What Could Be Wrong?

If you don't feel that it's just normal "teenage" behavior, get him to an endochronologist asap and have a blood work up done. It could be his thyroid. I was extrememly tiered and found out that was my problem. More than likely it's nothing, but better to be safe than sorry.

It sounds like he could be depressed. It is very common among teens. It's a very dangerous condition, potentially. You should talk to his doctor. He may need counseling or even anti-depressants. Don't let it go untreated.

How's his diet? Is he eating enough protein and fruit/veggies? Maybe he's having a rough time emotionally and is feeling slightly depressed. It seems like a lot of teenagers go through a phase like that. I hope you get some helpful replies. Best of luck!

I also want to chime in on sleep. My mother works in education and has done loads of research on this issue. Teenagers actually need more sleep than younger children, so if he's not getting enough it will affect everything else about him. Make sure he's regularly getting enough sleep and you may start to see his energy levels improve.

"I'm tired" is quite often a catch-all phrase that really means, "I don't want to discuss it." (It's like a small child who constantly complains of a stomach ache in hopes of staying home from school.) At 14, your son's friends may be changing drastically, or they may still be behaving like elementary school kids while your son is becoming more mature, and he may be wondering if he still has anything in common with them. He's probably also asking himself if his activities and interests are things that REALLY interest him, or if they no longer fit his needs. The junior high/middle school years are tough on everybody!!!!

My 14 year old gave up baseball and karate, both of which he'd done for most of his life. It turns out that since he's shorter and thinner than the other boys, (puberty is showing up late for him), he felt conspicuous, likely to get hurt and that the other kids picked on him. (And sometimes, they did.) He's now doing rock climbing and fencing. He loves them, and nobody cares if he's short and scrawny. If your son wants to stop doing something he's previously liked, that's OK. How many of us still have the same hobbies we had at 8 or 10 or 12? Just make sure that if he starts or stops an activity, it's because he really feels strongly about it. Make sure he also knows that few decisions are permanent - he can change his mind later.

Hormonal upheaval will also make him likely to feel just generally not quite right. That will settle down, but it'll take quite some time.

Unless there's red flag signs - excessive secretness, smoky smelling clothes, missing money or unexplained income, complete change in personality, excessive sleep or almost no sleep, drastically slipping grades or new friends that give you the willies - you probably don't need to worry about drugs, alcohol or sex issues. Just keep your eyes open, let him talk to you as much or as little as he needs to, and you both should be fine.

Good luck, Mom. :)

Alicia- I hope I'm wrong but your son is showing all the early signs of pot smoking. Yes, boys his age (and girls) are growing and hormones are comming into effect, but if he is losing interest in things he used to enjoy you need to check on this. One way is to speak w/ his teachers and see how his class work/participation is going. Another thing to look out for is a change in friends or not wanting to tell you where he is going. Also watch his grooming, is he wearing the same clothes over and over?? Not showering as often?? Unfortunatly I know these things because when our son was 14 he was the star of the freshman football team. After the season was over, his grades started to drop and he was "tired" all the time. The following year he was kicked out of that school for selling pot at school. We have done every thing we can think of to get him help and now it is too late. He will be 18 in June and we can't wait to get him out of the house because he steals from us and assults us (he's 6'4 240) Please look into this sooner than we did, you can stop it if you nip it in the bud ( no pun intended) GOOD LUCK!! C.

Hi Alicia,
It is so scary when you know that your child is not himself but don't know why. I would strongly suggest taking him to another doctor and possibly a Clinical Psychologist for comprehensive physical/psychological exams. I taught high school for 9 years and have 2 children of my own and in my experience, no one knows a child better than his mother. Many of my students' parents described similar issues and were told by doctors that it is common for adolescents to be tired, but in some of those cases the parents persisted and found out that their children did have problems. It may be as simple as a food intolerance or it could be as serious as depression. The fact that he is saying that he is no longer "interested in previously enjoyed activities" would have me concerned. It could also be as simple as him staying up too late (I had a student once who would wait until his parents were asleep, play video games from 1 am to 4 am and then sleep all day at school. It was a pretty easy fix once we all figured out what was going on!!!!)

Good luck and I hope everything works out well for both of you!!!

Sounds like a 14 year old boy to me! It can be alarming, can't it? I have four sons, and the first three are now in their 20s, so I have been through it. My formerly energetic kids just turned into slugs as soon as they hit the teen years. I found that offering healthy foods and planning family activities helped a bit, but on weekends, nothing could happen until at least noon. :0) It does seem to be typical, but blood/urine tests might not hurt simply to rule out a health condition or the start of drug usage. Even the best of kids can fall into that. I learned that from knowing the group of kids my older sons grew up with. Better safe than sorry. If nothing is "wrong", it is just the typical teenaged lethargy.

Hi Alicia,

Wow -- fatigue is a really nonspecific symptom. Anything or nothing could be wrong!
Look for horses first, not zebras!

A few Horses:
1. Is he getting at least 8 - 9 hrs of sleep/night? High school is a whole new ball game. Classes are harder, homework takes longer and most teens give up sleep over activities. My 15 yr old DD routinely is up after 1AM finishing up assignments (all honors and AP courses). Ticks me off. On the other end of the scale, many teens stay up into the wee hours playing video or computer games, seriously affecting sleep patterns.

Also, like babies, teens are doing a lot of growing and need to sleep more to accomplish this. Fatigue can be a signal from your son's body telling him to get more rest to allow for growth hormone, growth factors (e.g. IGFs), and growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) production!

2. Mono (infectious mononucleosis) is a common teenage disease, even in high school. It's principle symptom can be fatigue. Other hallmarks are swollen glands and a very sore throat, although these symptoms may not appear until later, or not at all. Ask your doctor to run a mono spot (test for EBV) to rule this in or out.

3. Low level viral or bacterial infection. Viruses especially rage around most schools in the fall when everyone gets back together and starts swapping them around. Sometimes fatigue will be the only symptom. Viruses can last for 10 - 30 days or more and you can get one on top of another. I assume your son was vaccinated against Hepatitis A (which can be easily transmitted by food handling in the cafeteria), so that is probably of no concern.

4. Anemia. Pale skin and lips cand be another indicator of this, as can easy bruising and slow clotting times. Get him tested (can be done as a point of care test in the dr's office). Or, just supplement with slow release iron tablets or iron rich foods such as liver, beef, or beans for a month and see how he feels. Don't go overboard on iron, though, as an excess can cause other problems.

5. Vitamin deficiency. Even with our well-fortified foods, these can exist at a level low enough to be undetectable but high enough to cause fatigue, especially if your son is an athelete. Try adding a multivitamin into his diet for a month and see if there's an improvement.

A few Zebras (don't be freaked out by these, they are mostly rare!):
6. Crohn's disease and other IBDs often appear in the teens to 30s. Fatigue is usually accompanied by GI symptoms such as occassional diarrhea, constipation, bloating, cramping, etc.

7. Some congenital heart diseases sometimes do not become apparent until adolescence or later. Your son's check ups at this point should include a quick ECG to check for arrythmias, long QT syndrome, etc., especially if he plays sports.

8. Blood diseases, such as myeloform dysplasias and leukemias. A simple complete blood count for RBC and WBC can either rule this out or suggest the need for further testing.

9. Chronic fatigue syndrome. This is actually quite rare and more common in females than males.

10. Thyroid deficiencies. Check for TSH, T3 and T4 levels. Also, check for testosterone deficiency and other pituitary hormone levels if it seems like pubertal changes are occurring too slowly or not at all. I would think your doctor would have picked up on this though, as it would be readily apparent. Also, there is a very wide range of normal for testosterone level and puberty onset and progression.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider. Keep note of other symptoms. Fatigue is just too general of a term to give the doctor much information, and most doctors don't have the time to play 20 questions with a patient unless something is patently obvious.

I'm sure all will turn out well!

R.

If the doctor hasn't already done so, have do a full blood work up, just to make sure everything is up to snuff.

In the meantime, check out his diet. Is he a coffee/hot chocolate drinker? It may be time to cut back. Does he indulge in energy drinks? It may be time to cut back there, too. Is he eating a solid protein based diet, or is it mostly starchy carbs? You may be surprised...

Most teens, like babies, need 10-12 hours of sleep a night and they usually don't get it. If he's overindulging in Starbucks and Rock Star, he may be messing with an already messed up teenage body clock. I have a 14 year old son and there are nights when he's asleep by 8pm...and lights out is 9:30pm! It's kinda nice... <wink>

Anyway, I know blood tests can be costly, but it might be worth the money just so you have on record that your son is just fine. If you eliminate the physical, you can start working other angles like nutrition and sleep.

Oh! One last thought...have you checked his eyes recently? Eye strain can cause fatigue.

Good luck!

I am into alternative health, because that is exactly what the doctors have always told me. If there isn't a test for it or a current name for the disorder then they say there is nothing wrong. They should say that they cannot find anything on the tests. The fact is that there is something wrong. Your son is tired and shouldn't be. From what I know, the number one cause of any problem is diet. That is what you should look at first. What is he eating?

If you are looking for alternatives, please let me know. You didn't mention it.

God Bless!

J.

My son will be 14 Jan. 2nd...I understand your concern. My son is also very active but loves to sleep and his interests are changing. First I figured that my son is growing so much his poor body is trying to process this rapid growing. He is almost 5'10" at 13...could this be a possibility for your son? Also his interests are changing...for example sports...all of his life he has been a baseball player and now he has decided that he is done with that and wants football?? Perhaps its just puberty and his interests changing as he is trying to figure out his likes and dislikes? What do you think?

Don't forget how hormonal teenagers are! I slept a ton as a teenager too. Better to sleep than to be tired and cranky.

Take him to the Doctor. Did they do a blood-test?

It could be anything from normal teenager physiological/hormonal changes to something else, or depression, or peer problems, or diet, or apathy.

Is he open with you? Have you tried talking story with him and seeing what is up in his life?

Take care,
Susan

All of the previous posts could be right; it may be nothing, mono, poor sleep habits, growth, ect. However, there are two things that I would try to rule out if I were you, because they are the most dangerous to your son. You did not mention if these symptoms are a drastic change from his previous behavior, if they are, you should look into drug use and or depression. The change from enjoying previous activities would cause me to feel concern, because that's a symptom of both drug use and depression. These days, as parents, we can't just assume that our previously good kid is going to continue avoiding the pit falls that swallow some children up. Being watchful concerning these problems is an unfortunate but necessary part of parenting. I wish you and your son the best.

Hi Alicia,

I'd also recommend monitoring his eating habits. Is he eating more junk foods (any processed foods) and drinking juices or sports drinks containing HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) than eating and drinking something healthy? If so, he's not getting enough vitamins and minerals to help his growing body support his energy output. Those types of foods can actually make someone more tired.

I'd also get him on a good multivitamin (not any that are in the form of Sulfate, Oxide or Copper Gluconate, as these forms of vitamins can cause free radical generation and possible damage.) If you'd like to know more about that, please send me a message.

T.
www.sharethecause.com/T.

sounds like he is a typical 14 y/o with slight depression I would have that checked out as they usually don't talk and not all dr's understand I have someone great if interested

My 13 YO daughter is always sleepy and tired. She's active but would rather sleep all day. Things we've done to help:
11 hours sleep when possible. Naps in the car, afternoon.
B-12 daily
increase water intake
bloodwork to rule out anything serious
moderate the junk food and sodas and energy drinks
more red meat (3 times a week rather than our usual once every othr week)
We try to get her to sleep at 8pm, but she's so energetic at that time, so often afternoon nap, homework later at night.

Good luck, post an update, as you're not alone!

Well, it could be as simple as he is growing at a high rate of speed right now and his body is tired, especially since you stated his activities are unchanged.
On the other hand, (this might sound a bit over protective) did your Dr. do any blood work? If he continues to feel tired and it does start to affect his activity level, go back and ask for some. Make sure his blood sugars are ok and white and red counts are ok. If he is just going through a growth spurt then no harm no foul, at you can sleep and not stress about it. If it is something more serious, than you want to be on it.

If everything else checks out OK, have him assesed for depression. One of the most obvious symptoms of this often hard-to-catch problem is lack of energy and lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

Good luck, and keep trusting your instincts!
C.

Maybe u r overworking that boy!!!!!!!!!!

I teach middle school so I have done a lot of research on this age group. Teens actually physiologically need more sleep, up to 12 hours a night. This is totally natural in my opinion.

If the doctors have checked his blood sugar. I would ask him if he is sleeping good at night. When kids get this age there are sooooo many things that start bothering them at school. Also it could be depression. Something at school he can't tell you about. Is he a perfectionist? Maybe he gets down on himself. Teens tend to get very to them selves. One on one time is very good to get stuff out of them. Out to ice cream etc. Good luck. Also loveandlogic.com is a good source for teens. M. R.

I've had this problem since about his age and the doctors said the same thing. Well my dad was a nurse and he wondered if I had anemia- low iron in the blood- which can cause fatigue and easy bruising. Sure enough I had anemia, they gave me some otc iron pills and within a week I was much better. It comes and goes now but I still take the iron when it acts up and I'm ok. Try giving your son one iron tab a day. I use the CVS brand but the dosage is 65 mg. One a day. If your son doesn't improve within a week or two it may be a sign of depression. I know it sounds hard at 14 but I've had it since I was 11 years old due to trauma at a young age. In that case you might want to see if he'll talk to you about it or if he'd be interested in talking to someone else.

Could he be depressed?

Smart answere so far! My 15 year old grandson would sleep all day if he could. He comes home from school and naps. If you don't notice him being depressed this could be all it is. Teens need sleep and it happens when they want to stay up all night!

Not to scare you - just a thought...could he have tried drugs? There's just so much of it out there. Make sure his friends are ok, and talk to their moms.

GROWING needs to eat more healthy foods and rest a bit more.

Hi Alicia...I have 3 teenage daughters and they seem to need a lot of sleep, more at certain times than others. My 16 year old goes to bed on weeknights after doing her homework sometimes by 9:00 and she still wakes up tired. I also agree with the other ladies to have him checked for depression, it's something no child or adult for that matter should have to live with and there are so many treatments for it nowadays.....good luck with your son!

M.

#1 - Don't worry too much. The teenage years are draining on kids bodys and they will sleep alot. But, do make sure he is eating well and taking his vitamins. Exercise is important too!
#2 - Be proactive. Are you comfortable with the doctor's analysis. If he didn't do it, insist upon blood work to check for hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues and blood sugar levels. If these check out, then all is probably good!

Alicia, if you have had your son checked out with the doctor and there is no obvious diseases or problems, I wouldn't worry. I have 3 teen boys (my oldest is 17) and I think they all have literally slept from their 14 bday until they are 16. It is like they go to bed at 10 pm and can sleep until 11 the next day with no problem.

One recommendation is to make sure he is on vitamins. When my boys appear a bit more fatigued, I monitor the vitamins and find out they usually are missing a doses. I hope this helps!

I just thought of something - one other person stated it; freaking text messaging!!!! Interupting him through the night. Kids just don't seem to care about how much sleep their friends are getting- especially if it is someone of the opposite sex.

If your gut is telling you something else, then look into it. Have blood work done to rule out any medical (and possible drug) issues. Monitor his amount of sleep and keep a closer eye on his diet. It's true that teens need more sleep as they go through a growth spurt, but a disinterest in previously enjoyed activities (without picking up new ones), suggests something else going on. Good luck.

I saw a spot on a tv show once that talked specifically about the "tiredness" of teenage boys. For some reason, their brains really do a lot of developing/changing during the teen years (more so than girls, since girls are sort of "used to it" by that time). It is usually hormonal, although....have you done any snooping? Would drugs/alcohol be an issue, maybe?

I don't know why, but the first thing that came to mind was...depression? Could something be bothering him with school,life etc..teenage stuff. I know that tiredness is one sign of depression.

If he seems perfectly healthy from your doctor's perspective, take a second opinion about his physical health and see what other doctor's say...if you still get the same answer, then maybe start asking questions in regards to his emotional state. sorry, couldn't be of more help. best of luck.

I remember when my sister and I were your son's age and all we wanted to do was sleep during the day. Mostly it was because we were up late at night not getting enough sleep then.

I'm sure your son is just being a typical teenager, but having said that you know your son better than anyone. My advice is to just moniter his sleeping habits and listen to your heart maybe something is going on in his life and he is using sleep to escape.

Talk to him and let him know your concerns.

Hope this helps.

L.

How long has this been going on? I have a 17 who every year since she was 12 gets mono like symptoms extreme fatigue to the point she misses a LOT of school. The doctors say she just needs extra sleep the thing that makes me feel better is if there is something she really wants to do she manages to get through if your son is missing his enjoyed activities I would worry a little too. My son who is almost 15 get VERY tired when ever he is ready to grow maybe he is getting ready for a growth spurt. My son plays football & wrestling and comes home excuasted from school does your son play sports? Also make sure he isn't drinking those energy drinks they think they help but they make them more tired as soon as the where off. Is his emotional state the same? Is he moody or with drawn? How does he act on weekends? I always say go with your gut if you think something isn't right keep looking for an answer. Good luck.

Don't ignore your instinct or his reaching out. It could be nothing, just a phase, but if it just doesn't feel right, it's not and there is help. A 14 year old boy always feeling fatigued is not "normal" or healthy. Get a second opinion from a professional. If insurance is an issue, call the insurance company, I'm sure you are entitled to a second opinion under the plan. If not, change doctors. Sometimes doctors miss things and it's so important to trust your intuition. Or if a general practitioner isn't helping, go to a specialist. It sounds like it could be depression related which is common at his age. There could also be things he hasn't shared with you yet because he's scared, but he's talking about it so be his advocate and find a doctor that will help figure it out. No one knows him better than himself and you so don't assume the doctor is right unless it feels right. It could be a symptom of so many different things, physical or emotional. Coming from someone who has a brother who went through a very difficult childhood/teenage hood and was not properly diagnosed until he was in his 20s, please don't ignore early warning signs of a health issue. Whatever it is, I'm sure there's treatment. They can run tests to rule out certain physical issues. Communication with your son is they key and it sounds like he is open with you so you are very lucky and I'm sure you will find the answer. Just don't give up until you know what it is. Best of luck to you. K.

He might have a sleeping disorder. Has the doctor mentioned this? You might want have a sleeping test done for sleep apnea.

Also, there is a product that helps one sleep better at night and gives energy during the day. It is called Generate 1000. You can look up the information on this at twihealth.com/jlwagner. It will give you some ideas in the newsletter. You can also use the contacts on the website for more information.

J.

- Mono
- Another illness he's fighting off
- Boredom
- Depression
- Growth Spurt
- Not enough sleep ...
It's been proven again and again that teenagers "clocks" get wonky...due to many many many things (ahem, hormones, mostly. Being pregnant makes most women sleep a LOT more then they ordinarily would...storing up maybe...but puberty does the opposite.) Most teenagers aren't sleepy until after midnight, but schools start ungodly early.
I'd try letting him sleep in until noon over winter break and see if he stops being so tired. If that fixes it, then you've got some scheduling things to deal with (for example, possibly arranging late start at his school, or signing him up for Running Start at the local CC), if not, take him to the doctor.

Have they done any blood work? If not, then I don't see how the doctor can say he ok. If you are concerned, then insist on some blood work to be done. Go with your gut!!

I remember at that age also being very tired. I would come home many days eat a snack then take a nap. I remember sometimes being so tired it was hard to keep my eyes open.
I watched a lot of late night TV, maybe he is doing that. I would not get to overworked about it unless you really suspect something else like drugs but does anything else he do, or kids that he hangs around with, warrant you to be that worried?
He just may be going through a growth spurt and is simply tired. Many of my friends were the same way. I would not worry unless he does other things to make you worry as well but there is no crime in being tired.

I have 3 sons, ages 16, 14 and 12. ALWAYS tired would have me concered as well. Growth and hormonal changes can make them tired. Watch for signs of drug use. If he is experimenting with drugs you will notice behavior changes like always tired and disinterested. Make sure you have an open dialog regarding drugs with him. I am one of those moms who said "oh my son would never do that". That way of thinking bit me in the butt!

When the kids are younger and get really tired it's because they're growing. Maybe he's growing.

Could it be depression? I remember when I was a teenager there was a time when I was sleeping more than usual, and it turned out I was a little depressed. I had a close friend who was depressed and going through a rough time with her family, and I guess I had sympathy depression.

Try taking him to a naturopath or a nutritionist. I have been doing alot of reading about how processed foods can "gunk up" our systems and cause us to not function well, get sick often, etc. It sounds to be not right, especially as a teenager - he should be full of "teen spirit" as they say. I'd get some help from alternative medicine. If you live on Maui I can tell you where to go.

Hi Alicia,

I think that he is growing.... Teenagers seem to get very tired and sleep a lot while they are going through growth spirts.

I know my son sleeps a lot more since he has been growing.

T.