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Original poster

To want to know why I feel so tired/ill all the time!!

234 replies

Bamboozle30001 · 12/09/2026 18:22

I'm 41, 5ft 7in 12 stone and I strength train for half an hour 4 days a week. I do under 20k steps due to being a cleaner 5 days a week. I eat very well and log my food on myfitnesspal.

Last week doctors thought my gallbladder was inflamed but, bloods, urine and a further physical exam all came back fine. Then why for the love of God am I am ALWAYS tired?Energy drinks or black coffee do nothing. I sleep for 8 hours.

I'd had a previous blood test a few weeks back as I suspected perimenopause but apart from high reading of b12...which I have no idea where that came from as I don't eat much in the way of the foods mentioned that are fortified, or take vitamin supplements either. I do have fibroids, but still I constantly feel tired and just generally unwell. Like the feeling that you're coming down with a cold, just run down all the bastard time.

Would it be worth getting a private doctor and see if there's any other tests or something because I am fed up of feeling like this.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 10:02

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 14/09/2026 10:00

The iron you've got is higher than a normal multivitamin, but not proper high dose. Use those up to start with but then go to an actual pharmacy counter and ask for high strength supplement - they will be able to give you much stronger ones than you can buy off the shelf. Mine is 305mg (ferrous fumerate).

Take it on a completely empty stomach - with plain vitamin C. Not a multivitamin, not C with zinc. Other minerals stop you absorbing the iron properly. So do caffeine. And dairy. And some of the compounds in pulses. No food or drink other than water for at least 1 hour before and after, ideally 2.

And as others said, the energy drink is doing you no good at all. Find another treat. Even a scoop of ice cream would be a better option.

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Thank you so much

OP posts:
BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 14/09/2026 10:00

Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 09:06

So the ones i got from.amazon arent good enough? Ugh this is madness, spending a small fortune here.

Show quote history

The iron you've got is higher than a normal multivitamin, but not proper high dose. Use those up to start with but then go to an actual pharmacy counter and ask for high strength supplement - they will be able to give you much stronger ones than you can buy off the shelf. Mine is 305mg (ferrous fumerate).

Take it on a completely empty stomach - with plain vitamin C. Not a multivitamin, not C with zinc. Other minerals stop you absorbing the iron properly. So do caffeine. And dairy. And some of the compounds in pulses. No food or drink other than water for at least 1 hour before and after, ideally 2.

And as others said, the energy drink is doing you no good at all. Find another treat. Even a scoop of ice cream would be a better option.

Younginside · 14/09/2026 09:37

Hello OP, just wanted to hand over some Flowers and hope you feel much better soon. I had blood tests at the GP as I was struggling to recover from a virus and had been feeling wiped out for months. I had borderline ferritin and borderline vit D. After a few weeks of supplements I started feeling a lot more human.

Advice on this thread re. a whole food diet without the energy drinks/powders/waffles, together with required vit supplements, seems sensible to me. But I do hope you have the support of a good GP too x

Bestfootforward11 · 14/09/2026 09:29

pastadish · 14/09/2026 09:24

Waking up at 4am everyday is likely to be a massive cause of your chronic tiredness and ill feeling.

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Yes I this can’t be helping. You likely do need more rest.

Bestfootforward11 · 14/09/2026 09:26

I have friends who used Nutrition Geeks

pastadish · 14/09/2026 09:24

Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 10:35

I wish i could get 9 hours sleep. I ha e to be up at 4am weekdays to finish cleaning and be back in time incase dh needs to go the office. I go to sleep as soon as our ds is asleep and now he's 5 its about 8pm or 8.30pm some nights.

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Waking up at 4am everyday is likely to be a massive cause of your chronic tiredness and ill feeling.

pastadish · 14/09/2026 09:20

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Don’t be ridiculous. The symptoms are real. Educate yourself

pastadish · 14/09/2026 09:19

anotheruser345 · 13/09/2026 16:15

What difference would hypermobility make? Are you thinking EDS? As my adult Daughter is hypermobile and has awful fatigue, we are waiting to see a connective tissue specialist as honestly the NHS seem ill equipped to do anything, rheumatology refuse to see her, the GP doesnt know enough to diagnose even with the GP toolkit so our only option to get any help and advice is private. But my joints are hypermobile too, just not to the degree hers is at all (she is a clear 9/9 on the beighton score whereas im 4 or 5).

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My dd had been diagnosed eds we went to a private rheumatologist as waiting lists are about 2 years, and he did a few checks on her hands and said she’s hyper mobile and said it’s likely eds.
She is hyper mobile but not as much as I am and I was surprised at the diagnosis.
It was actually our second appointment and she was scanned for rheumatoid arthritis and other tests.

We would be the other way round to you and your dd. I am probably a 9/9 and she would probably be a 5 but i don’t have eds symptoms.
She also has fibromyalgia, under active thyroid and probably pots and mcas, we are in the process of investigating pots and although the mcas test came back negative it was taken in it straight after a flare so im not sure the result is totally accurate but trying to get anyone to listen is like banging my head off the wall.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 09:07

LarryForPrimeMinister · 14/09/2026 08:53

Are you getting enough protein? 21 percent isn't actually much... especially with weight training. Quit energy drinks, they make you more tired as you crash from the sugar.

According tonl myfitnesspal I get enough based on the 50 30 20 set up, but i will increase even more.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 09:06

VividDeer · 14/09/2026 07:51

Make sure you get stronger iron tablets when you get to a pharmacy. Those are probably good for maintenance

So the ones i got from.amazon arent good enough? Ugh this is madness, spending a small fortune here.

OP posts:
Imdunfer · 14/09/2026 09:05

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It certainly is and they are finding the markers for it with the latest brain scanning they can do. People with it experience pain differently.

Having said that it's an easy copout for a doctor who can offer no other diagnosis for a patient desperate for a diagnosis.

I don't have fibromyalgia. But it definitely is real.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 09:05

Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 06:49

These are the tablets I got on amazon. Im hoping these are the right ones as there were loads that were all the same thing.

Are these ok though?

OP posts:
Delatron · 14/09/2026 09:00

You have a very physical job and that in itself is exhausting. Lots of people just sit at a desk all day.

I’d definitely cut out the energy drinks and make sure you are actually eating enough to fuel your job and workouts.

I guess cutting down your hours isn’t possible but you do need to recognise that your job will be tiring. Especially as you go in to perimenopause.

Bonkers1966 · 14/09/2026 08:58

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Not even 9.00 am and already having to entertain trolls like LarryforPrimeMinister. There are so many posters who are determined to ruin MN for the rest of us. Please go away.

LarryForPrimeMinister · 14/09/2026 08:53

Are you getting enough protein? 21 percent isn't actually much... especially with weight training. Quit energy drinks, they make you more tired as you crash from the sugar.

LarryForPrimeMinister · 14/09/2026 08:52

This reply has been deleted

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VividDeer · 14/09/2026 07:51

Make sure you get stronger iron tablets when you get to a pharmacy. Those are probably good for maintenance

Bonkers1966 · 14/09/2026 07:50

Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 07:29

No idea im adopted and bm is a massive cunt.

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I paid for a consultation with a rheumatology specialist and was diagnosed within 20 minutes. That was after years of blood tests and being offered anti depressants and the rest. Might be worth considering.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 07:30

TheSpottedZebra · 13/09/2026 19:37

Yep, OP that explains your high B12 reading.
It also contains 160mg of caffeine, about the same as 4.5 cans of regular coke -which you'd never drink in one go. It's going to be giving a short burst of energy, then a massive crash.

I'd really try cutting it down, or out, if you can.

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Having a black coffee instead. I suppose it saves us £12 a week for a pack of 9 so that's good.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 07:29

Bonkers1966 · 14/09/2026 07:19

Any fibromyalgia in the family?

No idea im adopted and bm is a massive cunt.

OP posts:
Bonkers1966 · 14/09/2026 07:19

Any fibromyalgia in the family?

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 14/09/2026 06:49

These are the tablets I got on amazon. Im hoping these are the right ones as there were loads that were all the same thing.

To want to know why I feel so tired/ill all the time!!
OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 13/09/2026 19:37

anotheruser345 · 13/09/2026 18:28

So that 1 energy drink looks like its 180 calories of sugar which honestly is completely empty calories and it also has 500% of your daily b12 from what I understand. So cutting this out will do nothing but good.

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Yep, OP that explains your high B12 reading.
It also contains 160mg of caffeine, about the same as 4.5 cans of regular coke -which you'd never drink in one go. It's going to be giving a short burst of energy, then a massive crash.

I'd really try cutting it down, or out, if you can.

anotheruser345 · 13/09/2026 19:33

Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 19:09

Nooooooo

If i must then ok.

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I get how hard it is when its something you love. I used to drink Pepsi max and sugar free monster and when I cut out all UPF it was a pain to give them up but I needed to give it a good try and so these had to go too.

You can always try it for a couple months and add it back if it makes no difference but that will definitely be making a difference to your B12 and honestly when you are trying to keep calories low, thats a big chunk on a drink so might work out best for you.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 19:09

anotheruser345 · 13/09/2026 18:28

So that 1 energy drink looks like its 180 calories of sugar which honestly is completely empty calories and it also has 500% of your daily b12 from what I understand. So cutting this out will do nothing but good.

Show quote history

Nooooooo

If i must then ok.

OP posts:
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