, and she has been better for about a year now, mostly from changing her diet.

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YogaBug

104 posts since
Jan 17, 2007

9. Feb 27, 2007 8:11 AM

in response to: YogaBug

Thanks again, guys. I'm hoping it's not a food allergy! Eek! I don't have any allergies at all, so that would be quite a change if that's what it is. I don't think it's a protein issue, I've been at about 1500 calories a day for a while now, and the fatigue is pretty sudden - I'm taking my weight loss extremely slow so I have a better chance of keeping it off (plus since it's only about 15 pounds, it's harder to lose anyway). I'm getting about 80 grams of protein a day, according to my personal tracking...and I've always thought that was enough. I've also had some thoughts about B-12 - I haven't had any red meat in close to 10 years. My multi does have 100% of B-12 in it, plus I drink fortified soy milk and eat quite a bit of Bob's Red Mill TVP which is also fortified...but I know there is some weird things with B-12 and absorbsion. At any rate...it's probably time to see the dreaded doctor, unless I'm feeling better by the weekend.

It also might be my snoring dog...but that's another story

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Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Carl Bard

Evinmeer

92 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

10. Mar 3, 2007 12:19 AM

in response to: YogaBug

I'm only mentioning this for the "just in case" scenario: pregnancy. I know you said you're on BC, but keep in mind that there is a 2-5% chance you could get pregnant anyways. There - I did it.

I hate to do it, but I did it. Now, I just hope it isn't the case!!!

Feb 26, 2007 2:02 PM

fatigue question

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