Surely not everyone gets this tired?

[Sometimesonly]

Over the last year or so I have found it harder and harder to stay awake all day, especially if I have done any physical exercise. This just seems to be getting worse. This morning I walked for an hour and a half (had plenty of time and didn't fancy getting the bus). It was not a difficult trek! It was on the level and I walk a lot. I had to go to bed for a couple of hours tthis afternoon though to recover. This is getting ridiculous. My doctor says it's normal at my age (not yet 50!) and that my iron levels are slightly low. Is it really normal???

I think an iron supplement will make a big difference

Have you had a full set of blood tests?

Is winter making it worse? Also how have you been about lockdown- I had a very low period where I had to sleep at lunchtime and actually set an alarm to log back on for work.

It’s the iron. They said mine were “slightly low” when I was breathless, having panic attacks, dragging myself around, dizzy, losing my hair and falling asleep at 2pm.

Do you drink? I often had to sleep in the afternoon when I was drinking in the evenings.

I'm 55 and often need a nap! I'm pretty fit and healthy too

They said mine were “slightly low” when I was breathless, having panic attacks, dragging myself around, dizzy, losing my hair and falling asleep at 2pm.

Oh God - this sounds like me!! My iron is 51 mcg/dL and my ferritin is 18 - both were lower last year and I have been taking supplements. Did you manage to get your levels up?

Also how have you been about lockdown
Pretty fed up, but aren't we all?

BTW I do drink but not that much - may be a glass of wine twice a week?

I'm 55 and often need a nap!
I wish I had known years ago how hard I would find it to work now! I needed to get a high paying job for twenty years and retire early!

This is me! But I’ve always been like that. Probably been better over the last few years, but have developed insomnia this year and am really struggling!

I'm the same way. But I'm pretty sure I have sleep apnea. I also have a tough menopause, ibs and asthma amongst other things.

I have terrible fatigue.

Yes.
Apnea.
Low iron and ferritin.
Even after supplements & CPAP, this is me.
I feel old and ill.

OP the reason I asked about lockdown is because it definitely affected my physical health

So I just wondered if it was worth considering, I didn’t mean to be rude in any way.

I did bounce back from needing the sleep at lunchtime because it was psychological. Just a thought, sorry if I offended you.

So I just wondered if it was worth considering, I didn’t mean to be rude in any way.
No, I didn't read it as rude at all - sorry if my reply seemed flippant!

BTW I do drink but not that much - may be a glass of wine twice a week?

That's probably not it, then! I find that winter, and now lockdown, bring out my napping genes.

I have a short nap most days. Sometimes 2.

I'm 45, have completely normal bloods for everything (was comprehensively tested recently), no health problems, not menopausal.

I remember my mum being the same when I lived at home. And my Grandparents always had a nap after dinner.

Some people are just nappers.

OP, if you have all my symptoms then it’s definitely your Iron. Mine was 40 something and I felt like shit. YES it came up, quite quickly, when I got the Ferrous Fumerate pills. Don’t ponce about with Spatone or anything gentle, you need the big bastard pills! Get them from your GP or you can actually get them over the counter. I felt better within a week if taking mine. Nothing else had helped.

Your hair starts falling out when you get below 50, so don’t wait.

Your hair starts falling out when you get below 50, so don’t wait.

Did your hair grow back? I have lost loads - my scalp is really visible. I have iron pills prescribed by the doctor but my levels are not going up much at all and dr doesn't seem bothered about trying anything else as it's almost normal. I still think 18 is too low for ferritin for hair growth though.

Check vitamin D and B12 too.
Low levels of either can cause fatigue

My vitamin D came out as just about ok (23 when 20 - 100 is considered the normal range). I asked for a B12 but she didn't prescribe it! I feel like GPs don't really bother doing anything unless it is critical. I have loads of symptoms and am just about hanging on to the lower range of normal for iron, ferritin, vitamin D but my GP doesn't seem worried that I have been taking the supplements for a year now and have hardly any improvement. Frustrating.

I feel like this when my ferritin drops (usually to around 6 or 7)

Ferrous Sulphate does the trick although takes a few weeks/months - I’ve often wondered about an infusion instead for when I need a boost ASAP!

I’d get a second opinion and demand an infusion. It’s rubbish that your GO is leaving you to struggle on. Do you know why your iron is so low? Mine was because of hideous flooding periods which have since been sorted, thankfully.

YES my hair grew back! Have you had a baby? If so, you know the bit when your baby is 3 months old and you’ve lost loads of hair but it starts growing back, with tiny tiny hairs all round your forehead? It’s like that. It all comes back, honest.

I have iron pills prescribed by the doctor but my levels are not going up much

What are they? And what dose? I know you can buy Ferrous Fumerate over the counter in strengths of 210mg and 325mg (I think). Are you taking enough?

t’s like that. It all comes back, honest.

That's great news! No, I haven't had a baby for over a decade and have really light periods so not sure why iron is so low.

Any digestive issues? IBS?

*I have iron pills prescribed by the doctor but my levels are not going up much

What are they? And what dose? I know you can buy Ferrous Fumerate over the counter in strengths of 210mg and 325mg (I think). Are you taking enough?*

I am taking this:

www.pizetapharma.com/en/product/sferafer/

which I see is Ferrous fumerate. 30mg a day though - does that sound like it's not enough?

Do you eat sugary treats late morning / lunch time - these can make you sleepy in the afternoon.

I can't believe your doctor said it was normal for your age. I am 66 and I, unless I am ill, I never nap in the afternoon. I go to bed about 11.30 and get up about 7 but I wake at least 3 times a night so don't get really good sleep.

You need to speak to your doctor again