Anyone fancy diagnosing me?

[onlyconnect]

It've got one symptom: fatigue. Even after plenty of sleep I feel utterly drained, no energy to the extent that it's a problem. It could be worse in that I can get up and do things but I need to steel myself. A few times I've just laid down and fallen asleep.
I have been getting enough sleep and there's been no significant change in sleep patterns since it started ten days ago.

The only other thing I've got is some itching round the bottom of my vagina- have bought some canesten cream and also I suspected I had threadworms so took the treatment for this yesterday. I have no reason to think these things are connected to the fatigue.

I'm going on holiday very soon and need just a bit of energy! Any ideas welcome.

[katmarie]

My suggestion is you get your vitamin b, d and iron levels checked. One of the key symptoms of anemia is fatigue. If not then possibly your thyroid levels. Either way speak to your GP, as you don't need to just suffer along with it.

[Ellabella989]

Depression/too much stress?

Low vit b12, iron or vit d?

Underactive thyroid?

Sleep apnoea?

Bad diet?

Those are the main things that come to mind. X

[onlyconnect]

Thank you both. I'm thinking iron maybe. I take bit D in the winter and have plenty of sun in the summer so I think I'm ok there. My diet is pretty good too I think. I'll take some iron and seeGP unless I'm better very quickly

[SeaEagle21]

Taking iron won't give you energy or make you better quickly, even if you are anaemic. Iron tablets take ages to kick in . If you want results you'd be better off to see your GP, get some bloods taken and get a proper diagnosis , then treat it correctly if there is a problem.

[GiggleMcDimples]

Are you overweight? I noticed a huge difference in energy levels and fatigue since I lost weight.

[Ellabella989]

Do you have heavy periods?

[onlyconnect]

Periods have heaviy/ish but are lighter now I'm 50.
Im a bit over weight but not much- 5 lbs over top of healthy BMI.

[Nat6999]

Ask your doctor to do full range of blood tests, iron, folate, b12 vitamin d, thyroid kidney & liver function. If they all come back as normal & you are no better they might suggest checking hormone levels to see if you are perimenopausal. If those are normal, you need to be checked out for ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia, do you have any aches & pains?

[Monty27]

Get yourself a bottle of floradix. And see your gp and hopefully blood tests.
It's not normal.

[Klobluchar]

Some good advice here about getting a full set of bloods done at your GP. When was the last time you had any tests? Could be anything- thyroid, menopause, diabetes, vitamin or mineral deficiency, underlying virus etc etc.

We all feel tired from time to time and this may well resolve itself of its own accord, but this sounds more than just a bit tired. Would advise getting a doctor’s appointment and taking it from there.

[Aquamarine1029]

Peri-menopause. Fatigue and itching from vaginal dryness. I wouldn't be surprised if you have more symptoms you haven't picked up on yet, and more will probably rear their ugly head soon.

[avocadochocolate]

As others have said, your first step is to go to the GP. Your GP will certainly run blood tests like b12 and thyroid. Since you're 50, I would also request the menopausal ones in your shoes.

You could consider requesting to go on HRT. My GP who has a special interest in this area told me to look at this website:
www.menopausematters.co.uk/

[swingofthings]

As soon as I saw your age, I thought here comes another one! Definitely get a check up with your gp, but sadly, fatigue is a symptom of the menopause. It hit me 4 years ago, and although I've learned to manage it, it has left me. Vaginal itchiness is sadly another symptom of it.

It sounds like you might be desperate for that holiday and you'll feel much better afterwards.

[stayathomer]

OP don't just rush off to take iron. The fatigue could be anything. Definitely go to see your doctor.

[SinkGirl]

GPs can run a fatigue panel to check the most common causes.

You say you take vit D in winter - when did this start? How much were you taking? Nearly half of Brits are deficient and a low dose supplement won’t do much if you are, nor will a summers worth of sunshine - you need a much higher dose to get on top of it.

Most likely culprits are perimenopause or possibly hypothyroidism at 50.

[onlyconnect]

I had some blood tests quite recently but not the whole lot. Liver and kidneys are fine- that was in April. I will go to GP. Thank you all