my daughter, 18, is always tired

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what other symptoms of narcolepsy are.
She just comes home from school and sleeps. She sleeps all weekend, too.
I'll buy her a vitamin before a doctor's appointment--anemia runs in the family.

I considered listing the symptoms of narcolepsy but then I decided, No, anyone can type that word into google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be sure the doctor tests for ferritin in addition to red blood cell count (RBC).

I suffered for many years with iron deficiency that was not anemia, and doctors usually only test for anemia and say you're fine if you don't ask specifically for a ferritin test to determine the STORED iron.

This! I'm a nurse and had a few patients who were tired and their red blood cells were fine, but ferritin/iron levels were low. Also, check Vit D, B12, thyroid levels- very important blood tests.

[Anonymous]

My friend who started on antidepressants is always sleeping and said it makes her very tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Besides the excessive sleeping are there any other symptoms of narcolepsy?

+1. This was me as a teen and my eventual diagnosis. Push for a referral for a 24 hour sleep study to check for apnea, narcolepsy and other sleep disorders.

[Anonymous]

Is she overweight. Prediabetes is another thing to consider

[Anonymous]

Please consider going to a neurologist who specializes in sleep medicine. The stereotypical description of narcolepsy is not how many people with narcolepsy actually experience it. There is also idiopathic Hypersomnia. Both have peak onset in teenage years. I was a kid like this with normal bloodwork every year. I finally got diagnosed in my 30s and my life is so much better with wake promoting medications, even if still a daily challenge of tiredness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some anti-depressants are sedating. We had to try a few before we found one that worked for teenage DS, and I think it was Celexa that made him very tired.

My money is on this. I yawned constantly on Cymbalta. It was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anemia, or one of those autoimmune things that makes you tired.

[Anonymous]

I was always tired in high school. I was waking up at 620 to make the bus! But I didn’t fall asleep until almost 11. Get her melatonin for school nights and make sure she’s actually getting enough sleep. I also went all day without eating bc I hated school lunches so consider her diet.

[Anonymous]

SSRI's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does she actually sleep at night?

+1
Where is her phone at night?

[Anonymous]

Lyme disease.

[Anonymous]

Is she on birth control?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be anemia or thyroid. Definitely get blood work done.

Exactly what I was thinking. I was always tired as a teen. My family doctor had identified anemia as an issue when I was really young. The Graves’ disease diagnosis came a few years later.

[Anonymous]

So obviously your doctor is the best source. I was tired from my late 20's until my early 50's and thought it was just my job wearing me out. In my case, it was low vitamin D and B12. Now that I take those two vitamins, I couldn't nap if I wanted to. (I used to nap daily for 2+ hours after sleeping 8-10 hours at night)