Dear Dr. Gott: In recent years, I have been experiencing quite severe fatigue in the morning. It happens almost every day shortly after showering. I have occasionally thought it may be the shower water is too warm, but I don't take hot showers.

During the warmer months, I take lukewarm to cool showers. Still, shortly afterward, I am overcome with the same almost overwhelming fatigue, to the degree that I feel I could lie down and sleep for several hours.

I'm 61 years old, retired six years and in fairly good health. My blood pressure is very good, usually in the 120 to 135 over 70 to 80 range. I have no heart problems whatsoever.

I've never had any problems with my internal organs, no cancers and no allergies (except to horse dander, so we don't have one).

I have a mild hiatal hernia and take medication for it. I have prostatitis that comes and goes. I take Ditropan when it acts up. I seem to be immune to colds and the flu.

It has been about five years since my last cold. I am a light smoker. It makes me slightly drowsy, so I smoke only when I want to nap and before bedtime. I drink two glasses of wine a day.

I am five feet, nine inches tall and weigh 160 pounds. I am not a diabetic. I am an above-knee amputee. My cholesterol is normal.

My wife and I eat a healthful diet of lean meats and lots of vegetables. We have fish two to three times per week on average, year 'round.

Being Atlantic Canadians, we love fish. We don't go to fast-food places and don't eat or keep junk food in our house. As for symptoms of my fatigue, I generally get a good night's sleep.

At times, I do have a problem falling asleep, but not very often. My family doctor thought my fatigue could be due to sleep apnea, and I wore a monitor for one night. It was negative.

Because my general health is probably better than the average senior citizen he sees daily, he didn't seem too concerned or suggest anything further.

This daily fatigue usually lasts about an hour; however, some days it can last several hours. It doesn't seem normal to me. I'm becoming more and more concerned that something is amiss. What should I do?

Reply: Periods of unexplained exhaustion can be caused by many illnesses, so before advising you regarding invasive studies, I suggest that you have a thorough exam by your doctor, followed by a full panel of blood tests, including a complete blood count, metabolic profile, thyroid study and cardiogram.

This is a good first step and sets up a basic start point for future tests.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Sleep/Wake Disorders''. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed number ten stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dr. Gott is a retired physician and the author of "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet'' and "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook''. Contact him c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016.