Is there something 'wrong' with me or is this how I should expect to feel with two young DC, a job and everything else that entails? Opinions wanted!

[whymumwhymum]

I'm 36 with two DC age just under a year and age 4.

I also work part time in a job that I enjoy, have great colleagues etc so don't think its 'stress'.

Since having DC2 I felt pretty 'ok' for about 5 or 6 months, but the last few months I have been feeling really really under the weather.
It has crept up on me but to illustrate the point, I am so stiff and my pelvis and back hurt so much this a.m I honestly didn't know how I would get through the day. The joint pain and stiffness is not something I have really suffered from before although i was diagnosed with SPD during my last pregnancy so not sure if thats related.

I've suffered from depression off an on over the years but don't feel particularly 'down at the moment so dont think its PND.

Healthwise I have an underactice thyroid (well controlled) and IBS (not very well controlled). I suffer from frequent migraines which usually do respond to oTC pain relief although lately getting a bit harder to shift and they seem to come in 'groups' ie none for a few weeks then a bad headache every day for a week or two.

I don't smoke and hardly drink as it makes the IBS worse.

I feel tired literally all the time, exhausted. The other night I kind of fell out of bed and just lay there as I had no energy whatsoever in me to move.

Sleep is a major issue as my baby still wakes at least once, usually twice, three times or more (not bad sleepper se but he has had a succession of colds which make it hard for him to breath and so he wakes poor mite).

My 4 year old sleeps well but does come into our bed at some point most nites, although i would honestly say that doesn't really disturb me.

Funddamentally I feel that my body isn't going into a deep enough sleep ever, so I just never get what I need from going to sleep if that makes sense.

Sorry this has been a bit long, but i would really appreciate any opinions on whether I should be worrying about all of this esp the pain and stiffness, or am I just a knackered mother of two cruising towards middle age

[nomadwantshome]

Fwiw I'm in very much the same position, all of the symptoms you describe but not really the pelvis pain. I wake in the morning still knackered sometimes stiff from head to foot. I thought it was the bed and in process of buying a new one. I've tried altering my diet, cutting out alcohol etc etc. My kids don't wake me in the night now but am still exhausted so I know it's not the interrupted sleep.

I'm 42 and kids are 5 & 7. Feel really OLD. I'm at the point now that I'm going to see my gp about it

[whymumwhymum]

Hi Nomad
thanks for your reply, and sorry to hear you are feeling like this as well.

I suppose I am wondering if this is what 'middle age' feels like and I just have to put up with it [sad[

Not sure what else I can do to 'help myself', apart from get 'fit' (my Dp says this is the answer to all my problems, he may be right but I would love to see him try that the way I feel now!)

Googledd my spmptoms (yes I know bad idea lol) and a lot of websites seem to suggest 'fybromyalgia'. if its that then excersise can make it worse which makes sense as I always have a terrible headache and feel wiped out after excersise1

[StealthPolarBear]

I started a similar thread a week or so ago (not the health problems, but the endless tiredness) and a few people suggested borderline anaemia - worth looking into.
I have loads of spatone that I am goig to start drinking, but have also started drinking caffienated coffee in the morning (usually would just have decaff all day)

[nomadwantshome]

Yep I've been googling for england. I'm coming up with Chronic fatigue syndrome. I don't have the pain that seems to be associated with fibromyglia just stiffness. Feel so bloody old when I get up from sitting, like an old woman jeez.

I know exactly what you mean about the exercise. I'm sure it will help but it feels like a mountain to climb after a normal day. We do go out for walks with the kids at the weekend but it's hardly taxing compared to what I used to do. It can still knacker me out though. We went to the park today and then went shopping. When I got home I was exhausted and had to sit down for half hour. I don't think that's right!

[Othersideofthechannel]

It doesn't sound normal to me. When I was 35, with a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, working PT, I didn't feel like this.
Mine were sleeping through by this stage so I can appreciate that I wasn't as tired as you probably are. However, the pain and stiffness and lethargy would concern me.

[nomadwantshome]

Hi stealth yes I wonder if It could be anaemia. I get really breathless without doing very much at all. Dp got me some iron tablets the other day. I'm not taking them yet thoughts i have a laproscopy - I think, its where they put the camera down the throat and have a look. I am having my gall bladder out soon and they want to rule out other stuff for the nausea I'm having. That's all a different story. It would be nice to put all of these symptoms down to gall stones but I know it's not.

[IntotheNittyGritty]

You need to mention these symptons to your doctor and ask for extensive blood tests to be done.

Dont just fob it off as lack of sleep. Get the causes investigated. It is better to get accurate diagnosis rather than speculation from the internet.

The internet is all doom and gloom. According to my doctor, I will probably recover from my illness, but according to the web I have a life expectancy of one to two years. This has made my situation a living hell with worry and anxiety. The internet and self diagnosis is a very dangerous place to go.

[mollymawk]

OP, I think you should see your GP (and you, nomad, but it looks like you are planniing to do that already!). I am 40 with 3 DCs aged 7, 5 and 3 and a PT but full-on job and I am knackered but I don't feel like you describe. My friend of a similar age had a time of feeling really exhausted and it turned out she had developed coeliac disease. So it could be all sorts of things.