How do you know if you have extreme tiredness or something more?

[MissCommando]

My husband seems to be constantly exhausted at the moment. He has an auto-immune disease and had to have a plasma exchange in Jan (which did nothing to help his symptoms). I did wonder if this caused the tiredness as it started when he came home from the treatment. He was ok for a couple of weeks and now he's even worse again.
The disease mentions nothing about being tired but I've read that sometimes Chronic Fatigue can go hand in hand with some auto-immune conditions.
I know it's not his fault but I'm getting a little fed up of him barely being able to function and constantly knackered! He slept until 1pm today and has been dozing on and off this evening :(
The Dr has signed him off work (he currently works from home part-time). He literally had to beg her to say he can work at the end of the week but she said it was against Dr's wishes but understands it's because we can't afford for him not to work. He doesn't get company sick pay and I don't think he's able to cope working with this extreme tiredness
How do you know if you have Chronic Fatigue? Thanks

[gness]

I don`t suppose this will help much as people react differently to treatments but my OH had plasma exchange treatments three times a week for three years. It does have side effects but tiredness was never one them.

[tinkerbell23]

Does he mabye need to see the doc again and explain these symptoms- mabye some blood tests? Look at his diet? Drink enough water etc? Might sound silly..mabye he is lacking in something..

Hope you get it sorted miss C....its ok to feel exasperated you are only human....xxxxxx

[boxtops]

It's not related to any illness, but I know that I often feel exhausted in the spring - you expect to feel bouncy, and instead feel knackered. Your husband is no doubt feeling the pressure of not working and the need to get back to work, but not feeling well enough - that's not helping. I hope he's getting State sick pay which is better than nothing?

[gness]

I know this is often a touchy subject MC but extreme tiredness can be a symptom of depression. You will know better than me but is that something worth considering or eliminating?

[boxtops]

That is very true, gness.

[Eve]

Has he been speaking about this with his GP or specialist and have they run any tests or suggested anything like anaemia or thyroid problems or anything else, related to his condition or not?

If you're exhausted then there often isn't much more you can do than to give in to your body and sleep.

[Sqad]

We both know the details of your husband's illness and yes, in my opinion, the tiredness is due to his underlying disease process.

[MissCommando]

Hmmm, I wonder what the removed comments were!

He's had so many blood tests so I think they've probably checked for most things. He did have a high T4 level at one point but that's gone back to normal as far as I know.

Yeah he does suffer with depression because of his condition/disability but he just seems so super exhausted the last couple of months.

Thanks all for answers. Boxtops, you're spot on with the way he is feeling!

He went to uni and always wanted to work full time but at the moment he can barely work part time. A few months ago he had to ask to go part time and do a job share as the journey was too much (54 miles to get to work) so too far when you're tired. Then the Doc said she didn't want him driving that far as it was too dangerous driving over 100 miles per day as he doesn't sleep much at night so he's exhausted and other symptoms. He feels like such a failure and would do anything to be 'normal' again. He does get SSP but it's sod all, as you know.

The past few months he has been working from home and his work aren't too happy about it.

Thank you all for your answers, if it continues, we'll have to speak to his consultant about it.