on call
Photo: © Thodonal/Getty Images
Question I even have been quite drained for the past two weeks. How long should I wait before seeing a physician?
Oh We all undergo periods of low energy. It's not unusual to feel more drained than usual for even every week.
Yet most individuals can tell when their fatigue feels more severe. If that is the case, or your fatigue gets worse or lasts longer than every week or two, it's time to see your doctor. Your fatigue could also be related to an underlying disease or infection, especially if it's accompanied by symptoms, similar to a low-grade fever, shortness of breath, or lack of appetite.
Other reasons to see your doctor about fatigue are for those who get up drained often despite sleeping well, don't feel motivated to start out the day, or struggle to do activities you normally would. But they're easy. These could also be symptoms of sleep disorders or depression.
During your exam, your doctor will attempt to rule out problems similar to unwanted effects of medicines. He may order blood tests to find out if the fatigue is expounded to a selected problem, similar to anemia, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), or inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). However, don't be surprised in case your doctor can't discover a cause. I even have found that generally people bounce back from fatigue after some rest and a very good night's sleep.