How did you beat ‘tired all the time’?

[SallyRabbit]

Hello,

I’m 43, about to be 44. I work funny hours and have 3 children so I’m busy and only work out once a week - if that. I’m exhausted ALL THE TIME. I realise I can’t expect to have the energy I did at 20, or even 30, but I would love a BIT more energy. It cannot be like this from now until I’m dead!

Now I know that healthy food, exercise and decent sleep is a massive part of it - and I know I am really rubbish at that. I cook healthy meals for the kids and then use biscuits to give me an energy boost (although not overweight). But I’d love some inspiration please ladies - can you tell me what change you made and how much of a difference it made to your energy levels?

I wish I believed in alt medicine - I’d love a big dose of placebo I really believed in!!

So not just ‘try eating healthily’ but what you specifically changed and how it affected your life. Inspire me please!

Thanks x

Ditch the biscuits. Eat a few nuts and other healthy snacks. Up your protein.
If after a week or so you're still exhausted get some bloods taken.

What are your bowel movements like? Gut health had a lot to do with energy.

I take Iron and high dose vitamin C.

I drink coffee but only in the morning as it takes a ridiculously long time for caffeine to leave your system and it disrupts the hormone that keeps you asleep as well as the one that lets you fall asleep.

I’m still tired most of the time due to my delightful DC waking up all night…

Also could be peri. That's awful for fatigue.

Get your vitamin d level checked

Get iron levels checked including folate and ferritin.

Taking Vitamin D, exercising everyday and getting outside. Also magnesium before bed.

Check B12, D, iron. Google peri menopause symptoms, fatigue was my biggest one.

Op was like you. My Vit D was 22 should be 50. On vitamins now. I feel bit better. Its hard perimenopause etc. My neighbour her B12 was low.

Check you're not anaemic. My aunt thought this was her normal but turned out she was quite severely anaemic.

I felt knackered with young kids but less so physically when they were a bit older, so don't just accept it - find out!

My B12 was low, I didn’t realise how tired I was until it was fixed and I was back to normal energy levels.

Get your bloods taken at the doctor's and then ask them to send your detailed results but email.
Have a look at your ferritin levels, b12, vitamin d.
Low ferritin is very common at your age, if your perimenopause periods are heavy with short cycles. Anything below 50 can cause symptoms, the doctors won't treat until below 12.

Honestly, it was perimenopause for me. Trial of low dose HRT has made the world of difference physically and psychologically.
That and vitamin D - mine was mid/low range so not severe, but taking it consistently has helped and I now notice if I skip a few days!

I came here looking(praying) for answers, bit everything that has been suggested I do! All blood levels are as they should be as i take medication and checked regularly due to a surgery I had years ago. I'm 45 and work out 6 days per week, 3 kids, youngest 10 so not little and do not work. 15k steps most days, really active just exhausted. Is this what Peei menopause is going to be like for the next 5 years??

For me it was one of the only signs of the peri. HRT sorted it out!!

How old are the kids? If they’re young, that’s prob why you’re tired!

I was the same as you. exhausted and have been for a good few years. I also was in pain a good bit. unfortunately I have been since diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I could do all the exercise in the world and sleep for a month and still be exhausted. now I have to learn to pace myself each day make sure I actually get rest and not do too much
please get yourself checked out with the gp
and I say this to everyone make sure you rest too some days and not do too much. we all need rest especially as we get older

Could be a mix of peri and general exhaustion.

I would get a full blood picture, ask for the full works, vitamin levels, iron. Then look if there is anything which needs tackling. Find out how supportive your GP is about perimenopause. Some are more proactive then others unfortunately.

Meals - eat with your children, ditch the biscuits and snack on fruit like apples if you need to. Increase fluids, aim for at least 2l outside tea/coffee.

Ditch the screens, read instead of TV/phone. Do you have a decent bedtime routine?

Protein, supplements. And coffee!!

HRT,
iron , b vits, vit d - every day without fail
leaning into it and accepting that I actually can’t do everything , I take a nap, I rest, I prioritise myself if I need to.

Could you eat the healthy food you cook the kids? So just eat a version of what they are eating so you don’t cook twice. I often do this and add a bit extra of something like an avocado or some mozzarella- just pad it out.

I’d get some bloods done to check iron, vitamin D and B12.

But I would be tired in that situation. We are not all super human. Is there anything you can cut back on that takes up time and energy? To give you a bit more downtime.

As a society we completely underestimate the importance of rest…

get a blood test … you could be lacking something

Age 44

Got a mirena coil fitted, started HRT,. Took iron supplements regularly like it was my job for six months and got ferritin levels up.

I have always exercised and lifted weights and walked a lot.

Started taking magnesium at 5pm which ensures a really good deep sleep.

I do prefer to be in bed by 9pm latest.

Have you had your ferritin levels checked - should be above 100 but most women around 40s aren’t even close - mine are 6… I had an iron infusion today that I should have had 5 years ago by gp dismissed me abs said low ferritin is my “normal” and tiredness was due to 3 dc and work.

I started taking cod liver oil.
I'd been taking a general multivitamin including iron and Vit D but made no difference. Had my bloods done and was within range for everything
(Previously had low ferritin, B12 etc)
I'd only been taking it a couple weeks when I was suddenly aware that I could stay awake past 8.30pm, and didn't fall asleep everytime I sat down for more than 10 minutes. I actually feel like I want to get up and do things again

All of the above. But also: how is your sleep? How long are you sleeping?

Do you ever rest when you are not sleeping?

If you were thirsty you would drink water; we tend to want to power through when our bodies tell us they are tired which is nuts.

Do you ever have fun? Laugh til your sides hurt with someone? How do you recharge your emotional battery?