I am constantly tired and can't concentrate.

[iugrad02]

I'm not sure what is wrong with me, but it seems to keep getting worse.  I am constantly tired and seem like I am not able to pay attention.  I was diagnoised with ADD several years ago and have tried several different medications.  The most recent is Vyvanse.  None seem to help with either concentration nor my constant fatigue, which leads me to believe that neither are related to my ADD.  Recently I've started to develop headaches and body aches as well.  My physician also prescribed me an antidepressant (Citalopram) because he thought that might be the cause, however it hasn't helped and if anything it seems as if its gotten a little worse because the anti-depressant makes me drowsey.  I am experiencing frequent light headedness and in some instances shortness of breath, accompanied by a "disconnected" feeling.  Sometimes my fatigue gets so bad that I feel like I'm going to drop to the floor and go to sleep right were I'm at.  Recently, I've also started to have issues with my stomach, where I will have dihrea or be constipated and feel bloated and also have recently been having an all over just "not feeling well" feeling where my entire body aches and I feel like I am having stomach issues.  I've also noticed that if I drink any alcohol I am most likely going to wake up with a severe hang over, regardless if I have one drink or several.  The fatigue and pain has started to really affect my work and social life.  I recently turned 30 and am worried that something might be really wrong.  I do have a doctors appointment scheduled, however I cant get in to see him for two weeks.  Can anyone help or think of anything I should research to ask my doctor????  

[bluewind95]

I think it's possible that at least some of your symptoms may be side-effects of the medications. Nausea and the such do seem like possible side-effects. You should look into the effects of the medication you are in. As for not feeling much better... how long have you been on the medications? They take a few weeks to show their benefits. If you're only getting sick, perhaps you should review the diagnosis of ADD? There are other things that could be mimicking it and that would not benefit from the medications at all. Food allergies, for example, can cause the symptoms of ADD. Asperger's is also a condition that tends to be confused with ADD (it shares many of the same symptoms) but the meds won't work as well on people with Asperger's.

At any rate, you should discuss these effects with your doctor and your concerns that they are not helping you (and perhaps making you feel worse). Meds are there to make you better, not to make you feel worse, after all. Alternatively, if the ADD on its own does not cause you to be unable to function, you can work on coping strategies without meds. Not everyone who has ADD gets meds, and some people do just fine that way. Everyone is different. Someone once said "There is no illnesses. There is only sick people" and I agree.

I hope you feel better and find a relief for your symptoms.

[iugrad02]

Thank you for your suggestions.  I've been on medication for the ADD for about 3 years now.  The symptoms of ADD prior to being on medication became severe enough that it began to disrupt both my social and professional life.  I'm not sure wether or not the ADD is actually the culprit in the symtoms that I am having as they seem to get worse as I get older.  I constantly feel groggy or foggy headed and have a really hard time concentrating.  I have a TON of friends and usually am great in social interaction, but I notice more and more that as someone is talking to me, I seem to black out or begin to think about something else and can't concentrate on what the other person is saying.  I also find the same things occuring when I try and read.  The other symtems, such as the fatigue has become a really big issue for me.  I generally get 7 hours of sleep each night, however I have a hard time waking in the morning and I'm exhausted all day, both mentally and physically and when I come home from work I find myself taking a nap.  The bad thing about the nap is that I don't just take a quick 15 - 30 min nap.  Usually it lasts 2- 3 hours, and there has been times that I've not woken up until the following morning.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Constant tiredness and exhaustion can be a feature of anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome(often manifests with widespread myalgia and arthralgia, cognitive difficulties, chronic mental and physical exhaustion),hypothyroidism, disorders of the hypothalamus,
psychiatric disorders like depression and sleep-related breathing disorders.

Another thing is that fatigue,headache,sleep disturbances,hallucinations and confusion are the common side effects of citalopram.Vyvnase also like all other drugs used for ADD can cause depressive illnesses.The possibility of these drugs leading to such symptoms  cannot be ignored.I sincerely advise you to consult your  psychiatrist and discuss this with him.Changing the dose or medicines may lead to improvements in symptoms.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.

[iugrad02]

Thank you for your sugguestions!

[iugrad02]

I thought I would post an update since I've been to my doctor.  My appointment was last Friday and my doctor seems to think that it could either be an issue with my Thyroid or possibly even Sleep Apnea.  They completed a bunch of bloodwork, which I should know the results of tomorrow and he said that if all my blood work comes back ok then he would like to have them perform a sleep study on me to see if there is any underlying sleep issues.  I'll post once I hear something!

[iugrad02]

Well, I received my blood results today from my Dr.  According to the nurse, my thyroid levels are all at normal, however my testosterone levels are severly undernormal.  So, I'm going in to see my physician tomorrow to discuss testosterone replacement therapy.  Kind of scary to be  having that issue and only being 30 years old!

[ucf05]

Wow. First of all, I am so sorry you are dealing with this, and I am amazed by your symptoms. I was beginning to think I was crazy. I understand exactly what your feeling. This is what I have been dealing with on and off(mostly on) for about 9 months now. I haven't been diagnosed with ADD, however I can't concentrate on anything for a long period of time. I don't think I have ADD because I could concentrate fine before. I think that your symptoms could possibility be linked to something other than ADD.

The past year I have developed all the same symptoms. The only difference, I am a female and not taking any medications. I have actually drove to the ER once convinced I was dying of cancer or something. I was healthy. I can't recall exactly when it happened, but my health began to shift for the worse this past year. Its bizzarre to feel trapped in your own body and have no control over it at times. I had bloodwork with my physician. Everything came back fine. My doctor basically said its "jet lag" from stress. I totally disagree with him because it has been progressively getting worse over the past 6 months, despite all my efforts. My efforts are relaxation techniques- breathing, meditation, affirmations,ets. I cannot read because I get a light headache, my eyes get heavy, and I become extremely tired. And that is on the days I am not feeling fatigue. Even writing this post im loosing my concentration, but I woke up feeling decent today. I have episodes where the fatigue will get so bad I find a place to laydown and close my eyes. My eyes literally get heavy, I become spacey and loose concentration. I only want to sleep, and I feel exhausted. I have tried to sleep in my car at some points in parking lots. But I can't actually fall sleep unless I am home. I am a walking zombie throughout the day, but I still manage to work and survive. I just close my eyes a lot throughout the day.  It's ridiculous.

In addition to this, I get really bad anxiety sometimes at night. My heart will race and I feel like I am dying. My heart was doing some scary stuff for a while. It would beat so strong, yet my pulse would be normal. Other times it would beat too fast for no reason at all. Then I get so exhausted hours later that I fall asleep. Other nights I have a shortness of breath and my heart beats slow, I feel extremely tired like I am going to just faint. The extreme swing of the pendulum is what's scary. I want to mention the anxiety attacks are only at night and not every night(several times per month). What stinks is when I have been fatigue all day, come home to sleep and the attack will hit out of nowhere only to keep me up for hours. That's what makes me curious if it's an adrenal issue. Lately it has been fatigue all day and night, shortness of breath, heavy eyes, lack of concentration, and stomach issues. That's when I think it may be some type of bacterial issue. And here's the catch, I was a social butterfly and I have lots of friends. I even recieved a B.A degree in 05(which requires a lot of concentration and energy). But now it's 08, I have an easy job, and an easy life, yet NOW I am dealing with this problem? Seems like it would have surfaced before when I was pulled in so many directions with work, college and friends. I am avoiding people because it requires too much energy to just talk, i'd rather be sleeping. Despite the fact I get plenty of sleep(6-8 hours). I know it isn't narcolepsy because I haven't fallen asleep anywhere other than home.

Unfortunately I don't have health care insurance, so the doctors visits are too much $. I don't make much money per week as it is.  I bought a heart rate monitor, glucometer to start testing my body stats when I feel this way. So far the result keep coming back fine. I am beginning to think its neurological. I forgot to mention the muscle twitches I get sometimes. Or possibly an issue with my adrenal glands. I would just assume that my bloodwork would have revealed that? I am lost, and I have lost control of my own body, and faith in the healthcare system. I  should mention that I eat great. I eat very healthy prepared balanced meals(consistant calorie intake/output) The whole protocol dieticians recommened. A healthy snack inbetween meals. So i don't think it's my diet. I drink plenty of water. Take my vitamins. I know all the information about healthy living, as I used to run every other day 3-5 miles. I don't run much anymore. I don't know what else to do. Don't want to type anymore of the details, because this isn't about me, it's about you, and also this has ended up being a lengthy post already. Just thuogh if you knew my situation it may help in someway. Thanks for your post, it has help me. I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone and I can relate to you. Please keep posting your results or updates. I am really interested to see how you are doing now. Hope you are well and hope to hear back from you.

[iceblue3277]

I, too, and sorry to hear you are dealing with this. I have also been fighting extreme fatigue for over 9 months now. I have been tested for everything know to man it seems- sleep apnea (did a sleep study), blood work done 3 times that tested everything from my oxygen levels to blood count to testerone to iron to.. you name it, had a chest xray done ot check lungs-- and everything has came back great. I have even been to a chiropractor and accupuncturist. NOTHING has helped. 10 months ago I was working out four days a week and in the shape of my life. I am 21 and in college but I have a geat schedule and my grads and everything is good (meaning im not overly stressed and definitely not depressed). In fact, the only thing Im stressed or depressed about is the fact that Im constantly tired. I get 8 or so hours or sleep a night and wake up feeling exhausted.Im tired all day long and hae to take a nap when I get home at 5 or 6. I have no social life and dont have the energy to do anything beyond what i HAVE to do with work or school. PLEASE tell me someone has found something here. I dont knwo what else to do. I just dont know how much more of this I can deal with.

Thanks for reading.

Seth

[Jan5104]

Get checked for Sjogrens. I have spent a fortune trying to find out what
was causing my 36yr old daughter to sleep way to much. She was
found to be positive for Sjogrens Syndrome. Look up the symptoms, its
a autoimmune disease. Trying to find out what was wrong with her
has been a real nightmare. All her bloodwork would come back
normal till she had ANA,SSA,SSB tests. I think I read that there are
110 autommine diseases. Good luck to all of you. Hope this helps

[shannonjmacri38]

I have all the same problems! Amazing. I have a great body,nice appetite and everything else. I can see our problems are "Mental". If it was physical..We'd never be able to work out. I have plenty of energy to work out but after that I get dizzy,tired,depressed and everything in between! Something really is bothering us mentally and it won't go away until we figure it out. Me and UCFO5 have really the exact same problems! It amazes me.I'm 38 and feel like this 5-6 days per week. It's funny...I never thought I'd find a person that has all the same things.