[54F] Experiencing persistent fatigue and other symptoms
Patient Description
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Arora's Assessment
What might be happening
Based on the information you've provided, several conditions could be causing your symptoms:
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: This is a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest.
- There's no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. You may need a variety of medical tests to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms.
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Fibromyalgia: This is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. It's believed that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
- Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women. People who have fibromyalgia may also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
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Hypothyroidism: This is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain crucial hormones. Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.
- Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is based on your symptoms and the results of blood tests that measure the level of TSH and sometimes the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine.
What you can do
While waiting for your appointment, you can try the following to help manage your symptoms:
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Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Aim for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Drink plenty of fluids. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep.
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Reduce stress: Try stress-reducing activities, such as yoga, meditation or deep-breathing exercises.
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Pace yourself: Keep your activity on an even level. If you do too much on your good days, you may have more bad days.
What you should look out for
Reasons to seek immediate medical attention:
- If your fatigue is accompanied by unexplained, persistent symptoms such as: fevers, weight loss, or lymph node swelling.
- If you experience a sudden worsening of your symptoms.
- If you develop new symptoms.
Remember, this advice is intended to be general in nature, and specific causes may not apply to your situation. Always consult with a healthcare provider for appropriate examination, testing, and care recommendations.
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10 mo ago