How do you get the energy to get through the day?

I can’t tell you the dosage off hand but I take the vitabiotics vit b complex 2 x per day one afte breakfast the other after main meal at least 4 hours apart. In the evening before bed I’ll take an electrolyte tablet which also has vitamin b so I take a lot, sometimes I do have yellow wee from pissing out the excess, other times it just absorbs. You cannot overdose on vitamin b or c just be carful with the fat absorbable vitamins which you stir in the body like d & a you Can take too much of those. Minerals are also very important for energy and no one pays much attention to them because the government doesn’t promote it. But they run the muscles nerve and heart, so electrolytes are important.

I know that, since Covid, I get tired in a way that I never did before. I had a nap on Sunday afternoon after doing not much more than having a short walk in the morning and doing some laundry, but I couldn't stay awake.

You might have similar post-viral fatigue.

Please look into getting some help and respite with your Mum - you need a break, you poor love! 🤗

And I agree with everyone telling you to try and get more sleep - sounds like you've built up a deficit. Another thing - listen to your body rhythms, your natural ups and downs - I do need some daily exercise, but if I try to do it in the morning, when I'm naturally low, it just wipes me for the rest of the day. Later in the day, when I have more oomph, it energises me. And a walk is plenty of exercise some days. I think you're overdoing it.

Also, the art of pacing yourself is not to push till you're exhausted and drop, but to stop and have a little rest BEFORE you get exhausted, if this is possible.

But do get help with this. Because you are in danger of making yourself ill too which won't help you or your Mum. Wishing you all the best. 🙂

How do you know you have an autoimmune disorder if you haven't been diagnosed ?

Curious as I feel the same, very stiff joints all over and fatigue etc but never seen about it

ADHD was causing excessive tiredness for me and I very much felt in this way with the not being able to manage even the basics. I think because I was using so much brainpower trying to get through the bare minimum tasks (and not even managing that sometimes) - medication has really helped me. But I do also need to stay on top of eating and sleep. If I don't go to bed at a decent hour and I don't eat proper meals then I start struggling to manage again.

You haven’t mentioned how old you are but if you’re around 39 plus then please investigate HRT & Peri menopause. You have a lot on your plate and if you get your oestrogen where it should be this will help you manage it. The diagnosis should be done based on symptoms not bloods… so dont let your doctors fob you off x

I'm mid 40s, sleeping 7-10hrs a night and always tired during the day.
I wake up tired, plod on through work and feel really sleepy by 2pm. I have to force myself to go the gym and do manage a full work out despite feeling drained. I wonder if for me it's just tired brain fog and I need to push through. HRT has improved most of my other peri symptoms.

Do you eat breakfast? So important if you need energy for the day!

Are you live in? It is exhausting. I'm in the same boat. We have a nap after lunch. Mine is elderly though so that might not be an option.

Is she in receipt of Attendance Allowance? Use it to get some help. Also, have you had your Carer's Assessment yet? You are entitled to one and that can also provide respite for you. Have you considered using a day care facility once a week? Find out which organisation is responsible for Carer's support in your Local Authority area and contact them. There's a good FB group for support, search for Mobilise and join up.

There's also an elderly parent board on here, I know yours isn't elderly, but you most likely have a lot of the same issues. There is help and support, but it's not always easy to find. You are not alone in this.

Lol same.

@Ankleblisters I could have written the first paragraph of your post. Then I got to the bit about getting up at 6am and exercising for an hour 5 times a week and was like, nope!! I don’t have any medical conditions but honestly I’m tired enough just from work without that on top.

As others have said I think start by getting more sleep and maybe consider if you are overdoing it on the exercise or could switch it up a bit. Thyroid and Ferratin checks good to look at too as well as B12. Wishing you luck x

Stress!
You have too many caring responsibilities and the worry of the burden getting heavier. You are not getting enough rest. And the exercise makes you feel better as it counteracts some of the stress hormones.
Talk to your GP. Make sure your records reflect that you are a carer. Take all and any help you are offered.

(Oh and get your blood results and check if there is anything of concern there - because stress is a risk factor for a lot of things).

I was going to say try less exercise like 3 days one week and 4 the next. .
Allow yourself a treat go out for a nice coffee once a week or a glass of wine to relax.

I feel you’re not getting enough sleep.
I read your update .

You sound mentaly drained and your mood down with the same old same old of life too

I really would take a vitamin d supplement 6 months of the year. .Even pay to get a blood test and if the levels are really low get some injections .
Vitamin d is a game changer in life .

I feel similarly! I usually get around 6.5-7. 5 hours sleep a night, which I know isn't enough, but my two ND tweens aren't asleep until 10pm and I need to be up at 6.30am every weekday morning, and I need downtime before bed.

I do drink coffee and eat carbs, which is maybe why I feel like this?

I think it might just be mild depression though. I've had severe depression in the past and this isn't like that but I believe it can present this way.

Honestly the only thing I ever feel like I have energy to do is chill in my bed... And I never get to do that (well, for maybe an hour each night, at the expense of sleep).

What you’re doing is incredibly hard work. I agree with PP’s - is there any respite care available? Even two mornings a week for example would allow you a lie in.

Practically - yes you need more sleep. Change up some of the exercise - 30 min power vinyasa flow a couple of times a week, (you can get videos on YouTube and the mindfulness aspect would also be beneficial) a couple of runs and a couple of weight sessions would suffice. That should carve you out 30 mins a day but then you’d need to find another half an hour to an hour. There’s no way I could function long term on that little sleep.

Be prepared to be offered pills if you go to the GP. Not saying you shouldn’t - you have plenty of reason to be depressed - but I’d try getting a bit more sleep first.

And finally in all honesty - I use coffee 🤷🏻‍♀️
If I get 8-9 hours sleep I just have a morning one. Any less than that I generally need one about 2pm to get me through the day. And they are rocket fuel strength!

@stargazerlil what dosage vit B do you take please? I used to take it but forgot what dosage I took

@Ankleblisters I didn't even touch the sides of what you are doing but even that level of caring that I did ended with me having a nervous breakdown

it sounds like you are naturally energetic but I can't help thinking that caring is the issue here.

When do you get a day off caring?

Has anyone mentioned ME/CFS to you? I'm just wondering if you're heading in the direction of that. It causes debilitating fatigue and your blood test results are normal.

I ran the London Marathon shortly before my ME/CFS diagnosis. Although once the illness started, I couldn't even go for a short jog. Before the illness started I actually did way more training than you are doing.

For more info, see:

meassociation.org.uk/

Are you getting enough protein? Makes a huge difference for me.

To add - I work full time & have multiple kids. I don't get much time awake without them around, usually a 1hour programme 9-10pm.

I prioritise sleep. 11pm is a late night. Usually asleep by 22:15, sometimes 21:30!
Up at 07:00 on average weekday. Occasionally 06:00. On weekends more like 09:00.

I should do more exercise, but I prefer sleeping, particularly in winter.

I have a 45 minute nap after work. Totally recharges me.

Diagnosis is so important for getting treatment- it doesn't have to be this way. Advocate for yourself, request more tests, speak to a different GP. What disorder do you think you have?

Sorry OP- not trying to derail!
Prioritise sleep and rest over any unnecessary exercise- even if sitting down instead of going for a walk seems counter-productive. Completely understand your reason for exercising- strength training is vital for what you're doing and for what's to come. Do your weights, but cut out a couple of walks. Or limit weight training to more intense, shorter work outs. If you can, speak to a PT for some advice on energy saving work outs.

You need rest, and to look after yourself.

Love, you’re in a horrendously difficult situation. Anyone would be exhausted. What are the options for your mum’s care?

You need more sleep