Feeling constantly exhausted despite 8.5 hours of sleep – how do people do it?

Floradix liquid iron supplement was recommended to me by my dietician as it’s easier in the tummy than iron tablets. My friend agrees. Try that.

I feel like you plus nausea, no appetite etc. Ferritin also low, iron tablets also upset my stomach more. What number is your ferritin? I'm not convinced ferritin being low can make you feel ill and exhausted but hopefully I'm wrong.

You need to go to the doctor. This is not normal. You do have some health issue. I hope they find it quickly for you and it is an easy fix.
Best wishes.

you could be anemic OP. Are your periods heavy? It can cause extreme fatigue. Be interesting to see what your blood test results show

No improvement OP? What were the blood test results?

Ive just been feeling tired recently as in asleep by 8pm and sleeping through to 6am but put it down to working, a 3 year old, house etc. Ended up going to doctors about it and had blood tests. Works out my vitamin B12, folic acid, thyroid & iron levels are all low! I’m now on tablets for B12 & folic aid, trying to increase iron through food & retesting thyroid in 4 weeks.

I would push for bloods if you are still feeling tired.

Definitely not right to be like that at your age, no chn and getting lots of sleep. Your gp sounds awful. What do you eat?

This is not normal, OP! I have 3 young kids and a highly stressful job. I barely sit down all day and haven't had time to myself in several years. Get about 6 hours sleep a night as that's all there is time for!

Is your partner not starting to resent you? That would drive me mad to be honest. Do you plan to have children?

People have different levels of resilience, but this is nuts. You need to get assessed.

It’s diet. 100%

What time do you work if you're not getting up until 9am? Are you a 10-6 type of person ?

I start work at 8 so need to be up early.

And at this time of year we need to be up at 5 for the dog walk as by the time we get home at 7am it's already getting too warm for her.

I feel OP i'm exhausted all the time too but feel like there's not really a choice.

Get an apple watch and see if you are waking up a lot - ask you our partner to be honest - do you snore?

Eating a proper diet will only fix a B12 deficiency if you can absorb it.

According to my stupid stepmother, I don't need my regular B12 injections... I should just eat better.

I could eat all the B12 containing foods in the universe and it would make no difference.

I agree with this.

I’ve started making diet changes and I’ve been following an anti-inflammatory diet (nutritionist led) and it’s been a complete game changer. That and drinking much more water, moving more, prioritising sleep.

I also take supplements for iron, vitamin D, folic acid. I used to be B12 deficient but that’s back up to normal now. Eating a proper diet with correct nutrition will support you.

Ive also given up alcohol and only drink 1-3 coffees per week x

I bought a Fitbit and it was a revelation when it came to sleep. Firstly I found I was awake for about an hour a night, even if I didn’t remember it. Secondly you need the right balance of deep sleep to feel rested.

I need to exercise every day that means walking, gardening etc not gym. What I eat really affects sleep, too much food late or stodgy food will lead to a restless night. I eat lots of veg, I never drink tea or coffee in the evening. I think you’re going to bed too early, you may be out of your circadian rhythm. Finally no TV or screens before sleep.

Lots of good advice here, but im going to take it back to the real basics here first:
How much water do you drink?
What's your diet like, and what's your caffeine & sugar intakes like?
Im asking this because I was like you and it was because I was constantly dehydrated and had a shit diet. Everyone I know who is constantly knackered, doesn't drink enough water and has a diet full of processed shit and never does any exercise. These are the basics needed to keep your body alive, other than sleep, so have a good look at those first. Im really sorry the doctor was such an arsehole to you! I would be putting in a complaint about that, i think thats really unprofessional tbh.

i had blood tests as was feeling tired all the time and had been turned away from giving blood as my haemaglobin was too low although not yet anemic - 123. The tests showed low vit b12 and vit D. Once on high doses of those I started to have more energy in two weeks. I also felt less anxious which I hadn’t even realised was fixable. Now almost three months later I feel so much better. I am getting more bloods next week to check my levels but am sure they must all have improved massively as I feel so good.

When I have dairy I feel like this. Just tired ALLthe time. Cut out dairy and I’m fine

The GP sounds like an absolute idiot.

@JazzyBazzy79 I had surgery on the NHS for the deviated septum, mine was pretty severe, one side of my nose was completely blocked. Apparently it ran in the family, my parents likely knew about it but didn't agree to me having treatment as a child and I didn't realise growing up that my breathing wasn't normal as it was never mentioned. The surgery result was fantastic.

I also now have a preventer inhaler and a blue inhaler for asthma, and commonly have prescriptions for rhinitis. Both have helped (sinus issues and coughing)

Thankfully I had a more compassionate GP who sent me to the Sleep Clinic and for full bloods. Double whammy, Sleep Apnea and Unreactive Thyroid.
Not trying to diagnose you but the full bloods should be a start.
Did you hurt your knee when it connected with his gonads ?

You need further investigation.
I would get a full blood test to test for any deficiencies & het your thyroid checked too.

I have a possible underactive thyroid & PCOS, and I struggle a lot with fatigue like you.

Do you mind me asking what treatment you had please 🙏

Are you depressed? What about diet? I think go for blood tests and start ruling things out.