Why Am I So Tired All the Time?

You open your eyes in the morning, only to feel like you didn’t sleep a wink – or, the sleep you did get didn’t seem to do much, because you feel just as tired as you did when your head hit the pillow last night.

It feels like pushing a boulder up a mountain just to get yourself out of bed; you can’t wait to get that first coffee to at least give you enough energy to get through the morning.

You have a full agenda for the day, but you can already tell you’re going to have to knock down a few extra coffees just to make it through. You might even have to shift some things around because you simply don’t have the energy for all of it today.

If this is your daily experience, you may be one of the many Americans with chronic fatigue.

Chronic fatigue is formally known as an illness called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). The CDC estimates between 800,000 and 3 million Americans have ME/CFS; however, the majority of these people – upwards of 90% – have not been formally diagnosed by their physician. It can be a debilitating illness which affects all parts of your life.

In the first part of our chronic fatigue blog, we’re covering the basics of chronic fatigue, and some supplements you can take to help you manage it. In the next part, we’ll cover lifestyle changes to consider if chronic fatigue has taken over your day to day.

What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue?

Many different symptoms can point to chronic fatigue because the effects of fatigue on your body can disrupt your immune system, endocrine system, digestive system, and hormonal health. If you experience the following, you may have chronic fatigue:

• Tiredness that regularly occurs, despite getting enough sleep
• Light sensitivity
• Frequently sick (sore throat, swollen or tender lymph nodes, sinus infections)
• Digestive issues (constant bloating or nausea)
• Fibromyalgia (painful muscles and joints)
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Headaches or migraines

In addition to the physical symptoms, a person with chronic fatigue may have to constantly rearrange their social, professional, or family plans due to their energy levels; they may find it extremely hard to get out of bed in the morning; and they may feel like it takes more energy to complete their work than other people.

When considering a diagnosis of ME/CFS, these are the typical, broad symptoms physicians may look for:

• Ongoing exhaustion that impacts daily functioning
• Fatigue increases after mental or physical exertion
• Lasts at least 6 consecutive months

What causes chronic fatigue?

The symptoms of chronic fatigue are so broad because there can be an equally wide variety of causes, many of which are comorbid diseases. People with the following diseases may struggle with chronic fatigue:

• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Cancer
• Sleep apnea
• Hypothyroidism
• Autoimmune diseases
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia

In addition, people experiencing chronic infections, chronic inflammation, and constant high stress are also at risk for chronic fatigue. In all of these instances, the body is typically working overtime just to function, which may lead to chronic fatigue.

It’s very possible that you have none of these issues, yet still experience chronic fatigue. If that is the case, your chronic fatigue could be caused by:

• Blood sugar issues
• Nutritional deficiencies or unaddressed food intolerances
• Exposure to chemicals or toxins
• Poor gut microbiome
• Hormonal dysregulation
• Mitochondrial dysfunction

ME/CFS is a complex health issue that can originate from a plethora of sources. Looking through the lists above, see if any clearly apply to you; they may just be the culprit causing your chronic fatigue.

How can I test if I have chronic fatigue?

Though recent research has provided evidence for a possible ME/CFS biomarker, there is no formal test to diagnose you with ME/CFS. However, your doctor should be able to identify potential causes (i.e., variable blood sugar due to diabetes, fatigue from chemotherapy, etc.) through a thorough exam of your medical history and current diagnoses. In addition, the following exams are possible:

• You can test for things like endocrine dysfunction, inflammation, and immune system activation through a series of standard blood tests at your doctor’s office. Sometimes called a Comprehensive Blood Analysis (CBA), blood testing can give you and your physician insight into the gaps into how your body is functioning that may be contributing to chronic fatigue. Be sure to talk about this with your doctor if you are facing chronic fatigue.

• Additionally, the Organic Acid Test (OAT) is another assessment your doctor (or you) can order. The OAT is a urine test which provides information on a wide variety of markers surrounding stress, vitamin concentration, mitochondrial function, enzymes, and more. This gives a more detailed view of nutrients and biomarkers that may not be included in a typical CBA.

Because chronic fatigue can have a variety of causes and contributors, it’s important to get a full picture of how your body is functioning. Speak with your doctor about your overall health history, and about their recommendations on these tests if you are worried you may have ME/CFS.

How can I combat chronic fatigue?

To combat chronic fatigue, typically a variety of lifestyle and nutritional changes are required. Below we’ve outlined three supplements that are helpful for people with ME/CFS. In our next blog, we’ll discuss the lifestyle changes you can make to better manage your symptoms.

1. Magnesium

When it comes to fatigue, magnesium is perhaps the most important supplement to add into your regimen. Magnesium is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions and everyday functions of the body, including digestion, neuroplasticity, muscle growth, stress management, and sleep. One study found that increasing magnesium intake decreased pain and fatigue while boosting energy levels in people with chronic fatigue.

To increase magnesium in your diet, consider eating more leafy greens, seaweed, avocados, nuts, and bananas. For a magnesium supplement, we recommend Bio-optimizer’s all-seven forms of magnesium supplement, found here.

2. Vitamin D

Many Americans are deficient in vitamin D, and for some, it may contribute to their chronic fatigue. Similar to magnesium, vitamin D is involved in mood regulation, sleep, immune health, and much more. Supplementing your intake of vitamin D may provide your body with additional support on its everyday functions, and some studies have found vitamin D intake to improve fatigue.

To increase vitamin D in your diet, eat more eggs, mushrooms, and wild-caught fish. For a supplement, we recommend the NatureMade D3-K2 mix, linked here.

3. Activated Charcoal

If you experience the digestive symptoms of chronic fatigue – bloating, nausea, stomach pain – then activated charcoal may help you. Activated charcoal is a porous form of carbon which can help absorb and potentially remove toxins from your digestive tract. Proponents of activated charcoal for ME/CFS believe it may reduce the toxic load in the body which may contribute to chronic fatigue.

It’s important to talk with your doctor before starting with activated charcoal; it has the ability to absorb medications you are taking. If your physician gives you the green light, then consider the Bulletproof Coconut charcoal, linked here. If you’re struggling with chronic fatigue, know you’re not alone – many people across the globe suffer from this enigma of constant exhaustion and tiredness. In Part 2, we’ll talk about more of the lifestyle changes you can make to improve your chronic fatigue symptoms. For today, start talking with your doctor about testing, and consider adding magnesium, vitamin D, and activated charcoal to your vitamin regimen.