I've had a lot of extreme fatigue lately and I don't know why. Could this mean that I have chronic fatigue syndrome?
Most cases of fatigue, even extreme fatigue, are not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigue can be a symptom of just about any illness, vitamin deficiency, too much stress, too little sleep, poor diet and more. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints doctors hear.
Your doctor can help you look for medical causes of fatigue, and it's also important for you to look for lifestyle-related causes.
If your fatigue makes it hard for you to function, lasts for more than 6 months, isn't relieved by rest and gets worse after even mild exertion, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome. Your doctor will need to do several tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.
