Should I be this tired ?

[booboo32]

hi everyone I'm just after some advice about my energy levels .. basically I don't have any at the minute .. everything is a struggle and I literally feel tired all the time . I'm not sure whether this is a normal feeling when you have a child or wherever I need to go to the Drs .
A little bit about me :
I work 4 days a week in a desk job which is engaging but not overloading.
I have a 3 year bright , energetic and beautiful girl .
The one day off I have a week is usually spent doing activities with her and running errands etc.
I live with my boyfriend who shares all the duties and chores around the house .
I normally get up around half 7. The commute to and from work including taking my daughter to childcare is about 45 minutes to an hour a day twice a day .
My boyfriend and I normally work through the jobs in the house when we get home and actually sit down for the night after bed time and to eat our tea about 8 to half 8 ish.
We don't have any childfree time at the weekends .
I would actually love to eventually have another child but I literally feel so exhausted I'm not sure how I could manage it

[Smartleatherbag]

Hi, your life is very full. So not surprised you're tired! What age are you? How's your sleep, do you eat ok?

[YerTiz]

It IS tiring being a parent and juggling work etc. But it could also be worth investigating whether there's something else going on.

As pp said what's the quality of your sleep like? Do you get a chance to excercise? You could talk to your doctor about getting iron and vitamin levels checked - a general health check of bloods even.

I had this done at the start of the year and turns out I have something called Gilbert's Syndrome - not suggesting this is what you have, but there could be other things going on. Mine isn't anything serious but it's nice to know why I feel particularly rubbish sometimes!

[Mummamayhem]

I have had bone aching tiredness like you say where every moment is exhausting. My iron levels do get quite low so might be worth checking. I've started taking well woman vitamins, expensive but seem to really help.

[booboo32]

I have just turned 32 .
I eat well and have a fast metabolism so I don't exercise other than activities with my daughter and the odd dog walk . I don't drink caffeine as I have an hiatus hernia and it gives me heartburn so I literally have no tea or coffee.
I normally have about 8 hours sleep . Anything less and I'm unable to function . On Saturdays now even after 8 hours I'm starting to drop off and have a nap while my boyfriend watches our daughter at about 3 ish in the afternoon as I'm so shattered.
I have started to take a B vitamin supplement but I'm considering going to the Drs lm just worried they will fob me off by saying it's expected when you are a parent .

[YerTiz]

I did have to push a bit to get them to check my bloods, but if you tell them what you've said here - you sleep well, eat well, you're active, but the tiredness is really affecting you - then they should take you seriously.

Once I'd got past that barrier they checked a lot - cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function as well.

[booboo32]

Thank you I'm going to give them a call and get myself booked in . I think just actually writing it all down in this post and have to digest it has made me realise I need to get it checked out . I'm actually having a significant operation in January and I will use that as leverage if I need to push them a bit .

[jesska]

I agree with the suggestions to check iron and vitamin B (and D!) levels, but also ask them to check your thyroid. Classic symptom of hypothyroidism is crashing tiredness that seems out of proportion to what you're up to. At some point when my second was 6 months old, I did realise that I was just way more tired (and irritable/anxious) than I should have been and yep, my thyroid function was practically nil.

[Sparrowlegs248]

What time do you go to bed? Can you get a couple of earlier nights a,week? From what you've said, you seem to be more tired that I would expect. But I'm probably just jealous of you getting up at 7.30...... (ds wakes between 5+6)

[Shurelyshomemistake]

Mm I would say not a normal level of tiredness.

I have almost identical job and commute to you but 2 kids youngest of whom is now 5 but I don't feel as tired as you describe.

I did feel really tired when I started back at 4 days a week again so if you're newly returned to work...... may be normal.

Best see the gp as you're planning. May be something as simple as anaemia, vit d deficiency or hypothyroidism. Less likely to be vit d at this time of year unless you are black/asian or covered.

Unless you're pregnant!