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Tired and hungover feeling all the time

107 replies

RedHeadedSnippet · 15/04/2025 18:27

Even when not drinking! I’m so lethargic, tired and headachey. I’ve tried cutting things out in my diet (eg careful with sugar or not drinking alcohol, which I did for 3 months) Nothing makes a difference! In fact having a glass of wine helps keep me awake a little longer when I do have it, otherwise I’m ready for bed at 4 or 5. For info im 44, average weight. Went to doctor a year ago and bloods were normal.

OP posts:
Pamspeople · 16/04/2025 20:16

The fatigue of perimenopause was like nothing I've ever experienced, just crashing fatigue that I couldn't fight. Hrt and time has helped a lot, and coming to terms that this is how it is for a while and I need to rest like never before. It's like body said "rest is non negotiable now".

Keep notes of your symptoms, OP, and don't let your gp fob you off with I'll informed nonsense about being too young for peri or blood tests for peri.

RedHeadedSnippet · 17/04/2025 08:57

Thank you @Pamspeople- I’m not very good at advocating for myself but I’m really going to go for it this time!

OP posts:
WingSlutz · 17/04/2025 18:01

Bit niche but ask to have your ferritin levels checked. I was like this and assumed peri or thyroid, turns out I have haemochromatosis, which is an excess of iron. I felt like hell till the levels came down. Treatment is basically blood letting, dead easy.

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RedHeadedSnippet · 17/04/2025 18:25

WingSlutz · 17/04/2025 18:01

Bit niche but ask to have your ferritin levels checked. I was like this and assumed peri or thyroid, turns out I have haemochromatosis, which is an excess of iron. I felt like hell till the levels came down. Treatment is basically blood letting, dead easy.

Thank you! Last year my ferritin levels were super good (I supplement a lot as a way to try and fix this.) no cigar though, as I still feel like there’s a fat monkey sat on my head

OP posts:
Britneyfan · 17/04/2025 18:55

I’m a GP and I do think feeling super tired like this is actually way more common than people realise, and partly I think we all just expect way too much of ourselves in modern lifestyles, particularly as women, however I agree that feeling ready for bed at 4-5pm is significant tiredness and more than the average person for sure.

Definitely get your bloods redone, a year was a long time ago, worth asking for an 8am cortisol blood test to rule out Addison’s, check B12 levels and thyroid hormones and yes make sure ferritin is over 50 and not crazy high like in the thousands as per a previous poster with haemochromatosis though this is rare). Maybe ask for rheumatoid factor and ANA testing too (any family history of autoimmune issues like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus? Joint pains?) And a coeliac screen.

If it’s all normal then I would question if you might be depressed or have sleep apnoea (not all people with sleep apnoea snore though many do). It’s more likely if you’re overweight and if the tiredness is “feeling sleepy” sort of tired rather than “too exhausted to function properly but couldn’t necessarily go to sleep right now” feeling. You’re definitely not too young for perimenopause and a trial of topical HRT assuming you have no contraindications might help. And it’s worth really overhauling your lifestyle, do you actually get enough sleep, are you exercising regularly, are you overweight etc. I’d cut out alcohol altogether personally, a lot of people struggle with it around perimenopause.

If all of that is ruled out then maybe it is worth asking for a referral to a chronic fatigue clinic if you have one in your area. Still a diagnosis of exclusion in practice as a pp explained, and definitely a “real thing” (I know some doctors remain sceptical but most doctors my age and younger are convinced) that unfortunately we just don’t have the medical knowledge to treat successfully yet.

I struggle significantly with my energy levels myself, for me I think it is a combination of things, the aftermath of stress from an abusive marriage and draining child custody court battle for many years afterwards, depression as part of bipolar disorder, less than perfect lifestyle especially lack of exercise and just generally being overweight, mild sleep apnoea, chronic degenerative disc back pain, an underactive thyroid and mixed connective tissue disease. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have POTS. Possibly EDS. And actually I also wouldn’t be surprised if I have a degree of fibromyalgia and CFS as well. It’s hard. Weirdly, I have personally found that taking spirulina supplements definitely helps me quite a bit. As do my thyroid tablets and I had to really push to get them prescribed at a time I was technically only “subclinical” for hypothyroidism but literally about to give up work and look genuinely at a life on benefits instead because I just couldn’t keep my eyes open at all or function at all. They made a huge difference immediately and also completely solved at a stroke dreadful muscle aches I was having in my limbs at the time. I can still only work part time due to low energy levels, pain and stress/depression, but at least I can still work. The other thing that helps is regular exercise but it’s a constant tension between my mental and physical health, work, sleep and exercise at the moment!

WhoWouldBeAWoman · 17/04/2025 19:06

I feel hungover if I've had a really rubbish sleep, even with no booze which always surprises me. And this was the start of peri for me, age 40. A low point was having to go to work (and somehow managed to function normally) after just 1 hr sleep. So I went to the GP who did loads of blood to check for thyroid, anaemia etc. All normal so I asked for HRT and the GP, reluctantly, agreed age 42. That was about 18 months ago. Not 100% cured but symptoms are overall better, and that is with a HRT dose increase at Christmas time.

Worth looking at a menopause symptom checker, such as this, and take it with you to your GP to discuss.
themenopausecharity.org/menopause/menopause-symptom-checker/

WingSlutz · 17/04/2025 20:23

@RedHeadedSnippetok that’s great as long as they are not too high (mine was like 450 when the optimum level is 20-50)

RedHeadedSnippet · 17/04/2025 20:30

WingSlutz · 17/04/2025 20:23

@RedHeadedSnippetok that’s great as long as they are not too high (mine was like 450 when the optimum level is 20-50)

I think they were fairly high - thanks this is something really worth knowing!

OP posts:
CraftyHappyMama · 17/04/2025 20:37

If you've not done it yet, cut out caffeine.

It gives you a huge energy deficit which catches up with you and leaves you tired because you're "robbing Peter to pay Paul" for energy. Like taking out an energy loan which you need to pay back.

The best thing I ever did was remove caffeine from my life. I sleep well and have natural energy with no dips mid afternoon.

RedHeadedSnippet · 18/04/2025 08:19

I drink about three coffees a day but never after midday - hadn’t thought about caffeine, thanks

OP posts:
Sunholidays · 18/04/2025 08:25

Sorry I haven’t read all the responses but could it be Vit D deficiency?

RedHeadedSnippet · 18/04/2025 08:40

Sunholidays · 18/04/2025 08:25

Sorry I haven’t read all the responses but could it be Vit D deficiency?

vit d levels all ok at last blood test a year or so ago. I wish I’d had eyes on the actual results though - it’s something this thread has taught me to ask for this time!

OP posts:
Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 18/04/2025 08:53

I had to give up alcohol myself during menopause because even drinking a glass of say gin and tonic caused a horrific reaction. It really helped with my feeling tired and ill.
No wonder older women dye their hair pink and seem so happy it's coming out of the bloody menopause.
I don't have much helpful to add apart from I think your life is probably quite tiring with work and family, just in a normal day to day way. Perhaps its a combination of things rather than a thing. When I visited a private GP I was amazed by all the vitamin b12 injection information in the waiting area. So that is obviously a thing. My local shop sells testing kits to see if you are vitamin deficient, there must be a demand.
My own fatigue currently is being caused by my bloody migraines which are making their usual appearance at the season changeover.

RabbitsRock · 18/04/2025 09:03

You could be lacking in B12 - honestly OP, before I started on B12 injections I was barely functioning some days. I thought I had cancer or another serious illness. The tiredness was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I also struggled with a nervous tummy, cramping & diarrhoea. I would ask your GP to do some tests. DH does my 3 monthly injections & it’s like a miracle!

RabbitsRock · 18/04/2025 09:05

I quit drinking at the beginning of last year & that’s made a huge difference to my energy levels. I was drinking to excess every day though.

RedHeadedSnippet · 18/04/2025 13:52

Thanks @RabbitsRock- I assume they test for b12 as standard? Will definitely ask about it

OP posts:
RedHeadedSnippet · 19/04/2025 17:27

RabbitsRock · 18/04/2025 09:05

I quit drinking at the beginning of last year & that’s made a huge difference to my energy levels. I was drinking to excess every day though.

I also think I’d feel better if I gave up wine and I have done it for several months but noticed very little difference

OP posts:
Vivienne1000 · 19/04/2025 17:39

It’s very possible that you are in the perimenopause stage. Check out your symptoms online and see if they match. Maybe time for an oestrogen boost?

RedHeadedSnippet · 19/04/2025 17:42

I hope it is perimenopause because I’m getting a bit worried! Just need to be taken seriously and not told I’m too young or just anxious, which happened to me last year

OP posts:
Choux · 19/04/2025 17:48

If you get the NHS app you should be able to log into your account and see your blood test results from last year. And remember that ‘in the NHS normal range’ does not necessarily equate to ‘optimal’ vitamin and iron levels.

ThatHazelGuide · 19/04/2025 17:53

If you hadn't said alcohol makes you feel better then I would have definitely been saying peri menopause or cfs, but these two things typically make people intolerant to alcohol.

Is there any way you can get a good break or change your circumstances so you're not stretched beyond your limits? I'd definitely recommend taking the peddle off the metal and start looking after yourself as a priority.

Let us know how you get on at the doctors

RedHeadedSnippet · 19/04/2025 17:56

ThatHazelGuide · 19/04/2025 17:53

If you hadn't said alcohol makes you feel better then I would have definitely been saying peri menopause or cfs, but these two things typically make people intolerant to alcohol.

Is there any way you can get a good break or change your circumstances so you're not stretched beyond your limits? I'd definitely recommend taking the peddle off the metal and start looking after yourself as a priority.

Let us know how you get on at the doctors

Edited

Thanks so much, I will. It only makes me feel temporarily better - for an hour or so. Then I feel like shit and get a hot face. It does me no favours but if I have to stay up later than normal it keeps me going until whoever we’re entertaining has left.

OP posts:
ThatHazelGuide · 19/04/2025 18:40

In that case, I would say that's alcohol intolerance. I had to give it up, because of peri and cfs. It wasn't worth it in the end, it caused more pain than gain.

Do you

  • get drained by talking
  • have problems finding words
  • struggle to regulate your temperature
  • Trouble standing for longer periods
  • any executive function difficulties?
RedHeadedSnippet · 19/04/2025 18:45

ThatHazelGuide · 19/04/2025 18:40

In that case, I would say that's alcohol intolerance. I had to give it up, because of peri and cfs. It wasn't worth it in the end, it caused more pain than gain.

Do you

  • get drained by talking
  • have problems finding words
  • struggle to regulate your temperature
  • Trouble standing for longer periods
  • any executive function difficulties?
Edited

Thanks - appreciate you asking! I don’t get drained by talking but I do sometimes forget my words and have “zone outs”. I do get a hot face and am sensitive to heat - it triggers migraines. I don’t know if this counts as a hot flush though as I think it’s being warm that sets it off, but not sure

executive function : I’m holding down a ft job but I feel like I’m masking. Because I struggle to concentrate, am tired and headachey, brain foggy and lethargic. Am also irritable and anxious. I wake up tired, never feel clear-headed or awake. It’s like I’m not really fully in the world

OP posts:
ThatHazelGuide · 19/04/2025 19:13

I'd be looking at getting HRT for starters and see what happens.

I hope you don't get fobbed off, you are the exact right age for perimenopause.

Go private if you have to, it's not worth living like you are for the sake of a private prescription.