Is this level of tiredness normal?

[Muddledandmiddle]

I’m 31 and exhausted. Like completely and utterly bone tired all the fucking time.
ive been like this for as long as I can remember. Mum to two preteens. We’ve moved this week which was a stressful six months and I do work a really tiring job which does affect my ability to get a deep sleep at night as my brain is just always “on”

im married and DH does more than his fair share.

I am so physically and emotionally burnt out all the time. The kids do a lot of sports and I am always on the go but I look around and think isn’t this most mums?

I’ve spent an extremely rare day with a friend today and after a few days I was scared to drive home I felt so tired, my eyes were burning and I just felt like I could lay down and sleep then and there. I’m so tired of feeling this way. Bloods were normal at drs last week.

I don’t feel like I can keep living like this but I’m just trying to live a normal life. Am I just pathetic?

This is me at the moment.
My GP seems ok, but I have to push for everything which I find very hard because I have ADHD.

Have you considered ND?
It can cause burnout living your life as NT when you are actually ND.
The world is not set up for our 'operating system' so normal life and the pace of it is extremely fatiguing, especially if you have no idea you are ND and just try to power through and match what NT people can do.

ND can come along with hyper-mobility and POTs and low muscle tone which can also be very fatiguing but hidden conditions.

Yeah GPs told me my bloods were normal for 20 years. Turns out that didn't mean I wasn't ill for that entire time. Eventually an optician spotted that he suspected I had Myasthenia.

Op, you have had a lot on your plate, with a move as well. It may be worth taking a decent break first, if you can (maybe over Christmas just have a block of quiet days?) and if you still feel dreadful then definitely go to the GP.

This sounds more like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. I have fibromyalgia and have experienced very similar symptoms.

I echo a previous poster and say keep a sleep diary, but also log other symptoms such as pain, the brain frog etc and go back to the doctor. There are also online symptom quizzes which can be useful as they have lots of potentially connected symptoms that you would not normally think of.

In short term, see a dentist about the teeth grinding and face/neck pain - this sounds like TMJ (which often comes with CFS/Fibro). They can make a mouth guard which can really help symptoms and refer to specialists.

See an osteopath about collar bone pain, they can also help ease the neck and face tension too - potentially the cause of your headaches.

Your folate and b12 are in your boots, your bound to feel like death warmed up. If gp won't give you b12 injections lots of aesthetics places do them, around £20 a pop. You can get otc folate, antenatal vits are actually pretty good for this sort of thing

Get your b12 back up to something resembling normal and you will feel vastly better

This sounds more like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. I have fibromyalgia and have experienced very similar symptoms.

OP is massively deficient in B12 and folate - both of which can cause the symptoms she describes. It's actually quite scary how much a relatively minor deficiency can impact your health. It really doesn't take much.

B12 injections were absolutely life changing for me. I did take B12 tablets but the injection had an incredible effect. I’m due one now (it’s every 3 months) & can really feel the difference - beyond tired, churning stomach, brain fog. Maybe ask your GP to go down that route OP? Honestly, there is tiredness & then there is tiredness when you’re lacking B12!

For me I think it’s mental burnout which leads me to feeling as tired as I do.

At the levels op is at she's at serious risk of suffering from neurological effects of b12 deficiency. They are really unpleasant and not always reversible.

You need your thyroid checked. I was exactly the same as you and was diagnosed with overactive thyroid. Definitely go back and ask for it

im sorry to the poster who said they felt I was ignoring the suggestion for thyroid tests- im not I promise. Im reading and making a list in my notes and im going to make another appointment with a new doctor. Im just struggling to read and reply to every post individually as today is especially bad with tiredness.

I see a sports physio for the tightness
I see a therapist weekly for stress and PTSD
I will see GP and ask for the injections- also address folate and thyroid
I’ll order a better multivitamin now too
i am teetotal, don’t smoke and I’d say 75% cook from scratch. I don’t have a sweetooth really. I don’t even drink caffeine.

my husband is truly wonderful, does 90% of our housework. I generally take a lead on the mental load. We have animals so there’s a lot of physical there, walking the dogs, mucking out the horse, cleaning out the chickens. Both kids do sports- football, rugby, horse riding and netball. DH split the weekend running about but midweek is mainly on me. They’re great kids. Younger one is ND like his dad though and I am lacking energy to discipline properly so the ND definitely gets away with too much rudeness etc as I just don’t have it in me. I feel like a shit mum a lot of the time.

PoTs has been suggested. My HR is about 85 resting, often will shoot to 120 upon standing. Spaceyness/dizziness is frequent. Blood pressure can be on the higher side at times but not consistently so I think is what the nurse said when she looked over the history.

im cold all the time. I can sleep 12 hours and feel no different. A few weeks ago I slept 15 hours straight, I was dead to the world, woke with no recollection of any disturbances and felt a deep deep rest and restoration id not felt in years. I felt like a different person for about 6 hours. Ended up needing a nap in the afternoon all the same. Have tried to recreate the same quality of sleep since with no luck. I’m very careful with sleep hygiene. Don’t scroll before bed etc.

I can’t think of any more right now. I’m aware I’m not well. Deep down I’m scared, if I’m truly honest.

All of that is your b12, I promise! Your GP should be offering you injections every other day for 2 weeks as a loading dose.

@Johndoeskellington is right OP, pretty much every symptom you describe is a result of being deficient in B12 and folate. A good multi-vitamin won't work, you need injections - or at the very least, actual B12, iron and folate tablets. The amount you get in a standard multi-vitamin tablet isn't enough to address actual deficiencies.

That's ok OP, muddled thoughts and sluggish brain are also typical of underactive thyroid.

And you said this: 'im cold all the time. I can sleep 12 hours and feel no different.'

Cold all the time is very much a symptom of underactive thyroid, along with sleeping for 12 hours etc.

Good luck with your new GP. I had to do the same to get my diagnosis.

Classic B12 deficiency.

Your B12 is very low. Your GP should arrange loading injections ( usually alternate days ) for at least two weeks then re-test. Then maybe top up injection every 12 weeks. It’s essential to start Folic Acid asap.
I found GP was hopeless so bought injection kit, ampoules of B12 and watched YouTube to learn how to self inject. Probably not the best thing to do but I was, like you, feeling desperately ill. It worked though and I came to no harm.

Thank you all. I’m going to present at my new local GP tomorrow morning and ask for b12 injections, folate and iron x

And Thyroid Function Test too I hope!

Yes sorry! This too

@Muddledandmiddle Just wondering how you got on at the GP appointment yesterday?

They’ve refused to give b12 injections, say I don’t meet criteria. She says to take Vit D. Apparently my thyroid was checked beginning of year and ruled out. Otherwise she had nothing more to offer or say really…

You can get b12 injections privately.

Thuroid function can fluctuate, dh took years to get diagnosed due to this.

Unfortunately that's quite common - unless your levels are under a certain number, they won't treat you. I would try B12 tablets if you can't afford to go private, they do help.

B12 deficiency is due to a lack of intrinsic factor therefore oral supplements will not work

As others have said you need loading doses and then a maintenance dose to treat you for pernicious anaemia.

Check out B12D website and FB group

GPs commonly miss this and do not follow guidelines. Please inform yourself and ask to be reviewed by a different GP

I was you and it’s awful - the guilt too of not keeping up.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng239

This may help you get help

Ask for the results of your thyroid blood test taken earlier in the year, specifically the TSH level.

Hi how did u get on please experiwncing same thing myself with hair loss ect...have u had your testosterone checked