What can cause constant tiredness in a young woman?

Question

Hello doctor,

It has been one year. I am feeling extremely fatigued. I even sleep properly for nine hours, but when I wake up, I am still tired. And if I do not sleep, I feel even more tired. Suddenly, just doing a ten-minute home chore, I feel like I have done labour work. I feel so drained and so tired, with so much pain and cramps all over my body. But if I take a twenty-minute nap, most of the pain suddenly goes away. However, after about one hour, all the fatigue comes back, and I feel extremely tired again.

My brain does not work properly. I do not memorise anything anymore. My brain feels so heavy all the time, and I cannot focus on anything. I do not have any eyesight problems. I cannot even do basic physical activities. I cannot manage simple walking. I cannot even stand on my own for about ten minutes without feeling so much pain.

I have osteoporosis, but it does not cause this much pain, as osteoporosis mainly leads to bone weakening. I am undergoing treatment for this, but this problem feels like something else. I also get severe muscle twitching. I had been under stress for many years, too. I am currently not taking any medicines. I am twenty-three years old, weigh sixty-six kilograms, and my height is five feet eight inches. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to iclinic.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Even if you eat what seems like a normal diet, certain nutrient deficiencies can cause exactly what you are describing. Medically, there are several possibilities we need to consider, and you need to be aware of them.

One possibility is of chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS (a complex, debilitating disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is worsened by physical or mental activity), where even after a full night’s sleep, the body still feels completely exhausted, especially after performing small tasks.

Another common cause could be a deficiency of essential nutrients. Low levels of Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), iron (needed for hemoglobin formation and oxygen transport), or magnesium (important for muscle and nerve function) can make you feel constantly tired, mentally foggy, and physically weak.

Problems with the thyroid gland (such as hypothyroidism, meaning underactive thyroid) can also produce similar symptoms and are sometimes overlooked in young individuals.

Given your history of long-term stress, it is also possible that your nervous system is overworked. This is sometimes called adrenal burnout (adrenal fatigue), A controversial term referring to reduced function of the adrenal glands after prolonged stress. This can happen when the body has been in a “fight-or-flight” state for too long and eventually becomes unable to keep up.

We also cannot completely rule out conditions like fibromyalgia (a chronic disorder causing widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue) or certain autoimmune disorders (where the immune system attacks the body’s tissues), which can lead to body-wide pain and exhaustion, even if most standard blood tests appear normal.

Doing the right medical tests (including checking vitamin and mineral levels, thyroid function tests, and autoimmune screening) may help identify the underlying cause and guide treatment.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.