Exhaustion?

[Maya142]

M is always tired. It's gotten to the point where she's taking naps every afternoon and sleeping for 10+ hours. I thought she might have iron deficiency anemia (again) and we just had blood work done, but everything came back normal (except Ferritin was high, as usual).

Any other ideas? What else could it be? Vitamin deficiencies?

Her Crohn's is under control but her arthritis isn't. But even when she's flaring she isn't usually like this, just always exhausted.

 

[DustyKat]

Are you able to list her results, including Iron Studies, Hb and red cell counts?

Has she had recent levels done for B12, Vit D, Magnesium and Zinc?

Dusty. xxx

 

[Maya142]

Hemoglobin was 11.1 (which is normal for M)
Total iron was 133 (range is 50 - 170 mcg/dL)
Iron Binding Capacity was 291 (range is 250-450mcg/dL)
% Saturation was 46% ( range is 15-50%)
Ferritin was 215 (range is 18-160)

Vitamin D was done a few months ago was normal (for the first time!). Zinc, Magnesium and B12 have not been done in 6 months or so but have been normal in the past.

 

[Catherine]

What was the b12 when last done? Also do have folate?

 

[Maya142]

Vitamin D is 66 (range 30-100)
Vitamin B12 is 746 (range is 200 to 1100 pg/mL)
I don't think we've ever done folate but she takes 1mg of Folic Acid daily.

 

[Sascot]

This is something my son struggles with. His iron levels are normal now and all bloods okay, yet he really tires easily. Yesterday we spent 2 hours at a theme park and that was enough to tire him out and today we just went to a movie and he said he was tired after . Doesn't seem to really be a cause for it.

 

[Farmwife]

Could it be a side effect from the high Remicade she's on?

 

[Maya142]

I don't think so Farmwife, because she tends to feel better right after the infusion.

I guess it's just that the arthritis is not under control. I was hoping for an easy fix:ymad:

 

[DustyKat]

Sorry for the late reply Maya.

I would have the B12, Vit D, Magnesium and Zinc repeated to rule an issue that may arisen in the last 6 months.

If they return good solid results then perhaps it is the arthritis taking its toll :ghug: as the ferritin is confirming ongoing inflammation.

Thinking of you both and hoping with all my heart that your lass starts feeling better soon. I know one of the things I found very difficult to come to terms with was seeing my kids asleep on the lounge in the afternoons. I think it just rams it all home.

Dusty. xxx

 

[DJW]

Hi. I regularly have extreme fatigue with normal blood work. I was reading (in an IBD book) that fatigue may be do in part to cytokines (inflammatory chemical) in the blood that is present whenever there is infection or inflammation in the body.

 

[Khaley]

Maybe not related to the Crohn's? Any chance it's mono? I don't think this would show up in routine bloodwork.

 

[Mehita]

Three things popped into my mind. One, is she done growing? Could it be one last growth spurt? And two, maybe a food intolerance of some sort? Similar to fatigue being a symptom of Celiac and gluten sensitivity? Or three, does it sync with her menstral cycles at all and the change in hormones?

 

[Maya142]

Interesting, I didn't know food intolerances could cause fatigue! I'll start doing a food diary again for her to see if I can figure it out.
Definitely not growing (I don't think she's grown since she was 12!) and doesn't coincide with her period.

She has her Remicade infusion tomorrow, so I'll see if it gets better with that, then I can definitely blame the arthritis.