Happy New Year! We made it through another year. Many of us will start the year off with the best intentions of goal setting, getting organized, or starting that fitness plan. Don’t get me wrong, setting goals is great, and achieving them is even better but the hardest part is always getting started. My desire for improvement was there, but I lacked the energy to accomplish my goals. I would attempt to get more sleep and other quick fixes for more energy only to feel more exhausted.

In April 2024, I was admitted to the ER with thrombocytopenia, a condition where my blood wasn’t clotting due to the low platelet count which was caused by severe anemia. Before my diagnosis of anemia, I felt extreme exhaustion, shortness of breath, craving ice, and feeling weak all of the time. Days before being admitted to the emergency room, I felt extremely dizzy and I would wake up with random bruises on my body. Now before the weekend visit to the ER, I had a new primary care provider (PCP) whom I asked to check all of my blood levels and thankfully she really listened to me and saw that my platelet levels were falling. I was treated with steroids, an iron infusion, and a daily iron supplement. I do have to follow up with quarterly blood draws to monitor my platelet count

I share this story with you because extreme exhaustion is not normal; it could be an underlying symptom of other health issues. Secondly, your health may be affecting how you’re showing up for yourself, which has a direct result in your achieving your personal goals. So start 2025 off by prioritizing your health (mental and physical) and watch how it will impact your goal setting. Now, go make an appointment for a physical so you can be amazing.

Happy New Year