Please advise me- I am so unbelievably tired of being tired.

[MrsRobbieHart]

I have been tired for as long as I can remember. The last time I remember waking up feeling like I was ready to wake up, happy to get up and go about my day, was about 14 years ago. I’m permanently tired. I haven’t the energy to do anything anymore. Ive stopped doing my hair, I’ve stopped wearing make up, I wear leggings and t-shirts because with can’t be arsed to even look decent. I now cut my own hair really short so I don’t have to bother doing anything to it, I literarily wash it and run a comb through it whilst wet and that’s it. I can’t even manage my part time job anymore. Some days I’m so exhausted I get into bed at 3pm and sleep for 2 hours. I look permanently washed out as if I’ve been working nights for years. I eat ok, but binge on crap a few times a month. I sleep, what I think is a decent amount, 8-9 hours most nights. I walk most days, again some days I haven’t the energy. To walk! I have a lot of anxiety which seems to be permanently on in my brain which I known is exhausting. I have long suspected I have ADHD and I’m going to see the GP about that but I think I need to talk to her about the tiredness too. What do I say? Sounds silly to say I’m tried. Everyone is, surely? I also have a problem with my back that seems to have decided it’s staying. It is affecting my sleep now too. GP for that too.

Anything else I can do? Full disclosure I have absolutely zero money to be buying anything to help with this.

Chronic fatigue syndrome? Also adhd itself canbe exhusting

Could your iron levels be low? I felt a lot less tired when I started taking high-level iron supplements (I only found out I had low iron when I went to give blood and they couldn’t accept it because I was borderline anaemic).

Could be anemia? Simple blood test would answer it.
I was really tired and going to bed early. Turned out I was anemic. Course if iron tablets and felt lots better.

Check iron levels and b vitamins

Also blood sugar levels

Ask your GP for a full blood count, it may be a lack of iron.
I hope things improve for you, tiredness is so debilitating.

You need to ask for full blood-work to be done - tiredness can be a symptom of lots of things. That could be something like anaemia, vitamin d deficiency or an under active thyroid. I have an under active thyroid and tiredness was the main symptom I had that made me go to the GP. The pains in your back and/or the anxiety could well be related to whatever the problem is.

Good luck and I hope you can get some answers from the GP.

Have you had any blood tests at all?

Thyroid issues
Low iron
Low B12
Vitamin D deficiency

Can all cause crippling tiredness -along with other issues such as anxiety, muscle and bone pains ! Some of these symptoms can be crippling if your blood results are in the low end of the normal range rather than optimal. I’d speak to the GP about the tiredness in the first instance and the ADHD query next tbh as, if you do have ADHD, waiting another few weeks to discuss it isn’t going to make much difference but finding a reason-and hopefully treatment- for your tiredness is something that needs dealing with ASAP.

I’m not saying ADHD isn’t important, my DS has a diagnosis, I would just want the GP to focus on the thing that’s affecting your life most in your shoes iyswim

Don’t take any supplements before having a blood test @MrsRobbieHart as it will skew the results.

Low iron and/or folic acid maybe? You need a blood test. It could also be from the anxiety, have you tried psychotherapy or CBT? It could be a mental or physical issue.

Yes please tell your GP. Tell them the way you have described it to us, don't just say that you're tired all the time. Explain about the makeup and the hair. This might be something that can be fixed easily, a blood test might turn up low iron or vitamin levels. Or like a pp suggested, you might have chronic fatigue, or a post viral syndrome.

Anemia, thyroid issues could be lots of things. I’ve been tired for ages but it’s all come to a head recently as I’ve been properly ill and hospitalised a couple of times. I am anaemic, possibly have Lyme disease so am on antibiotics. It’s almost a relief as I’ve had lots of tests and feel like the doctors are keen to get to the bottom of things as I’m a bit of a medical mystery at the moment.

Thank you everyone. So full blood test from the GP then. Will I have to lean on her to get that or is that something she’ll have no problem ordering? I don’t go to the GP. I’ve never had blood tests as far as I know. Maybe when pregnant?

I’m sorry you feel like this. Definitely go to your GP
for bloods. How is your mood? Could this be contributing perhaps?

There are other things I’ve just realised have gotten worse recently that may be related. I’ve always had heart palpitations since I was a child. They disappear for years but come back all of a sudden. I’ve had quite a few episodes in the last few months. Headaches- seems and almost daily occurrence. Mild waves of dizziness. Very mild but enough to stop me in my tracks incase I fall over. And my vision- I wear glasses but I've noticed a real decline in what I can see without them in recent months. I am overdue an eye test. Need to get that booked.

My mood. I’ve had depression ever since my youngest was born 12 years ago. Mild now. Manageable but it’s always there.

When I was a lot younger, I had a lot of the symptoms you describe, it turned out I had low blood pressure. So there are many possible causes. Definitely see a GP before you take any supplements, as pp said.

Look up POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. My daughter has this and had exactly same symptoms like you.

@FourEyesGood hello! What was yout levels at? X