Comprehensive Fatigue Panel

This is the lowest cost fatigue exploration panel offered anywhere. 

The causes of fatigue are multifactorial and could involve imbalances in several hormones. This panel includes most hormones and variables involved in the diagnosis and treatment of fatigue. Ordering this panel provides substantial cost savings when compared to ordering each test separately. The panel is useful for men and women. We suggest that you also talk to your physician about getting an order for a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea.

TESTS INCLUDED IN THIS PANEL:

TOTAL (LC/MS) AND FREE TESTOSTERONE (Equilibrium Dialysis) (No Upper Limit)

        Low testosterone can cause low energy and mood.

THYROID FUNCTION:

       Hypothyroidism is often an underdiagnosed cause of fatigue.

       Tests:

TSH

Free T3

Free T4

Thyroid Antibodies

GLUCOSE CONTROL:

       Hyper and hypoglycemia can affect energy levels.

       Test: A1c      

ANEMIA AND IMMUNE ISSUES: 

        Low hemoglobin or high hematocrit can cause fatigue. High white cell count can be indicative of infections which could also cause fatigue.

        Test panel:

Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test 

White Blood Cells (WBC)
 A high white blood cell count likely indicates that an infection is present somewhere in the body, whereas a low number might indicate that an infection or disease has slowed the ability of the bone marrow to produce them.

Red Blood Cells (RBC)
 A low red blood cell count can indicate anemia, which can lead to fatigue. 

Hemoglobin (HGB) and Hematocrit (HCT)
 A low hemoglobin number or hematocrit percentage are good indicators of anemia. A high hematocrit can cause blood thickening, high blood pressure and fatigue.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
This test actually measures the size of red blood cells. Larger red blood cells may indicate anemia due to vitamin B6 or folic acid deficiency; smaller red blood cells may indicate anemia due to iron deficiency. 

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
These tests measure the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Both hemoglobin and hematocrit are used to calculate this number. Low levels indicate anemia.

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

If anemia is suspected, based on other blood counts, RDW test results are often used together with MCV results to figure out what the cause of the anemia might be.

Platelets

IRON LEVEL, UTILIZATION, AND STORAGE:

        Low iron and/or ferritin can cause fatigue.

        Tests:

     Iron 

     TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)

     Ferritin

ADRENAL FUNCTION:

       Adrenal insufficiency is a common cause of fatigue.

       Tests:

    Serum Cortisol

    DHEA (blood)

 

Not included but worth considering as a separate add-on to your shopping cart: Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12.

NOTE: If you are taking biotin, please stop it 72 hours before the blood draw since it may interfere with hormone blood tests.

Add-Ons for post-menopausal women: Estrogen and Progesterone.   Low estrogen levels many times found in menopause, often result in insomnia and night sweats. Diminished estrogen also causes irritability and mood swings in women which furthers exhaustion. Too little progesterone is also linked to fatigue in women.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THIS PANEL: FATIGUED? : BUY THESE BLOOD TESTS TO FIND OUT WHY  

 

Blood Tests for Fatigue - What Are They and Why Do You Need One?

 

Feeling fatigued is one of the most prevalent symptoms people experience daily. This is not a problem if you just worked out hard or didn't sleep well for days. Excessive or chronic fatigue is a real thing, and it can have serious underlying causes.

This is when blood tests for fatigue come into play. It's possible to test a blood sample and find out why you're feeling constantly tired, even after a good night's sleep. Please keep reading to learn more about fatigue, what conditions it might hide, and how blood tests could help you.

The Main Symptoms and Characteristics of Chronic Fatigue

Fatigue itself is a symptom caused by something, but chronic fatigue is more complicated, and it might have accompanying symptoms. For example, many people feel tired without doing hard physical work. Others feel tired every day for weeks or even months on end.

This type of fatigue is also accompanied by a lack of motivation and energy. You aren't in the mood for anything, whether it's about going to work, spending time with your friends, or working out. If you cannot think of a potential reason for your chronic fatigue, chances are that it might have underlying causes.

Chronic fatigue is usually caused by lifestyle factors, medical conditions, or excessive physical exertion. If you haven't worked out hard recently, chances are that the other two aspects might cause your tiredness.

For example, excessive drinking and smoking can make you feel tired. Not eating a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and lean meats can also make you feel fatigued. Lastly, not getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night might be the culprit for your constant tiredness.

Potential Medical Conditions That Cause Fatigue

If you sleep enough, don't smoke cigarettes, and you eat a healthy diet but still feel fatigued, chances are that some underlying conditions are causing the problem. Certain medical conditions can leave you tired and feeling lethargic all day long.

For example, fibromyalgia is known for causing constant fatigue and mild pain in most muscles and joints of the body. The condition is rare, but it has no real cause and can decrease the quality of your life. It's possible to treat it using a particular medication and therapy, but you need to get a positive diagnosis for it first.

Arthritis is also known to cause excessive tiredness. This condition affects joints, tendons, and ligaments. It makes you feel lethargic and confused most of the time. Arthritis is common among seniors, but younger people can have it too.

Autoimmune disorders can also cause excessive fatigue. These are conditions that make the body fight itself. For example, celiac disease and lupus are prevalent autoimmune disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.

If you have an autoimmune disorder, a lot of your energy is spent by your body to fight your own cells and tissues. Not only can this do severe damage, but you also have no energy left for anything else.

Chronic disease such as diabetes also causes fatigue. That's because the insulin your body produces is no longer able to unlock cells to absorb glucose from the blood. As a result, you're left with a lot of sugar in the blood and none in cells where it's supposed to be to give you energy.

Finally, various types of cancers can also leave you without energy. That's because cells use this energy for abnormal mutations that can seriously threaten your health and life. Some cancers don't produce symptoms, and that's why you should run a blood test for fatigue as soon as possible.

How Can Blood Tests for Fatigue Help?

The problem with chronic fatigue is that it can have multiple causes. It's not easy to identify the exact reason you feel tired. For example, some people might live under constant stress, and their cortisol levels are very high regularly. This could cause excessive tiredness in the long run.

You might feel tired because you also have an underactive thyroid gland. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for your body's metabolism and energy production. If the thyroid is not producing enough hormones, you might lack energy and feel tired most of the time.

Some people feel fatigued because they also have too much or too little sugar in their bloodstream. Glucose is also known as blood sugar, and it's a vital energy source. If your body cannot metabolize glucose properly, you might feel lethargic every day.

Another helpful test for fatigue is a complete blood count test panel. This type of test looks at your red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and other useful parameters related to your blood. If you don't have enough red blood cells, this could cause anemia, which means you'll feel tired.

If you feel fatigued and it's not caused by the factors mentioned above, you might also want to do a testosterone test. This vital hormone controls your energy level, cognition, and mood. If you have less testosterone than normal, you might experience chronic fatigue.

As you can see, there are a lot of tests that can be used to determine the cause of your tiredness. Your doctor might run these tests individually, or you can order a comprehensive panel of tests that looks at all these aspects at once.

By doing so, you will know for sure that the root cause of your tiredness will be discovered and diagnosed accurately. The comprehensive panel is highly recommended for people who have struggled with chronic fatigue for months or even years.

Order Your Fatigue Test Today!

It's not fair to struggle with constant tiredness daily. Not only does it decrease the quality of your life, but it also reduces your productivity and makes you feel bad about yourself. You should order a fatigue blood test to see exactly why you're dealing with this problem.