Feeling tired after a long week is one thing.
Feeling exhausted day after day even when you’re trying to eat well, sleep enough, and take care of yourself is something different and can be frustrating.
If you’re doing everything right and still tired all the time Dragonfly 360 Wellness can help.
If you’re tired of feeling tired, let’s take a closer look. Call or text (317) 344-9840 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Melanie in Indianapolis or virtually.
Dr. Melanie MacLaren takes a personalized, investigative approach to chronic fatigue and low energy, looking at your symptoms, health history, lifestyle, and laboratory patterns together to help identify areas that may be contributing to how you feel.
Fatigue Is a Symptom and Not the Whole Story
Persistent fatigue can have many potential contributors, which is why simply taking an energy supplement or drinking another cup of coffee may not address what is actually happening.
Depending on your individual symptoms and history, we may investigate areas such as:
- Thyroid function
- Iron and ferritin
- Vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, and other nutrient levels
- Blood sugar and insulin regulation
- Sex hormone changes, including perimenopause and menopause
- Sleep quality
- Chronic stress and nervous system load
- Digestive and gut health
- Inflammation
- Diet and protein intake
Fatigue in Perimenopause and Menopause
For many women, energy begins to change during their 40s and 50s. Sleep may become less restorative and brain fog may appear. Your hormones don’t work in isolation. Thyroid, metabolic, and sex hormones influence one another, so as hormone levels change especially during perimenopause and menopause new symptoms may begin to appear.
Signs Your Fatigue Deserves a Closer Look
You may benefit from a deeper evaluation if you regularly experience:
- Waking up tired even after a full night of sleep
- Afternoon energy crashes
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Feeling “wired but tired”
- Needing caffeine to function
- Low motivation or decreased stamina
- Difficulty recovering after activity
- Poor or restless sleep
- Feeling unusually cold
- Hair changes
- Unexplained weight changes
- Mood changes or irritability
- Feeling exhausted despite being told your labs are “normal”
Looking Beyond “Normal” Labs
A laboratory value falling inside a standard reference range doesn't always tell the entire story. Dr. Melanie reviews laboratory results alongside your symptoms, history, medications, nutrition, and lifestyle.
Our Approach to Chronic Fatigue
There is no one-size-fits-all fatigue protocol at Dragonfly 360.
Recommendations may include personalized nutrition, improving blood sugar stability, correcting identified nutrient insufficiencies, supporting sleep, addressing stress, improving digestive function, evaluating thyroid or hormone concerns, or additional laboratory testing when appropriate.
Ready to Find Out What Your Body May Be Telling You?
If you’re tired of feeling exhausted and tired of hearing that everything looks fine it may be time to look at the bigger picture.
Dr. Melanie MacLaren works with patients to connect symptoms, laboratory findings, nutrition, hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle to better understand what may be contributing to persistent fatigue.
Appointments are available in person in Indianapolis and virtually.
Have questions? Call or text 317-344-9840.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Chronic Fatigue
Standard laboratory testing can be very useful, but fatigue can involve multiple factors. Dr. Melanie evaluates your laboratory results in the context of your symptoms, history, sleep, nutrition, hormones, metabolism, medications, and other factors rather than relying on a single test result.
The appropriate tests depend on your symptoms and health history. Testing may include a CBC and metabolic panel as well as evaluation of thyroid function, iron and ferritin, B12, folate, vitamin D, blood sugar, insulin, adrenal and hormone markers.
Yes, a low functioning thyroid (hypothyroid) can cause fatigue. However symptoms and labs including a full thyroid panel should be considered together rather than assuming every case of fatigue is caused by the thyroid.
Yes, thyroid, metabolic, and sex hormones influence one another, so as hormone levels change especially during perimenopause and menopause new symptoms may begin to appear.
Nutrient status can be one contributor to fatigue. Iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, and other nutrients may be considered based on symptoms, diet, medical history, medications, and laboratory findings.
Yes. Dragonfly 360 Wellness offers both in-person appointments in Indianapolis and virtual appointments. Availability and services may vary depending on your location.
New patients can schedule an appointment with Dr. Melanie or begin with a 15-minute Discovery Call to learn more about our approach and determine whether Dragonfly 360 Wellness is a good fit.
