Suffering From Consistent Fatigue That Is Exacerbated By Exertion. Having Severe Anxiety. Suggest Further Tests?

Posted on Sat, 14 Sep 2013

Question: Hi,
My son has been suffering from consistent fatigue that is exascerbated by exertion. he is 23 and was in excellent healtha and was very active. He does not have any pain, but it is causing him severe anxiety and has said he does not want to live any longer.
He has been to three different doctors who have not been able to give a definitive diagnosis. I would like to know what type of doctor he should be seeing and what types of tests do you think they should perform to diagnose the probblem?

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Psychotherapist & expert physician be consulted

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for using XXXXXXX for asking question.

Fatigue is inability to work due to subjective feeling of tiredness. It can be physical or mental.

From the history of anxeity & fatigue being increased by exertion & your son mostly has neuro muscular & psychological problem as a cause.for fatigue.

Few basic investigations would help to differentiate & exclude few possible causative conditions
Viz-
- Blood examination to check infection or anemia,under neutrition.
-Urine analysis to exclude liver problems/diabetese. Investigations for kidney & liver function tests may follow if needed.
-stools examination for autoimmune diseases causing malabsobtion.
-HIV testing if found nesesorry after social history of patient.
-Elecctromyography-to investigate neuro muscular problem

So exclusion of other possibilities by investigations & an advice of a psychotherapist & an expert physician to treat nuromuscular cause of fatigue should be taken.

Regards,

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T