Introduction: When Fatigue Becomes a Way of Life

The most common sentence I hear from patients across St. Louis is:
“I wake up tired, I stay tired, and no matter what I do, I can’t get my energy back.”

Chronic fatigue is not laziness.
It is not aging.
It is a physiological imbalance, and it deserves real medical attention.

12 Root Causes of Chronic Fatigue We See Every Day

1. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria produce ATP—the fuel for every cell in the body. When they slow down, fatigue becomes overwhelming.

We support mitochondria with:

• CoQ10
• PQQ
• NAC
• Magnesium
• Red light therapy
• Urolithin A

2. Post-Infectious Fatigue (including Long COVID)

We see lingering inflammation, endothelial irritation, dysautonomia, and immune dysfunction long after a viral illness.

3. Thyroid Dysfunction

Many people are told their thyroid is “normal” even though:

• Free T3 is low
• Reverse T3 is high
• Thyroid antibodies are elevated
• Symptoms match thyroid imbalance

Functional medicine looks deeper.

4. Adrenal / Cortisol Dysregulation

High stress → high cortisol → low cortisol → exhaustion.

We evaluate your actual cortisol rhythm, not just a single blood level.

5. Nutrient Deficiencies

Low levels of:

• B vitamins
• Iron/ferritin
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Omega-3s

…lead to overwhelming fatigue.

6. Sleep Apnea & Airway Issues

You can sleep 8 hours and still wake up exhausted if you’re oxygen-deprived.

7. Gut Dysfunction

Leaky gut, dysbiosis, and microbial imbalance produce systemic inflammation that steals energy.

8. Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia

Pain drains mitochondrial capacity and increases inflammatory cytokines linked to fatigue.

9. Hormone Imbalances

Low testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, or DHEA all reduce stamina.

10. Insulin Resistance / Prediabetes

Blood sugar swings make energy unstable throughout the day.

11. Viral or Mold Reactivation

Especially:

• Epstein–Barr virus
• Mycotoxin exposure
• Tick-borne infections

12. Vascular Dysfunction / Low Nitric Oxide

Poor circulation = poor oxygen delivery = chronic fatigue.

How We Treat Chronic Fatigue at Sheen Vein Aesthetics & Functional Medicine

Step 1 — Deep Diagnostic Testing

We evaluate:

• Hormones
• Thyroid
• Inflammation
• Micronutrients
• Gut microbiome
• Sleep
• Blood sugar
• Endothelial function

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Learn more about our functional medicine diagnostic approach here.

Step 2 — Personalized Treatment Protocol

Examples:

• Gut restoration
• Mitochondrial repair protocol
• Hormone balancing
• Cortisol and adrenal support
• Sleep optimization
• Red light therapy and PEMF
• Nitric oxide boosting
• Anti-inflammatory nutrition

Step 3 — Rebuilding Your Energy for the Long Term

Many patients tell us their energy returns slowly at first… then dramatically.
Chronic fatigue is reversible with the right plan.

If You’re Exhausted, You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not Stuck

Your fatigue has a cause.
Let’s uncover it.

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Book your comprehensive fatigue evaluation at Sheen Vein Aesthetics & Functional Medicine in St. Louis.

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