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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

235 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 · 13/09/2026 09:19

Frostynoman · 13/09/2026 09:16

Your ferritin and t4 are low. Have they done a fasting glucose on you? MJ can give pancreatitis. Did it start before the injections?(sorry if you said that thread)

No, the pain only started a few weeks ago. At first I thought it was because I had done RDLs wrong but I haven't exercised for almost 2 weeks now. I've always been tired though, even in my 20s.

OP posts:
Frostynoman · 13/09/2026 09:16

Your ferritin and t4 are low. Have they done a fasting glucose on you? MJ can give pancreatitis. Did it start before the injections?(sorry if you said that thread)

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 09:15

All the steps are logged when I'm cleaning and when i walk to and from the places I clean.

OP posts:
Bogstandardname · 13/09/2026 09:14

My husband has MS. His worse symptom is always tired and needs lots of sleep. Just.putting that out there. With all that water, caffeine, energy drinks and medications, your poor body must be struggling to know what you want from it.

Viviennemary · 13/09/2026 09:14

Do yoh mean 20k steps per day. Plus weight training plus a job. It's a wonder you can even keep this up never mind feel tired. Two litres of water is the recommended amount. But slow down for a month and see if your health improves.

DashItAll · 13/09/2026 09:12

Your ferretin is very low. I expect that has a lot to do with it. Mine was low for years and even though that showed in previous blood results, no doctors mentioned doing anything about it. Then I had another test with a nurse as I was also tired all the time, and she put me on iron tablets. It helped raise it.
Women who are still having periods should really have ferretin levels of at least 50.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 09:12

momager22 · 13/09/2026 09:07

Your ferratin is low, my doctor recommended supplement with ‘ferrograd c’ tablets (I bought them online)
ditch the energy drink, I would honestly feel dreadful if I drank that stuff - have a black coffee instead.
You’ve been using WLIs and tablets ?
Could be causing the fatigue, side effects do vary. is this why you think you have gallstones ? have you had an ultrasound on your gallbladder ? ask them to explain specifically how they have ruled out gallstones beyond doubt if not.

I stopped mounjaro 4 months ago as it just stopped working. I left it a month then tried the wegovy tablets as cheaper, but I stopped them a few days before going to the doctors and then to a and e as wasn't sure if it was gallbladder pain. I didn't get an ultrasound but I suspect I may need to ask for one tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 09:09

Can i get ferritin supplements at boots?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 09:08

We're going to Boots today so can get some there

OP posts:
momager22 · 13/09/2026 09:07

Your ferratin is low, my doctor recommended supplement with ‘ferrograd c’ tablets (I bought them online)
ditch the energy drink, I would honestly feel dreadful if I drank that stuff - have a black coffee instead.
You’ve been using WLIs and tablets ?
Could be causing the fatigue, side effects do vary. is this why you think you have gallstones ? have you had an ultrasound on your gallbladder ? ask them to explain specifically how they have ruled out gallstones beyond doubt if not.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 09:07

What iron and vitamin c tablets do you suggest I buy please?

OP posts:
Tiptopflipflop · 13/09/2026 09:07

Your ferritin is far too low. You are iron defficient. From NICE guidance: "Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test that most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency."

I had an iron infusion at a similar level at the Iron Clinic in London which is run by a top haematologist so is very reputable. I felt soooo much better for it.

You could try supplements to begin with. They are most effective taken every other day.

Q2C4 · 13/09/2026 09:05

EricTheHalfASleeve · 12/09/2026 20:00

4L of water a day is way more than you need. Adding hydration sachets to a normal diet will likely give you too much salt - depending on what's in the sachets.
Mumsnet is obsessed with ferritin levels but there is very little evidence that low ferritin without anaemia (low haemoglobin) causes symptoms or that treating it makes any difference.
Resting/sleeping too much is a common mistake and often makes people feel worse.
Honestly - a busy physical job, a 5 year old & strength training would tire me out. If routine blood tests are normal it's very unlikely there is a disease causing this.

It is absolutely not true that low ferritin causes no symptoms. My ferritin was 7… serum iron normal. I was breathless, weird food cravings, hair falling out, no energy, very very pale skin / gums etc.

ItwasntPeri · 13/09/2026 09:05

I was recently diagnosed with ME and MCAS. I was immediately advised to treat the MCAS to reduce the stress on my body which was apparently worsening my fatigue. It’s been 3 months now and I’d say I have about 5% more energy occasionally 10% more. I was prescribed 2 different antihistamines and montelukast. It’s Not much but it has improved my quality of life in that I can now spend a bit more time with my dc during the day. Might be worth looking into MCAS as some of the symptoms are obscure and you may not realise it could be a possibility?

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 09:03

You need to take an iron supplement and stop drinking energy drinks - they are so bad for you.

SunSparkle · 13/09/2026 09:02

Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 08:54

In answer to ferritin levels and t4
My results for ferritin was 19
My tsh was 2.19 and my t4 was 11.2

Start with an iron bisglycinate with vitamin c - take it every other day and take it an hour before or after caffeine (caffeine hinders iron absorption). Give it 6 weeks and see how you feel.

VividDeer · 13/09/2026 09:01

My ferritin is currently 21 and I feel like shit.
Guarantee its that op.
You need high dose iron, not spatone

I'm considering a transfusion, but its £800

user1492757084 · 13/09/2026 09:00

Seek a second opinion.
I would ask about bowel check, Helicobacter and thyroid issues, allergies, eye test, breast lumps.

I am not a medico.

Sleep for at least 8 hours consistantly each day.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 08:59

I don't poo much either. Recently it's been soft lumps not one big normal one if you get what i mean. Sometimes i can go a week without going. Which is why I was worried about gallbladder but the doctor did t seem concerned.

OP posts:
Sakura7 · 13/09/2026 08:58

It could be peri symptoms.

Original poster
Bamboozle30001 · 13/09/2026 08:57

I have one energy drink with breakfast everyday. Thats my treat.
Im still have discomfort and pain in my right side by ribcage. The co dydramol doesnt really help unless I take it all day

OP posts:
VividDeer · 13/09/2026 08:56

Ferritin. They don't always check it

DoYouSellBuckets · 13/09/2026 08:56

Do you have the NHS app? All my blood results are on there. Could be worth having a look at your levels for yourself - 100% agree with what others have said about NHS threaholds. I recently went to the doctor adamant my iron was low (it almost always is but I can tell when it gets into low double digits because I feel exactly how you did). Turns out it was inexplicably sky high but my B12 was really low. Guess what I'm saying is that things being too high can make you feel as rough as things being too low. Might be worth checking how high your B12 is and where your ferritin is sitting

Iocanepowder · 13/09/2026 08:56

Your ferritin is WAY too low. That is likely your answer. NHS are really lax with this. Start some iron supplements and take them with vit c

SunSparkle · 13/09/2026 08:55

Bamboozle30001 · 12/09/2026 18:45

I had a full blood work test beforehand which showed elevated levels of b12 which baffled me. I need to have a repeat full work test in 2 months time to check again.

The blood test I had last week showed no abnormalities. It's hard as I have no energy to do anything or play with our DS.

Show quote history

Did they give you your pdf of results? The range for things like ferritin being ‘normal’ are wild. Women with ferritin under 75 can feel symptomatic but it only reads as abnormal under 15 (would have to double check). My ferritin came back as 23 and I felt terrible. Doctor said it was normal, I supplemented and got my ferritin up to 100 and felt so much better