43 ache all over and feel so tired!

[QueenMabs]

What I wrong with me? Is it just aging?

I feel well and truly knackered. Plantar fasciitis in one foot, aching knee joints, arthritic big toe , sciatica. My legs just ache. For no reason.

My wrists and hands ache and I struggled to hold a regular pen today when using the visualiser at work.

The list is endless and I also feel knackered. But then I'm a nearly full time teacher so it's kind off expected? Lethargic.

I donated this week blood and they had to take a second sample to check for iron on a machine m. Came back with enough reserves to donate but still puzzled.

I'm overweight (very overweight but that is relative my BMI is 31). Do no exercise at the moment and have been a "gym addict" in the past. No kids can't have the and that has really defined my last 6 years. Period now erratic.

Stuck in a cycle hell of yo yo dieting. Don't have the energy to exercise. I want to feel like I did at 31 when I went to gym for the 6.30 spin class, did a full day at work and went out in the evening three times a week.

What can I do - yes I am on a diet need to lose 2 stone and then another 2 stone.

Can all this just be down to being overweight?

I agree that it would definitely be beneficial to lose weight and might provide all the answers OP is looking for, however being overweight doesn't preclude other issues like thyroid or vitamin deficiencies, if they're present then getting them treated will then help with energy and also the OP will be physically feeling better and more able to exercise and lose weight without feeling even worse afterwards.

This is me and I recently found out it is my thyroid. Now on medication and the weight is slowly coming off. I’m definitely less tired too.

Definitely get your thyroid tested.

What is the point of the OP getting her thyroid tested if she is eating excess fat and calories. Yes get your thyroid tested if you are eating healthy food and still tired and gaining weight. Her body can only work well with what you put inside it.
Only the OP knows what her diet is like.

I was in a similar position so you have my sympathy op, it’s horrible.

I can only tell you what worked for me. HRT, losing weight and exercise (weights x5, cardio x 6 per week). Go to bed early, prioritise sleep, make sure you eat enough protein (1g per pound body weight), stay hydrated. I also take collagen, vit B12, d, cod liver oil and magnesium.

Hope things improve for you soon, it’s a brutal time.

This was me! I was 42,had a baby the previous year. Was working ft nights, from when DD was 3 months old. Big garden,gym very fit healthy. Overnight all my joints ached, couldn't remember the simplest things (often the menopause symptoms are called the list syndrome,) I had to write a note to remind myself to feed the animals! Blood test,peri menopause. Oral HRT straight away. Agree though,FBC. But it could well be an underactive thyroid.I do take vit D in winter, although it is "said" that everyone in the UK has low level in winter, they aren't normally at a dangerously low level. I am a lot older,age related risks, and it helps with immune system. (I haven't had a cold for over 15 years, never had Covid) I wouldn't trust a surgeon telling me with a BMI of 25, I was overweight,and I met a lot of them, after nursing over 40 years

It could be your thyroid. Look up hypothyroidism in the NHS website.

I'm 42 and recognise some of this. I bought b vitamin supplements and think they did make a difference with the joint pain.

I suspect changing hormones are playing a big part.

Thanks everyone to the suggestions. I'll ignore @Redtuliproo unpleasantness!

I'll get book in for some blood tests and see what they say. They might not let me have any. Who knows these day. I don't think I can get them done privately where I live (rural area). I'll continue with diet and can't consider exercise at the moment as my feet are so sore ant he though of donning a cossie gives me the chills - alone being seen by the children I teach! I may dust off the exercise bike!

@Redtuliproo would you care for a doner kebab tonight

I didn’t have to fight for HRT and I’m 44.

I asked for a GP who knew about the menopause, talked to them, explained my symptoms and she agreed to try HRT. It wasn’t a battle at all. I had already had blood taken for thyroid, vitamins, iron etc.

I had done my research though by reading Davina’s book and listening to Louise Newsome’s podcasts.

Definitely get your Vitamin D level checked with a blood test. I used to get horrendous aches and pains at your age and it turns out mine had fallen off a cliff and I needed an emergency dose of 200,000iu in one weekend to get it back up! Average person needs 600iu a day...

Take some high strength vitamin D. Start today. And get a gp appointment!

This is exactly how I felt when I had a bit d deficiency. But you're peri age too (I was too, but it was vit d that sorted me right out)

Chronic fatigue COULD be food and exercise related. It's not definite and there's no harm in a health check. It's difficult to live with pain and fatigue so op should be allowed to check it out. You're basically saying she can't do that unless she loses weight.

Weight loss is as much about mindset as less calories and more movement. If you are in constant pain that mindset is difficult.

Weight loss is important if your overweight, weight causes heath issues. I don't think anyone is disputing that.

I would prioritise quality sleep and nutrition, and just trying to build walking into your daily routine rather than going to the gym and things like spin just now. Your body sounds like it is under too much stress for full on exercise.

If you think you'd enjoy it I'd advise a restorative yoga class rather than spin, for now. Yoga gets your parasympathetic nervous system going rather than the adrenaline fight/flight response which is what is triggered when we are stressed and can cause comfort eating, poor sleep and hormones going off kilter.

Cut alcohol, caffeine and highly processed foods to a minimum and drink water and herbal tea. Get a big bag of Epsom salts and put a few cup fulls in a warm bath and soak in it for at least 20 minutes. You might be short of magnesium and this is by far the most enjoyable way of taking it in, IMO! Also try Floradix tablets - I find them gentle on the dgestive system and it can be hard to take in enough iron through food.

Do go and see your GP and have some blood tests also when you can. Download the Nutracheck app. You can customise the calories, give yourself 1800 say for now and use it to check you have having enough fruit and veg (but prioritise green leafy veg) and a balance of protein, fibre, fat and carbs, and enter everything you eat/drink and exercise. I think you get it free for 7 days then it's about £30 a year to continue with the full app.

Generally just try and prioritise yourself and your health.

Me too. Once on HRT I could do Joe Wicks workouts and I have joined a walking group. That got the tummy under control. Exercising with other people helped my mental health. I couldn't have done any of it without HRT as my joints were so sore.

OP I'd love to know what I've said that is unpleasant. I took time to relay what my surgeon recommended for joint issues. My points were factual yes but at least they were honest. I'm sorry if they upset you but as I said the truth can be harsh.
You said yourself you used to do spin classes and felt great when you were a healthy weight. You kind of answered your own question in your opening post.
And no Il decline your offer of a donor kebab I don't eat saturated crap but I also don't suffer from joint pain or tiredness. Funny that.

Hi op, it sounds as if you are physically and pyschologically ready for an MOT of the heart, body and soul 😊

No. 1 get your thyroid checked as I was like you, zero energy and actually scared to go to the GP to find out as I googled the symptoms and it had pointed to MS.

Please don't make the same mistake I did.

No. 2 start a course of HRT, this really helped me with my fluctuating hormone levels and negative mood.

No. 3 adopt an anti inflammatory diet. Every time I had sugar or processed foods etc my arthritis became very inflamed and painful but when I ate loads of green leafy veg, nuts, seeds, beans, chick peas etc and fish the pain and inflammation went away.

No. 5. Practice fasting, there are some really interesting and scientifically proven research on fasting and if you do it properly and commit to it regularly you will find amazing benefits.

No. 4. Get well fitted and comfortable shoes so that you can walk more and walk faster than you have tried to before. Have fun so get something to listen to that you enjoy.

No. 5. Go swimming and try as many lengths as you can.

No. 6. Read or watch motivational articles and plan a trip or activity as a reward

No. 7. become an expert on the gut biome!

No 8. You are at the perfect age for a complete body and mind overhaul so start a video diary so you can plot the highs and lows of your journey.

No. 9. Be kind to yourself

No. 10. Laugh it off if you have a bad day, never beat yourself up and enjoy the challenge to a new, fit and happier you!

Hopefully your teacher eye will notice the weird numbering system! 😂

I had a full blood count check recently with Goodbody
they have clinic call over the uk
cost 69 at the clinic
you get the results within 3 days by email

You've described how I feel too but I'm 54 so have assumed its definitely peri menopause. I've been determined to battle through as my symptoms weren't debilitating but am now trying to get a GP appointment to discuss options. I don't want to default to HRT in case there is something else causing it. Like you, as recently as two years ago I used to gym at 4.45am Monday to thursday, put in a full day at work (not as hectic as a teacher though) cycle 100 odd miles across Fri-Sunday and still be full of vim!! With all my aches and pains now I struggle to get to the gym once a week and when cycling even 30 miles, every pedal stroke is really hard work.

I found I had a vitamin D deficiency which was affecting my joints. Also I feel like shit when my ferritin is under 30. Whenever I feel rundown and have blood tests (thyroid problem primarily) ferritin is always between 28-30. I know this is considered normal but I think it’s basically when rock bottom starts biting for me. So it could still be iron as well even if they say the numbers are fine.

Seriously, give up sugar. You will have a lot of inflammation and cutting sugar will sort it.
It's not easy, give it a go. One day at a time.
You'll feel a difference pretty quickly.
If it feels too challenging, just try it for 2 weeks. That's a pretty short time period, right?

If you really want to avoid the GP you could do private blood tests with Thriva or similar. Turns out I'm really shit at getting blood out of my fingers though and after two different attempts I phoned the GP and went to the local hospital to let a professional do it.

For plantar fasciitis you can get some £8 insoles on Amazon. I had them in all my shoes when I had it and replaced my sandals with Fitflops as those were the only ones which were comfortable.

Agree cats re insoles!! I'm 43 and have been feeling so flat and low energy. My mum was on the earlier menopause side...I've been looking at some sort of gut boosting supplements that claim to work miracles (hmmmm).

@QueenMabs you're not alone!